Disclaimer: Many of the characters, thoughts and ideas that are in this fan fiction are not of my own design. Though this story is from my imagination, I realize that this is the property of Warner Bros. and J.K. Rowling. This is not J. K. Rowling's work. I also read many FFs and if you see something similar to another work it is entirely unintentional. I have posted this on harrypotter.com as well…. There it is complete and filled with cliffies… hence my screen name Princess of cliffies on the Harry Potter boards I go by the name of rebcschult in case you would like to read it in it's original form…. Also this was written preOotP hence the name…. but I decided after much deliberation and coercion from my on line friends who wanted me to post it here that I would finally do so! I am also writing a year six to follow this year five on the boards, which when I'm finished over there and done editing it I will post here as well…
Becky(rebcschult and PrincessOfCliffiesRCS)
P.S. Please read and review!
CHAPTER NINE – DEADLY NIGHTSHADE
For a few weeks after their first advanced class, they had practiced every night that they weren't at class. Professor Clovis had informed them that, for the time being the classes would increase to three nights a week, that way each of the Professors were able to fit in everything that they needed to. Their schedule ended up being Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays in the evening. They all enjoyed learning all of the different methods of advanced magic.
Advanced potions with Professor Fletcher had been surprisingly much easier than regular potions, though still extremely difficult. They all figured that this was because they did not have Snape looking over their shoulders threateningly. Even Neville had found that Advanced Potions was easier, in fact so much easier that he found the confidence of that class spilling over into regular potions.
Harry had been surprised about how much Amelia had learned. She taught them some really interesting defense charms, to be used only when they were in peril. The charms were unknown to the community at large and very difficult to perform. They went to Amelia often to have her help them get the proper wand waving techniques.
They were all excited for the up coming week, as they were about to begin with Arabella, and the idea that they would be able to read other people's mind fascinated them. As Harry thought about the advanced classes coming up that week he also thought about Cho and smiled.
Harry had finally gotten the chance to talk with Cho after the first evening they came back from a particularly difficult, but interesting, lesson with Professor Fletcher. As they left they chatted excitedly about the new improved Veritaserum, that would not only get the drinker to answer direct questions, but would also make the drinker give all classified or hidden information about something, when activated with a charm. The prospects of it were incredible, because most spies that worked for the ministry had grown immune to the old potion, as had most of the older followers of Voldemort.
As they walked and talked on, Harry had noticed that Cho was walking behind everyone with her head down. He decided to slowly drop back to her position. She had been so preoccupied with her own thoughts that she had not even noticed that Harry was walking next to her. Harry tried to open his mouth to speak to her several times and hadn't been able to say a word. Finally after a full minute of him walking next to her, he had been able to find his voice. Very timidly and quietly he had said, "Cho, are you okay?"
Cho had jumped finally realizing the he was there. "Yeah, I guess so…"
"You seem really down."
"I'm…. I…. I'm not sure. I guess I sort of feel really left out…. All of you are Gryffindors, and for the life of me I cannot figure out what the reason is that I am here. I mean Dumbledore says that it is for us to discover, but I can't think of any reason why…."
Harry had hesitantly put his hand on her arm and had said, "Well, there has to be a reason somewhere. You just haven't discovered it yet…."
"Thanks, Harry." She had smiled and looked up into his eyes. He had not been sure if she actually had seen something in his eyes to say what she did next but she blurted out, "You know, I don't blame you, don't you?"
"Come again?"
She had turned her eyes back toward the ground and had said, "You know I don't blame you for Cedric's death. Don't you? I understand that it was You-Know-Who's fault not yours."
"Actually, I wasn't sure…. But thanks. It's good to know…."
After that, Harry found himself getting very close to everyone in the group, especially the two girls. Cho and Ginny made him laugh almost every night, though there was some sadness that never seemed to leave him, and though they didn't know exactly why they figured, correctly, that it had partially to do with his two best friends who had become a couple.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Harry avoided being with the couple as much as possible outside of classes and practices, something that Ron and Hermione, in Harry's eyes, seemed not to notice. But soon his mind was brought to other things. One dreary day after a particularly difficult double potions lesson where Snape had intentionally tried to trip up the Gryffindor students several times, he came back to the common room before lunch to drop off his books and noticed that there was a crowd around the bulletin board.
Harry waited until some of the students had cleared away before he tried to see what was up on the board. There were two announcements up. One was telling them that a week from Saturday was going to be the first trip to Hogsmeade. The other was announcing the Quidditch tryouts for the upcoming Saturday and a meeting for current team members promptly at 6:30pm the next night. Harry didn't know how that was going to work. He, Fred, and George had class at 7. He looked and saw that Professor McGonagall had signed the sheet. He decided that after class that afternoon that he would talk to her about it.
Harry went to lunch and was surprised to see that Ron and Hermione were not yet there. But just figuring that they were off somewhere in some secret rendezvous, he just shrugged it off and sat down to eat lunch. When he was half way through eating his second sandwich, Ron and Hermione came in to the Great Hall and sat down on either side of Harry.
Harry looked at both of them, confused and swallowed hard. "What's up?" he asked looking back and forth between them.
"Harry, don't 'What's up?' us. We're your best friends. We know that something is bothering you…. You've been avoiding us for days now. And we want to know why," stated Hermione plainly.
Harry looked back and forth between them a few times, before his eyes landed on his plate. They had just asked the one question that he didn't know how to answer without hurting them…. Hermione and Ron watched Harry's face as they saw that there was a battle raging within him.
"Harry…" Hermione began, placing a hand on his arm gently.
"It's nothing," stated Harry coldly and flatly, making Hermione jump back and remove her hand from his arm. Harry realized that his statement had come out harsher that he had meant it to. "I'm sorry. But really, it's nothing," he said in a softer and gentler tone.
"Are you sure?" asked Ron, speaking for the first time since they had sat down.
He looked at Ron and smiled. "Yeah. I'm just starting to feel the stress of it all, you know, starting to finally realize how right Hermione was about how difficult this year is going to be with the O.W.L.s coming up. Not to mention, the other things that I'm trying to figure out." Harry knew that this was not entirely true, but it wasn't exactly a lie either. "Sorry if I've been distant lately, mate." He smiled sadly at Ron and then turned to Hermione and smiled at her too.
She smiled back, but the smile didn't quite reach her eyes. After all, most of the last week of the summer vacation, she had spent a lot of time with him. She knew what he was saying was true to a point, but suspected that there was something more to it than what Harry was saying. She left it alone for the moment, but she was determined to find out what it was that was bothering him.
They ate in silence and when Harry was finished with his sandwich he got up. "See you in class. I've got to do something before it…." He smiled and walked away. Ron and Hermione stared after him and then turned and shared a knowing look. They decided that the conversation that they just had with Harry was definitely far from over.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harry went back to the dorm and grabbed his books. He decided he would go early to Transfiguration to see if Professor McGonagall was there to talk to her then instead of after, making him possibly run late for Herbology. As he walked his mind wandered back through the conversation that he had just had with Ron and Hermione. He wanted to tell them how he felt jealous of their relationship and of the time that they spent with each other, but he didn't want to be a burden or a third wheel to them, so he kept it locked up inside.
That was not the only thing that preoccupied his thoughts these days either. He truly hadn't lied to Ron and Hermione when he said that many questions were bothering him. The questions that he had pushed away after his visions and prediction had begun to resurface. It made for very difficult sleeping. Most nights, for some time now, he had barely made it through the night.
He had not had another vision for a while, which he supposed was a good thing in one way, but it also meant that he was not getting any answers either. He had been very careful to not wear both his pin and his ring to Divination, because he did not wish to have another vision in Professor Trelawney's presence. Though she did seem to go back to her old self, predicting his death in every class, remaining a recluse in her classroom, and looking at him with the sad worried look that she had always carried just for him.
He had decided right then and there that that night he would ask Hermione for permission to use the Prefect's bathroom so that he could work some things out. Trying to push those thoughts from his mind, he let his mind wander to other things. Where they landed had been a place that his thoughts seemed to have dwelt more and more these days, in the places that he was most comfortable being and with whom.
Truthfully the only true comfort Harry had felt he got, currently, was the time that he spent in class with Professor Clovis, and in his mind. Harry smiled as the bewitching blue pools that held the reflection of her soul, flitted through his mind and etched into it briefly. He couldn't wait to get into the class and stare into the real pools instead of the ones in the image in his mind. Harry mentally shook himself after that thought. He should not be having those thoughts about a Professor.
Pushing the thoughts about the young, beautiful professor from his mind, he allowed his mind to wander to the other two women who had gained access to his heart, Cho and Ginny. Though he felt very strongly that the girl that he had thought of more as a sister for the past four years should sort of remain that way, mainly because she was his best friends younger sister. He shuddered to think what would happen if he ever mentioned to his best friend how he felt about his younger sister.
So that left Cho, the first girl that he had ever had a crush on, and yet…. He felt closer to her now as a friend and though she did not blame him for Cedric's death, he did. Unfortunately Harry felt that that could always be something that was left between them. So that did not leave very many options open to him at the moment.
When he realized that yet again his thoughts had become a debate about which woman he would like to give his heart to, he mentally kicked himself. He couldn't understand why most of his thoughts seemed to dwell on the women around him. He had never had that much trouble focusing on his schoolwork and classes before, but now…. He was so distracted by these thoughts that, he had just walked by the Transfiguration classroom. He frowned, turned around, and retraced his steps to the room.
He walked in and saw that Professor McGonagall was sitting at her desk correcting papers. She looked up as he approached with a look of surprise on her face. "Good afternoon, Potter. You're certainly early for class today…."
"Actually, I'm early because I wanted to talk to you about something, if you're not too busy…."
"Oh?"
"Yes. I know that Professor Dumbledore has told all of the Professors about the fact that there would be some students that would be roaming around late some nights due to a late class that they are taking…."
"Yes."
"Well, I'm in that group and so are the Weasley twins…"
"Yes, I am well aware of that. What is your point about all of this?"
"Erm, yes…. One of those classes is on Thursdays and it starts at 7pm."
"Your point, Potter," she said getting a little bit irritated.
"Tomorrow is Thursday and you planned the Quidditch team meeting for 6:30pm tomorrow. And I was wondering…."
"You were wondering why it was on that night and not on Friday instead…"
"Exactly. How can we have a meeting if half of the current team can't be there…"
"The whole reason why I planned it for 6:30 is so that you and the Weasley twins would be able to attend between a quick dinner and your class tomorrow evening. It won't be a long meeting, just one to touch base with you about the tryouts and a few other odds and ends. I have other business to attend to on Friday night. And since you also have class tonight and I have a faculty meeting, it could only be tomorrow night."
"Oh, okay then. Thank you for your time. Sorry to bother you." He turned on his heel and went to sit down at his assigned table. Professor McGonagall went back to correcting papers, until Ron burst in making her jump clear out of her skin.
"Harry!" yelled Ron excitedly, as he ran toward his friend.
Harry looked at Professor McGonagall and saw that she had her hand on her chest, taking in deep breaths as if to settle herself. Her eyes were wide in alarm. Harry turned to Ron's approaching form and said, "Erm, Ron…."
"Here you are! I've been looking all over for you!"
"Oh really? That's-that's nice. But, erm, Ron…"
Unfettered Ron continued, "Harry! Did you see?"
Knowing about how excited Ron had been all summer and for the start of the year about the Quidditch tryouts, Harry figured that he had just seen the signup sheet. "Yes, I think I did, but…." He glanced back at Professor McGonagall who had sat back in her chair and looked thoroughly annoyed now. Harry looked back at Ron and tried to nod toward Professor McGonagall subtly.
Completely missing Harry's signals, Ron went on, "The Quidditch tryouts are this Saturday!!"
"Yes, I know, Ron, but…."
"I can't wait! Oh, I've already signed up to tryout!"
"That's great, but…."
He plopped down next to his best friend and continued to chatter excitedly about the tryouts. Harry kept trying to give him signals about Professor McGonagall, but in his excitement Ron saw none of them.
"So, how are they going to work? Not that you can really tell me, but…. Oh, I can't wait!"
"MR. WEASLEY!" Ron jumped out of his skin and turned, finally realizing that Professor McGonagall was sitting there. "I understand your enthusiasm… but I am trying to work here and would appreciate it if you would either take it your conversation elsewhere or take it down a notch."
Ron swallowed hard. "Sorry, Professor…" he said practically in a whisper. He remained quiet for the rest of the time before class started.
As they left Transfiguration, Ron picked up where he had left off before Professor McGonagall had scolded him. Hermione walked slightly behind listening to Ron's excitement and shaking her head the entire time. It was evident by the look on her face that she was frustrated. If only he'd show that much excitement for learning magic, she thought.
Even during herbology when they were learning how to care for the Wizard's Deadly Nightshade plant, as beautiful, but more deadly than, as its mundane cousin, Ron continued to chatter. The Wizard's Deadly Nightshade was one that had the ability to blend into it's environment, especially at night, had deadly, poisonous spikes that were thrown at someone or something if it felt threatened. Finally when Hermione's Nightshade had begun to shake, a tell tale sign of its fear and annoyance, Hermione stepped away from her plant and grabbed her boyfriend by the collar, dragging him to the corner away from all of the Nightshade plants.
In a low growling voice she told him that he needed to focus. "If you had been listening instead of chattering, you would have heard Madam Sprout say that the plant feels threatened when there is a lot of chatter around it. My plant started shaking, which means it was about to throw its deadly spikes at me. Now, if you don't mind, I would really like it if you would – shut – up." She was about to walk away when Ron grabbed her and kissed her. "What was that for?" she asked a little less forcefully than she had been speaking before.
"To say I'm sorry and…."
"And?"
"You're really sexy and beautiful when you're angry."
Hermione huffed and rolled her eyes, "Oh Ron…. You're incorrigible."
He whispered into her ear, "Yes, but you like me that way…."
She giggled and they returned to their plants. Ron remained quiet for the rest of class, though he kept glancing over at his girlfriend. Every time that he did she would giggle a little, which lulled the plant into a much more serene state, as genuine happy laughter was the only thing to quell the plant once it was irritated. Harry sat brooding in front of his plant, which once again drew the attention of Ron and Hermione. Harry was going through the motions of taking care of and harvesting the plant, but was not really paying attention to what he was doing.
Hermione noticed that as Harry was adding soil to the pot, his hand was getting dangerously close to one of the plant's spikes and he hadn't put his Dragon Hide gloves back on before beginning to add the soil. Hermione knew that one pierce of the tip of it could kill Harry. She got up slowly to warn him of it, not wanting to startle him. Just as she was about to say his name, Harry moved his hand and the end of the spike disappeared, deep into his flesh. He yelped.
Instantly, Harry felt his head spinning as he dropped to the floor and began convulsing. Hermione watched as the color completely drained from Harry's face before he dropped to the floor. She screamed and Ron ran to get Madame Sprout. As Ron returned with Madam Sprout, she was yelling, "Didn't he have his Dragon Hide Gloves on?" Ron shook his head emphatically, afraid to speak with the growing lump in his throat.
Just as Madam Sprout reached him, Harry's convulsions stopped. She bent down and touched his cold skin. She opened his eyes to look at the pupils and shook her head. "Well, there's nothing we can do now…. I'm sorry," she said, looking sympathetically at Hermione and Ron.
They just stood there in shock, as she conjured a stretcher and levitated his body on to it. "Class is dismissed for today, as I need to speak to the Headmaster about this. I would only ask that you all be discreet about this incident until the Headmaster has addressed the school about it. Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley, I would appreciate your accompaniment to the Headmaster's office, so that he understands exactly what has caused this tragedy." The students began to leave, but Madam Sprout stopped Ernie Macmillan, a stout Hufflepuff boy, and said, "Mr. Macmillan, if you would please go and inform Minerva McGonagall she is needed in the Headmaster's office, at once, due to the death of a student…. I believe she will be held up in her classroom…."
Ernie nodded his head, in as much shock about the situation as the rest of the students and left swiftly to do his appointed task….
Once all of the other students had left, the shock had worn off and grief took over. Hermione threw herself to the floor next to the conjured stretcher with Harry's body on it. She wept openly, feeling that somehow it was her fault for not getting to him fast enough. Ron bent down and pulled her up, wrapping her in a tight embrace, the tears streaming down his face profusely.
The words that Hermione kept muttering over and over again was, "No. Not Harry. He just can't be gone. He can't be dead." Professor Sprout levitated the stretcher carrying Harry's body to the hospital wing, Hermione and Ron in tow, and talked briefly to Madam Pomfrey, the medi-witch that ran the hospital wing, before heading off to the Headmaster's office. Ron and Hermione too wrapped in their own grief did not hear anything the Madam Sprout said until, "I have never seen a person who was poisoned by Wizard's Deadly Nightshade before. But I know that just one small drop of the poison could easily kill 5 Giant Sea Monsters instantly. Potter never had a chance without his Dragon Hide Gloves on. The poison made all of the blood in his body congeal."
As Ron and Hermione walked out of the large room leaving behind the body of their best friend, Madam Pomfrey worked to put his body on one of the examination tables. They heard her mutter, "Somehow I always knew that you would be the death of me, Potter, but not in this way. I must admit, I have grown quite fond of you, and I never thought you would have…." They walked out of hearing range of what it was that she was saying, though they realized that she had stopped talking as well. They looked back and saw her gently remove his glasses and put them on the table next to him. They watched her look into his eyes and close them with her hand, and then with her head in her hands, sit in a chair beside him, her shoulders shaking, as if racked with grief. It was in that moment that Ron and Hermione realized that he was truly gone.
Hermione was weeping openly again and Ron had a pained expression on his face and tears that threatened to fall down his face once again, as well. He was trying to be strong for Hermione's sake, but he felt like he had just lost one of brothers, and not just one of his best friends. They followed Professor Sprout numbly and barely noticed when they had reached the Headmaster's office.
Tears started flowing freely again down Ron's face, as Professor Sprout, herself, tried to gain some semblance of composure. Ron and Hermione held each other, trying to comfort one another. Suddenly and for but a moment Hermione seemed to stop crying. She pushed Ron away and swung around wildly, "Harry?" she said, barely audibly. Tears began to free flow down her face again as she said, "Please, Harry, don't haunt me. I tried to get to you. I tried…. I tried." She shook her head wildly and got so dizzy that she collapsed on the floor in a heap.
Professor Sprout and Ron had watched her in horror. They hadn't seen anything and Ron feared that his whole thing was going to make her lose her mind through grief. Ron picked her up and instantly she started screaming, "Noooo! Leave me alone!! Please stop!!"
Ron put her down onto her feet. She began looking around just as before. But before she could completely turn herself around, Ron grabbed her by the shoulders and yelled at her, pleadingly, "'Mione!! Snap out of it! I've already lost Harry! Please, I can't lose you too!!" Tears were streaming down his face, as Hermione dissolved in a fit of grief and fell into his arms.
Remembering that they were standing in front of the entrance to Dumbledore's office, she turned back to the stone gargoyle. "Fizzing Wizbees," said Professor Sprout, in a high pitched squeaky voice, to the stone gargoyle statue in front of the entrance to Professor Dumbledore's office. The statue came alive and jumped aside. Slowly Ron and the hysterical Hermione stepped onto the revolving staircase that brought them up to the Headmaster's office, followed by the distraught Professor Sprout.
When they arrived at the top the door to Dumbledore's office was open. Professor McGonagall was already there. Professor Sprout strode in first. A very wide-eyed Professor McGonagall stood up and said, "Oh, please tell me that it's not true…." But at that moment, Professor Sprout stepped aside and Hermione and Ron stumbled in.
Dumbledore stood so quickly that his chair was almost knocked over. Instantly he summoned a set of chairs that the pair collapsed into, both sobbing uncontrollably now and clinging to each other for dear life. The twinkle left Dumbledore's eyes, as he sat down looking older and more worn out than ever. Professor Sprout and Professor McGonagall also sat. Professor McGonagall had her hand over her mouth and her eyes were blinking furiously. Madam Sprout seemed to too shocked to react, one way or another.
Dumbledore allowed the room to grieve for a few minutes before he gently began questioning the group that had come from the greenhouse for answers. When all of his inquiries were answered, he sat back into his chair thinking for many moments with his eyes upon the floor. The look on his face seemed to the group to be saying that he was deeply concentrating on something, as if searching for it.
Finally, Dumbledore sighed heavily and looked up at the group. They all looked shocked by his expression. For the first time in their lives, they saw the Headmaster momentarily lose his composure, however briefly, as tears shone in his eyes. He said in a very raspy voice, "Then all hope for this world is lost…."
Harry felt funny. He remembered piercing his hand and feeling very dizzy, but when he opened his eyes he had no idea where he was. It was very bright and warm. He started looking around and realized that he was still in the greenhouse, but his perspective of the place was different, almost as if he were looking down…. And then it hit him that that was exactly what it was. He was floating about the roof of the greenhouse. He felt so free.
He suddenly heard a cry and looked down. He saw Hermione lying on the ground next to… himself! What!?!? thought Harry loudly. But if I'm right here then… what am I doing down there? He decided to keep watching to see if he could get any answers. He saw Ron pull Hermione up into a huge hug and saw him crying too. He could hear Hermione saying something but he couldn't focus on the words, because he was trying to figure out what was going on. He watched as Professor Sprout levitated the stretcher that he was on and tried to follow them out of the door, but the door closed before he could go out of it. He tried to push it open, but his hand went right through it. AM I A GHOST?!?!? he yelled, but his voice only echoed through his mind. Am I dead?
Harry decided to try to pass through the door. He closed his eyes and willed himself toward Hermione and Ron. He suddenly found himself back with Hermione, Ron, and Professor Sprout. They were with Madam Pomfrey in the Hospital wing. He watched as Hermione, Ron, and Professor Sprout were leaving and he watched as Madam Pomfrey was gently levitating him to the examination table. He watched as she removed his glasses, as if she were doing it for the last time, and then collapse into the chair next to him and weep. He had heard her words to him and felt racked with grief. How can this be possible? How can I be dead? I can't be! I'm right here!!! he yelled with his thoughts. He decided that he needed to know more so he closed his eyes and moved forward again.
Again he was with Ron, Hermione, and Professor Sprout. Hermione and Ron were openly weeping as they were standing before the stone gargoyle that led to Dumbledore's office. He thought back to the last lesson that he had in his advanced class. It had been the first class with Arabella. She had taught them how to begin to focus their minds so that they could read one person's thoughts in the chaos of all the thoughts that were flying around them like static and background noise. So he focused into Hermione's and Ron's minds to hear their thoughts, hoping to get some ideas what exactly was going on.
He felt himself go forward and like he was suddenly inside Hermione's mind. He thought he could hear her voice, but she instantly ceased thinking. Then in a rush of words toward him she said, "Harry? Harry is that you?"
Harry couldn't believe it. "Yes, Hermione. It's me! What's going on?" But he did not get what he expected for an answer.
Instead of getting answers as he had expected to get he was suddenly bombarded with a stream of jumbled words. "This can't be…. No…. Harry…. I'm so sorry…. I didn't mean to let you die…. but then… Oh, God, this is all my fault…. Why are you here?! Oh no, you're not here to haunt me are you? Please, Harry, don't haunt me…. No… can't haunt me! I tried to get to you…. I tried…. I tried…. I didn't do this… but what if I did…. NOOOO! LEAVE ME ALONE!! PLEASE STOP!!"
Harry jumped back out of her mind. He opened his eyes and watched as Ron grabbed Hermione by the shoulders and yelled at her, pleadingly, "'Mione!! Snap out of it! I've already lost Harry! Please, I can't lose you too!!" Tears were streaming down his face, as Hermione dissolved in a fit of grief and fell into his arms.
"Oh, Hermione, I'm so sorry! I didn't know what I was doing? I never meant to hurt you!" Harry was about to turn and leave, when a thought from Hermione traveled to him. He stopped and listened, but there was silence. Thinking he imagined it he started to leave again, but then he heard it again, this time louder. He turned back again and there was silence. He did this a few more times and then realized that he was hearing it better when he was facing a 90 degree angle to the direction that Hermione was facing. He stayed there and listened to her thoughts.
His mouth dropped open at what he heard, "Harry, I miss you so much…. You were like the older brother I never had…. Oh God, Harry, I never meant to hurt you by ignoring you when I'm with Ron. It's just that our feelings are so new and wonderful…. If I had realized that that was why you were so withdrawn to us in the first place. I would have rectified it immediately. Oh, damn you for not telling us! Now you're dead and I'll never be able to ask for your forgiveness…." That was all he heard as she and Ron turned toward Dumbledore's office and went up the staircase. He followed wanting to know more.
Harry waited until everyone was seated until he moved around to where he could hear what Ron was thinking. Ron had much the same thoughts as Hermione. Harry felt badly now, knowing how he had blown them off earlier in the day, thinking they would be mad or hurt or even turn away from him if he told them the truth about how he felt.
He couldn't take listening to it any more. He moved away to listen to the explanation of what had happened. He cursed himself when he realized that he had forgotten, in his own stubborn grief at the situation with Ron and Hermione, to put the Dragon Hide Gloves on to prevent this.
He decided that he had had enough and was about to leave, when something drew him to the spot he was in. And though he was going to go and not intrude on the thoughts of the Headmaster, he felt riveted to where he was….
"Harry cannot be gone…. He is too important to this cause…to me…. Without him the line will die…. And the vision that he had will never come to pass…. But even now when I search the castle for his spirit, I do not feel it…. Though I feel his essence in this very room, because of the love that all of those in this room shared for him… including me…." Harry saw the Headmaster that he had grown to respect, honor and care for deeply, lift his head and show none of his usual cheeriness, the twinkle in his eyes completely gone. Harry was shocked to see that Dumbledore actually had tears shining in his eyes. He heard his headmaster say in a very raspy voice, "Then all hope for this world is lost…."
Dumbledore's thoughts came through to him again, "Harry, you were a very special young man…. I never foresaw this end for you…."
Noooo! Harry's mind screamed.
Suddenly the Headmaster's eyes lit up just a little. He looked about the room, as if searching for something, while the others remained locked within their own grief didn't notice. "That's right…. I did not see this end…. It cannot be true…. His essence is here…. I can feel it. Could it be more? Is he here?" Dumbledore thought as he began to scan the ceiling. When his eyes reached Harry, he stopped, and a slow smile returned to his lips and the twinkle entered his eyes again.
"Hello, Harry." This shocked Harry so much that the Headmaster could see him and communicate with him that he nearly jumped back out of the room through the ceiling.
"You can see me, Professor?"
"Yes, Harry."
"But how?"
"I will leave that explanation for later, but right now…."
Harry never heard the end of what Dumbledore was trying to say to him. He suddenly felt a pull on him. He found himself moving very quickly to a new location. If he hadn't been in spirit form he knew he would have been nauseous from the journey. He felt a sudden jolt as the motion stopped. He couldn't believe the pain that he had stopped in. His scar, even in his spirit form, was burning to the point of blinding him, and he instantly knew why….
A familiar high pitched voice floated to his ears. "What do you mean the spell didn't work?" yelled Lord Voldemort to one of his many minions.
Yet another familiar voice reached his ears, "I don't understand it, My Lord…. Malfoy said that his son had done as he was told. He gave the potion to Potter a week ago, Master. He must not have done it right…."
"Wormtail, you will never talk that way about the family of my second in command again… Is that clear?"
"Y-yes-s-s, M-m-master."
"Good. Crucio."
Wormtail screamed and fell with a thud to the floor. Harry knew Wormtail must have been writhing in pain, because his scar exploded with pain beyond any that he had ever experienced. Finally when the curse was removed from Wormtail, Harry was able to open his eyes and focus.
He remembered that about a week before Draco Malfoy had gotten a bit arrogant with him again. It had been in the Great Hall during dinner. Draco had sauntered over to him and tried to start a fight with him again.
"So, Potty, seen anything good lately, like your demise."
"Sod off, Malfoy!" Ron had said.
Harry had passed a sly look to Ron and Ron knew what Harry was planning, "You know, Malfoy, I know of a certain Dragon that wouldn't mind meeting you again…." Draco had paled considerably more than his usual bloodless complexion. Ron hid his smirk and tried hard not to laugh.
Draco had narrowed his eyes and stepped closer to Harry. "Don't get too comfortable in your life, Potter. I hear the Dark Lord is still out there trying to find a way to get you…."
"So tell me something I don't know, Malfoy…."
Draco had picked up Harry's drink and made like he was about to throw it Harry.
Harry had raised his eyebrows and growled at his enemy, "Go ahead. I dare you." Harry's eyes flashed with the angry challenge. Then Draco did something that he truly did not expect. He dropped his arm with the cup in it to his side.
Draco had leaned in again so that only Harry could hear what it was that he was about to say, "You know what, Potter? You are not worth the effort, because you are already dead…." He slammed Harry's cup back down on the table, spilling pumpkin juice all over Harry….
Harry had thought that the exchange was weird to say the least, because Draco had not even challenged him in any way, nor did he follow through with his threat. But looking back now it all seemed to make sense. That must have been when Draco slipped the potion to him. Harry turned his attention back to Wormtail and Voldemort, whose conversation had resumed.
"Did you say the incantation right?"
"Yes, Master." He bowed down and kissed the edge of Voldemort's robes. "Please, My Lord, I don't know what I did wrong…."
"Check again! I will go and question our very helpful and talkative prisoner, to see if there is anything that could have been forgotten…."
"Which prisoner, My Lord?"
"Lockhart, you imbecile."
"I don't see how he would be any help to us, Master."
"ARE YOU QUESTIONING ME?!"
"N-n-n-no, M-m-master. I-I…. It's just…. I don't see how that pureblooded, pretty boy, Squib is of any use to us…."
Lucius Malfoy walked into the room and spoke at the behest of his Master, "Now, now…. Careful who you call a squib, Wormtail…. You are not far from being one yourself. But if you must know why Lockhart's so important to Our Lord's plan, then listen closely for I will not repeat myself. In Potter's second year, Lockhart was the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. He was shown up by Potter and his memory was obliterated by his own hand, when he tried to use the broken wand of Potter's friend and your former keeper, Weasley." Malfoy's disgust was more than evident, when he said the name. "As I was leaving the castle I realized that I had something… or rather someone… that I could eventually use against Potter. It took me some time to reconstruct Lockhart's memories, but as I did I made sure that the pathetic excuse for a pureblood was fed a destructive hate for the Boy-Who-Lived. Once he was thoroughly brainwashed into thinking that Potter was the enemy, he dipped into the vast knowledge that he had collected over the years for his books and found a potion and spell that when used together properly would summon the drinker of the potion to a location, when the incantation was said."
"But, sir, I don't quite understand how it works…. Is the potion like a portkey?"
"Very good, Wormtail. That is exactly what it's like."
"But after a week, wouldn't it have left his system?"
"No. It takes a week for it to seep into the very essence of his being, his soul, if you will. And because his body is intertwined with his soul, that is why he would be transported here…. There is only a small window of opportunity before his soul begins to break down the potion, which we will have now missed, due to your incompetence." Malfoy turned to his Master. "The only reason why he would not be here now is if his soul had left his body in death. Which could be a good sign, My Lord…."
"Yes," hissed Voldemort. "However, if that were true then his soul would be here on it's own and I do not sense it here at all. It is more likely that Wormtail made a mistake somewhere, something, which he will pay dearly for…. I will return shortly. Please help Wormtail reconstruct what he did wrong. While I go to see if in fact all the necessary steps were taken for this to have worked properly…." He turned to leave.
Harry's scar seemed to burn less as Voldemort turned away. Harry turned to see if he could find a way out of the dungeon like room that he was in. Suddenly he was able to hear the thoughts of someone. He stopped moving when he realized that it was Voldemort's thoughts he was hearing.
"You will not escape my wrath, even in death, Potter. I will find a way to get you… dead or alive…." Harry felt a cold shiver run through his spirit as Voldemort began to step toward the door. Harry thought he could finally try to look for a way out in peace when he noticed that Voldemort had hesitated. In an instant the snakelike face of Harry's immortal enemy swung around, eyes wide. He searched wildly about the room for a few moments, until his eyes finally came to rest upon the spot where Harry was.
A slow evil smile spread across his thin lips. "He's here," said Voldemort without taking his eyes from Harry.
"Where, My Lord?" asked Wormtail.
He pointed a long, thin, white, spider-like finger in Harry's direction. Both Malfoy and Wormtail turned and stared in his direction scanning the area, but neither of them could see what Voldemort could.
"So, Potter, if you are in spirit form then you must be dead…. How marvelous. But you will not escape the pain and anguish that I have planned for you. There is no way out of here for you, even in spirit form… So, welcome… to your own private hell…."
The four people sitting in the Headmaster's Office with him did not notice the change in his demeanor as he glanced about the room. They did not even notice it when we began to smile at something unseen. Nor did they notice it when he seemed to be having a private conversation with someone who was not visible in the room. But they were all brought out of their reverie when he was suddenly on his feet and staring at the ceiling.
"Albus? What is it?" asked Professor McGonagall. For a full minute the headmaster stood there staring at the ceiling where he had seen Harry's spirit, just moments before. He knew that Harry had been taken from the room by evil means. The others began to look at the ceiling where Dumbledore was intently watching.
Finally Ron broke the silence, "Professor…?"
Dumbledore now having figured out what must have happened, began asking questions to the two students once more. "Tell me again, Miss Granger…. Where exactly was the thorn on the plant that pricked Harry?"
"Near the base of the stem, sir. He had been putting potting soil into the pot when it happened…"
"Very good…. Now, think carefully. Was it shivering, as if afraid?"
Hermione sat quietly for a few moments and then started shaking her head no. "No, sir," she said slowly. She looked into the aged Headmaster's eyes and saw the twinkle there that had been missing previously. Realization suddenly seemed to spread across her face. She gasped and started smiling widely.
"What is it, 'Mione?" asked a very confused Ron.
"Professor, you don't think…?"
"What…" interjected Ron.
"Precisely, Miss Granger…. I knew that you would figure it out."
"Figure what out?!" yelled Ron as Hermione left her seat and began pulling him to his feet. "Hermione, tell me what is going on!"
"I will on the way! Come ON, Ron!" she yelled as she yanked him up and out the door, leaving the three Professors staring after them.
Once the two students were gone, Professor McGonagall said, "Could some one please enlighten me as to why they just ran out of here so excited?"
Professor Dumbledore and Professor Sprout shared a knowing look, before Dumbledore began, "They just realized that when the Wizard's Deadly Nightshade plant is not frightened it does not put out it poison…."
"So what does that mean exactly, that Potter is…."
"Precisely."
"But then why is he down there in the Hospital wing?"
Professor Sprout spoke up, "Because the spikes at the base of the stem of the plant have another special quality that none of us recalled until we heard the story again…."
"What would that be?"
"The spikes at the base of the stem have dried poison upon them. The dried form of the poison is not deadly, but instead puts a person in a sort of sleeping death for a short period of time."
Professor McGonagall furrowed her brow.
"This form of poison is used for Astral Projection, or the removal of the spirit from the body. What this means is that most likely Mr. Potter is just floating about somewhere in the castle," finished Professor Sprout triumphantly.
"Actually, there is one slight flaw with your explanation that neither you nor Hermione is yet aware of, Professor Sprout."
"Oh?"
"Indeed, Mr. Potter did Astral Project and he was floating about the castle, in this very room in fact…." Dumbledore paused and the twinkle once again left his eyes.
"But?" asked Professor McGonagall.
"But, he is no longer within the castle walls nor is he on the grounds…. I fear that he is in great danger, and if we cannot reunite him with his body in time for the powdered poison to wear off… I'm afraid there will be no saving him…. He will die…"
Harry tried tirelessly to find a flaw, a gap somewhere anywhere in the cell that he was left alone in. He knew that Voldemort would be back and soon to begin the torment of his soul. He was getting desperate. He had begun to feel a tug at his middle, like he needed to return to his body, but there was no way out. The tug was so strong that it made him realize that somehow he was not dead at all but in fact alive, but separate from his body. He didn't know how that was possible, but he just knew that it to be true.
He began pacing throughout the room. He felt like a caged animal. He felt the tug once again. It was becoming more incessant and frequent. He knew that if he couldn't get back to his body soon it would die. He could think of nothing else to do.
As the life seemed to begin draining out of him he began to call for help. Silently at first, then more and more loudly. Voldemort appeared at the door to Harry's cell and with a nasty smile reveled in the torment that Harry was feeling.
Harry began scratching at the solid wall with his invisible fingers. He knew it was futile, but he needed to do something! The tug came once again and a little more life was ripped out of him.
He became more and more agitated. Voldemort just stood there. Harry was quickly losing energy and feeling weak he fell to the floor. Voldemort laughed. He lay there feeling that he was about to leave this existence forever. He closed his eyes and the cold laughter from Voldemort reached his ears. He felt himself fading away as the last of the tugging had occurred, hearing only faintly in the background a loud boom. He slipped away….
Hermione and Ron reached the Hospital wing in record time. Hermione had explained as they ran that Harry was not dead that his spirit had just left his body and that he could wake up at any moment. Ron had increased their pace once Hermione had finished her explanation. They burst through doors searching frantically for Harry's body. Madam Pomfrey hearing all the racket came running out.
"What are you trying to do wake up the dead?" asked Madam Pomfrey.
Hermione turned and looked at her very seriously and said, "Well, yes actually…."
Madam Pomfrey's jaw dropped open and she was about to protest when Hermione launched into the story of what she had just learned. Just as she came to the end of her explanation a noise of something breaking came from behind the curtain where Harry's body was being kept away from prying eyes. They all ran to the spot and noticed that Harry's glasses were broken on the floor. Hermione instantly picked them up and repaired them. She placed them in her pocket until she could give them to him later.
Madam Pomfrey took down the sheet that she had covered him with and noticed with a start that Harry's position was different than when she placed him there. At that precise moment Harry's body convulsed, which made them all jump back. When his body finally relaxed, Madam Pomfrey moved to his side and opened his eyes to look into them briefly. She shook her head and rushed off to her office. She was gone for what seemed like a few seconds, but was more like a few minutes.
Ron and Hermione were not taking their eyes off of Harry. They just knew that any moment was the moment that he would wake up. His body convulsed again. Madam Pomfrey spoke, making both of the students jump, "His body is trying to pull his spirit back when it does that." Harry's body relaxed again and stayed very peaceful for quite some time.
"Then why isn't it working?!" exclaimed Ron.
"Well, it could be one of two reason's, Mr. Weasley…."
"One…?"
"He could simply not want to return to his body…"
"No that's not it. Harry wouldn't do that…." he said with certainty that surprised even himself.
"And two…?" asked Hermione timidly, fearing that she already knew the answer.
"He could be trapped somewhere unable to return…. But if that is true and he doesn't make it back in time…." The rest of the phase was left unsaid, though everyone knew what would happen if he didn't return.
Harry's body started convulsing again, repeatedly. The three of them stood there watching in horror as Harry's body appeared to be going through great pain. With one final horrible lurch, the body then relaxed and truly looked as if it were in the peaceful state of death.
"I think it's over," said Madam Pomfrey
Harry felt himself floating. He felt warm and surrounded with love. He didn't want to leave this feeling. But he knew there was an obligation that he had to the people that he cared for. His eyes flew open. He was still in the cell that he had been in, but there in front of him stood…
"Mom? Dad?"
The image of his mother smiled and spoke in a soft gentle tone, "No, I'm afraid we're not really your parents, Harry."
"Then who are you?"
"We are your parents' guardian spirits."
"I don't understand…."
"We know you don't understand yet, Harry, but it is important for you to listen to us right now. You must go back to your body."
"But I can't. I've tried to find a way out of here and there is no way that I have found."
"We are giving you a way out…. We are holding a spot open for you to leave through. All you need to do is walk between us."
"But I think that my physical body has stopped trying to pull me back. Doesn't that mean that I am dead?"
"No, it simply means that it is too weak to pull you back now… but you must hurry because before too long your body will give up the fight. Go!"
"But…"
"There will be time for questions again later, Harry. Go!"
Harry flew between them and felt like he was slingshot back to his body. As he went, the images of his first year with his parents came to him. New images intermingled with old more familiar ones.
Harry's father and mother were standing over him, both with concerned looks on their faces. James reached into the crib to lift out his wailing son. As he reached in Harry saw the ring on James' hand and stopped crying for the first time in nearly a week. Harry grabbed at the ring. James took the ring from his hand, expanded it with his mind, and slipped it over his infant son's wrist. Harry sat transfixed by the blood red stone with a GG inscribed upon it.
"James, you don't suppose that he has somehow come into possession of the gifts early, do you?"
"I wouldn't think so, Lil. Why do you ask?"
"Because I've had a growing uneasiness in my mind for just about the last week, ever since you and I went to have Sirius put on as our secret keeper and he talked us into having Peter instead. And that was the night that Harry began being colicky and crying nearly nonstop…."
"Why didn't you say something sooner? Because I've been having a dream that…. Oh, dear God, Lil, grab Harry and get out of here now." He pulled a pin off of his collar and handed it to Lily. "Take this and send it to Dumbledore along with the rest of what we decided to have him keep for us. Use your familiar, as she is the fastest." He kissed her and began heading for the door of the nursery. "You must do this quickly… We've run out of time. Give the ring that Harry has to Arabella for safekeeping. Please, Lily, don't stop to do the charm. You have to leave now… or else you won't make it out of here alive. Harry needs at least one living parent to teach him about who he is and what he is to become."
"James, no! Don't leave!" Tears were now free flowing down Harry's mother's face.
Harry's father paused with his hand on the doorknob. "Lily, it's the only way…. Close the door and secure it after I leave. Go out the window with Harry… and don't look back…."
There seemed to be a shift in the memory that Harry was having, as if there were something missing that he was not meant to see yet…. His mother had him in her arms and was rocking him. He began hearing a scuffle taking place just outside the room. Harry's mother ran to the door and threw it open. She saw something the horrified her. "JAMES!!!" she screamed.
"What are you still doing here?! Lily, take Harry and go! It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off –" Harry's mother slammed the door and said something that must have been a charm to lock the door. She turned and ran toward the crib and put him down behind it.
Harry's mother kissed him, knowing that her moment of death had arrived. She whispered things into Harry's one-year-old ears that were still unclear and took from his wrist his father's ring. She looked at the door in horror as she heard the sounds of someone stumbling from the next room followed by a heavy thud and silence just outside the door.
"Harry," she whispered urgently, "I'm giving this ring to Mrs. Figg, your Nanny. When you are old enough and when you need it, she will return it to you. When the time is right you will know what to do with it…." She turned and handed the ring to a much younger Arabella, who apperated out of the room just in time for Harry to see his mother turn around as the door was blown open. A cackle of high-pitched laughter filled the tiny room. The last words, that Harry heard his mother say to him, were, "I love you Harry. Always remember what I told you…." Harry's mother turned and started begging for Harry's life. "Not Harry! Not Harry! Please – I'll do anything –"
"Stand aside. Stand aside, girl!" came the high pitched voice of Harry's deadly enemy.
Harry's mother screamed and landed on the floor next to his one-year-old self, her green eyes fixed open. He remembered looking up from the green eyes of his mother into those cold red eyes of Voldemort, as he turned his wand on Harry.
Harry gasped for breath. He was back in his body, lying on his side on one of the soft beds in the infirmary. His eyes flew open to be met with two very wet looking tennis ball sized green eyes. Harry sat up and jumped beck yelping. He grabbed for his glasses on the table beside him and put them on….
Before he could even register what it was that he had seen, he was hit by something so hard that he was knocked back onto the bed and the wind was knocked out of him. When he finally regained his breath, Harry looked down and finally realized what it was that he had seen when he had opened his eyes, though he should have known right away.
A small form, with bat-like ears and a long nose dressed in an interesting assortment of clothes including some mismatched socks, was clinging to Harry's midriff for dear life, his body shivering with tearful happiness. His cries were echoing about the Hospital wing. He began muttering words that could not really be understood.
"D-Dobby?" Harry whispered, still finding it difficult to breathe with the elf's arms wrapped so tightly around him.
Dobby lifted his head and looked into Harry's eyes with tears flowing down his cheeks. With out missing a beat, Dobby kept speaking, "Harry Potter, sir, is alive and awake. Dobby is hearing a rumor that you is dead, sir. Dobby is so happy to see you, sir. Dobby is hoping that the rumors, sir, is wrong, but when Dobby is coming here to the hospital wing, sir, and is seeing you lying there on the bed…. Dobby is thinking the worst, sir. But then when Dobby is sitting here with you, sir, and you is taking in a breath and opening your eyes, sir. Dobby is so happy." Dobby released Harry from the tight hug.
"It's good to see you too, Dobby," Harry said sighing in relief from being released.
The little elf grinned widely. "Harry Potter's friends will be happy to see you, sir. Dobby will go wake them, sir." Dobby got up and jumped off the bed in one quick motion.
"No, wait, Dobby…. If they are sleeping, don't wake them." Harry noticed the forms of his two best friends lying on the bed next to his, wrapped in each other's arms. For a moment the pang of jealousy returned, but then he thought about all that he had learned by listening to their thoughts. He knew how sorry they were that he had been mostly left out of their lives since they had found each other. He instantly forgave them and actually smiled at their sleeping forms. He looked back at Dobby who smiled too.
"Dobby must return to his duties, sir, but Dobby is happy that Harry Potter is alive and well, sir."
"Thanks, Dobby. It's good to see you too."
Instantly the elf disappeared. Harry lay back on his bed and closed his eyes, trying to recall all of the images from and words spoken in the memory of his mother dying. Usually he would not want to do that especially with that particular memory, but he realized that some answers that he had been looking for had been there in that memory. As he tried to focus on it, he found himself slipping in and out of an uneasy slumber. With tears forming behind his closed eyelids, he searched endlessly for the answers that seemed to be just out of his reach. It was almost as if something was keeping him from remembering what he needed to….
A couple hours later, he realized he could hear the thoughts of the two people that meant the most to him in the world. They were awake and sitting next to him, still in fear that he had not made it through. Harry was amazed at how much Ron and Hermione projected their thoughts at him. He lay there with his eyes closed listening intently to their thoughts. Finally when he had heard enough of the pity party that they both were secretly waging in their minds he spoke without opening his eyes, "You two need to stop blaming yourselves for something that you did not cause or do."
Both Hermione and Ron had jumped. Harry had heard their mind's thoughts shift to how much that he had startled them. Harry chuckled.
"Harry…?" came Hermione's voice aloud.
"Yes, Hermione. I'm alright." He opened his eyes finally, and looked at the blurry forms beside his bed. He watched as the smaller form got up and put his glasses on for him.
"Thanks, Hermione." He looked at his best friends. "Why the long faces? You look as if someone just died."
"That's not funny, Harry," spat Hermione.
Harry laughed. "Oh, come on Hermione. I'm here, aren't I?"
"Yes…" But what you did was very careless and you could have died.
"That's true, but I'm not dead. And I promise to be more careful next time."
Hermione looked shocked, "How did you know…?"
"What you were thinking?" Harry finished for her. "Quite simple really, I've learned how to isolate one voice in a crowd, like Arabella was trying to teach us on Monday. Being in spirit form does seem to have its advantages."
Hermione looked shocked. "That was you then in my mind before we got to Dumbledore's office."
Harry suddenly looked very solemn. "Yes. And I'm very sorry about that, Hermione. I didn't mean to cause you such pain."
"Actually, later when I thought about it, though it seemed to hurt while it happened, it was actually quite comforting to know that you were there…." She smiled widely at him.
He returned her smile sadly. "How long have I been out?"
"For about 5 hours, mate," said Ron, finally finding his voice.
"How was class tonight?"
"It was cancelled due to your…" Ron swallowed hard.
"Okay, well at least we have class tomorrow night," said Harry excitedly.
Hermione was surprised. "How can you even be thinking about classes, right now?" she asked exasperatedly.
Harry sat up and put his hand on her forehead. "Are you feeling all right, Hermione?"
"I'm fine. Why do you ask?"
"Because, for once, you are telling me not to think about school." Harry chuckled.
Hermione looked as though she were about to burst out a reply when Madam Pomfrey strode into the room, having heard the voices that had gotten steadily louder. "Alright you two, that be enough to be getting on with…. Mr. Potter needs his rest. You should return to your dormitories…."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione said their good nights and Harry's friends left him alone with Madam Pomfrey. She was about to go back to her office when Harry stopped her. "Madam Pomfrey?"
"Yes, Harry…," she said with a sigh and a bit more crossly than she had intended to.
"I realized when I was lying here earlier, that I have never said thank you to you for everything that you've done for me every time I have been in here. So, thank you."
Madam Pomfrey's typically hard, determined look melted away slightly softening her face slightly. "Just doing my job, Mr. Potter."
"But I have a feeling that you are rarely thanked for it…. And I know that I have been in here more than my fair share of times… so…. I will try not to make a habit of it as much."
"It cannot be helped, but you're welcome… and thank you." She turned and walked away with an unusual spring in her step.
Just then the Headmaster stepped in. "Poppy, do you mind if I have a word with your patient for a moment?" Madam Pomfrey, who was still feeling happy about what Harry had just said to her, simply nodded and stepped aside with a wide grin on her face.
He walked over to Harry's bed and sat on the edge of his bed. "Good evening, Harry." There was the usual twinkle in the ancient eyes behind the glasses, but even though he couldn't exactly read what Headmaster's thoughts were, he knew that this was more than just a social call to make sure he was feeling better.
"Good evening, Professor."
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm well, sir."
"Good. Harry… I believe that there is much that we need to discuss…."
"What about, sir?"
"I do not think that this is the right moment or the right place for us to discuss such things… after all the walls do occasionally have ears. Besides I am quite sure that Madam Pomfrey would be thoroughly distraught if I did so. The best thing that you can do is to get some rest now. Just permit me one request…"
"Yes, sir?"
"Allow me a short time in the morning to spread the word that your death was greatly exaggerated, as the rumor has naturally been spread throughout the castle about your untimely demise…. I will send for you when I have made the announcement…."
Harry nodded, smiling and lay back on his bed, falling rapidly to sleep. He felt the Headmaster gently rise from his bed and remove his glasses before he slipped gently into the darkness of slumber.