Dragon Faere - I figured that going abroad, Oz might change his name a bit, and since his full name is Daniel Osborne, it makes sense for Sirius to know him as Dan. Thanks for your reviews!
Chapter 10 - The Plan
Harry had settled back into life at Hogwarts comfortably, as he had been accustomed to, but he did notice that this year more than ever, there was an increase in the amount of work piled on him. However, to Hermione's delight, he and Ron were both working hard, both still entertaining hopes of being Aurors after Hogwarts. Dawn was not focusing so much on her NEWTs, unlike the others, as she was only taking three, whereas they had five to study for. Dawn was taking Potions, Herbology and Defence Against the Dark Arts, but she was also studying diligently for qualifications in Practical Defence , History of the Slayer and Vampire, Demon Lore, and Watcher, all at the Slayer Academy in order to become a Watcher. The others were also participating in these classes, though not seriously for qualifications, since they had enough to deal with. Harry was contemplating trying for a qualification in Demon Lore, since he found the subject, which was taught by Giles and Willow.
The next morning, Harry noticed the addition to the staff table before the others.
"Who's that?" Harry leant over and whispered to Dawn, eyeing the stranger warily.
"Oh my god!" Dawn gasped. She leapt up from her seat and ran up to the staff table, and grabbed the stranger in a enthusiastic hug.
"Oz, what are you doing here?" she gasped.
"Funny story actually," he said with a small smile, "You got so tall. Wow I sound like my uncle." Dawn laughed at him.
"You're exactly the same," she said affectionately. "Oh, you totally haven't met everyone. All the teachers, oh and Buffy is married, and-"
"Actually I knew Sirius before, that's why I came here. I didn't know you guys were here, I came to see Sirius and meet his new wife. Little did I know," Oz grinned. "The whole Scooby family, linked to a stranger I met in Tibet. Weird, huh?"
"You bet," said Willow, grabbing his hand.
"You guys?" Dawn shrieked happily. Then her eyes began to water furiously. "I'm not gonna cry, I'm not gonna cry…" they heard her mutter as she returned to her house table.
Harry sat up straighter in Potions, trying to keep awake, though the mist swirling around the room made his head feel heavy. Snape's boring lecture on the properties of Lime seed potion was sleep-inducing itself, and Harry felt on the verge of dropping off more than once. His eyelids drooped again, and he felt himself soar away from the classroom, to a dark room, not dissimilar to the one he was sitting in, but definitely not the same.
"It will be done my lord," a hooded man confirmed and exited the room. Harry watched from a corner of the room, eyes fixed on the man seated in the gilded chair.
"Fetch Malfoy," a high cold voice commanded, and a small man scurried from the room. Still Harry watched. The man Harry supposed to be Malfoy entered the room, masked, and knelt before the enthroned man.
"How can I be of service to you?" he asked, his voice muffled by the black material that hung over his face.
"You know the plan, Malfoy." the man rasped. "You know what is at stake for you, if it does not succeed. Our time is coming, and this is pivotal. Make sure you get it done." Malfoy nodded, then stood up, bowing deeply before exciting the room.
"Wormtail, bring him to me now, I want to speak with him, perhaps we can loosen his wills." the man in the throne commanded, and Harry felt his scar begin to burn, as Wormtail exited.
"I know you are here," the man said, and Harry knew he was speaking to him. "I know. No matter."
Harry yelled, for the pain that radiated from his scar was unbearable, white hot and piercing, and he was thrown backward, hitting his head sharply. He opened his eyes groggily, and found himself surrounded by faces, Ron, Dawn, Hermione. They were pushed aside as Professor Snape came into view.
"Out of the way," he said sharply to dawn, who nimbly moved. "Get up Potter, and follow me." Harry realised that he had hit his head on the back wall of the dungeon, and that he had literally been thrown backward from his seat. He got up, unsteadily, and trying to clear his head, followed Snape from the room. Snape walked fast, not accounting for Harry's head injury, and apparently not caring. Harry soon realised he was going to Dumbledore's office, and quickened his pace to catch up with him.
"Ice mice," Snap muttered irritably, and he stepped on the staircase that appeared at the gargoyle. Harry followed and they entered Dumbledore's office.
Dumbledore looked up as they came in, a mildly curious look on his face.
"Severus, what brings you here mid-lesson?" he asked lightly. Snape pushed Harry forward.
"Potter, fell asleep in my class and was mysteriously thrown from his seat." Snape said grumpily. "I thought he might like to explain it to us." Dumbledore shifted his gaze to Harry, who felt its intensity.
"I had another dream about Voldemort," Harry said, feeling tenderly a lump on the back of his head. "That first one I've had since the one about Sirius. I was in a dungeon, somewhere, I don't know where and there was Voldemort, and he was sitting in a golden chair, and Wormtail was there. And another death eater who said something would be done and left. And then he told Wormtail to get Malfoy, and Malfoy came, Lucius I mean, and then he said that there was a plan, and Malfoy knew about it and he threatened him, saying Malfoy had a lot at stake if it failed. And he said it was important, pivotal he said, and then he said, bring him to me, and he was going to torture him. And then my scar hurt." Harry pressed his hand to it, remembering the pain. "He was all alone in the dungeon, and then he spoke to me." Snape looked at him sharply and Dumbledore stood up. "He said, 'I know you are here, I know. No matter.' and then he threw me against the wall." Dumbledore began to pace.
"Where were you in the dream, from what viewpoint?" he asked sharply.
"I wasn't Voldemort, if that's what you mean," Harry said, "I was just in a corner, just watching. But he knew I was there, all along, I could tell when he said, and he threw me, even though I wasn't in the room. He felt me, then he made me leave. He was so strong. Never so strong before." Harry broke off distractedly.
"Did he say anything more about the plan, what it was, what it involved, who it involved?" Dumbledore asked, stopping his pacing.
"Nothing," said Harry, after a few moments of racking his memory, "Just that there was a plan, and that it was pivotal."
"And this person who was to be brought to him, do you know who it was?" Dumbledore questioned.
"I don't know, a prisoner, he said he wanted to talk to him again, and loosen his wills, he wanted torture him, to get him to do something." Harry fell silent. Dumbledore sat down abruptly.
"I'm afraid Harry that I am not in the possession of any information that could fit this description. It saddens me to admit that we have been unable to discover anything of great value recently, our usual channels of information have been poor. We have not got any idea of what he is up to, other than snippets of information."
"I could try leglimency, if you would teach me," Harry offered. "I could try and get in undetected, and then see what he's planning." Dumbledore sighed.
"I had thought of that, but I think it is too dangerous. Voldemort would expect it, he will be waiting for you and one you are in his mind, he could take control of you. It would be too risky."
"But-" Harry began, but Dumbledore raised his hand.
"I know Harry," he said quietly, "But it is too dangerous." He sighed deeply, and Harry thought that he looked for the first time ever like a finished man.
"Professor, what will happen?" Harry asked uncertainly. "I mean I can fight Voldemort, even if he is strong. I can win, I know I can." Dumbledore gave him a small smile.
"I have no doubt of your abilities," he said gravely, "I didn't mean to give you that impression. I just felt tired all of a sudden. Tired of all of this." He shook his head, as if shaking away his thoughts. "I am sorry to burden you with the troubles of an old man. Of course we will do all we can, I will set our contacts to work, finding out as much as we can about this plan." Dumbledore looked down, and both Snape and Harry took this as a sign to leave.
"I've never seen Dumbledore like that," Harry said later, to Ron, Dawn and Hermione. "He looked so… so beaten. Like there was nothing left to hope for. But I don't understand, I mean there is. I know that I can beat Voldemort, I have to."
"Maybe he's just a bit depressed," Ron suggested. "I mean the man's been fighting Voldemort for like twenty years. You must get tired of it eventually."
"But it's Dumbledore," Harry contradicted. "Dumbledore. Everyone looks up to him, he's the greatest wizard of our time. If he can't hope, then what use is there for the rest of us."
