leggylover03, Rocky235, Ash Knight, ?()(your welcome, I will eventually go back and change the rest of the story as well), athenakitty, Nphipps, mscs3, saxistwriterchick thank you for reading and taking the time to review.
Chapter 24 Assassinations
Sunday morning brought the muggle news paper from Hermione's father. The headline news was not good.
RIOTS BREAKOUT OVER GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION
Forty-seven killed and over a thousand injured yesterday in Hyde Park
London. The demonstrations began when it was announced that several
key figures from the Restoration Party had been arrested. Government
sources refused to confirm or deny that they had been responsible for the
disappearance of party officials on Wednesday evening. The Police
commissioner denied having taken part in any raids or holding any political
prisoners.
Conjecture that the move was made by M15 is rife among the remaining
party members who were present at the raid. They have reported that
at 9pm a group of men broke into the meeting, without identifying
themselves and it is believed they released some kind of gas to incapacitate
the members. They awoke three hours later to find their leaders missing. No
traces of any known gas were found but the police refuse to list the men as
missing, claiming that all their identities were forgeries. The police charged
the demonstrators, who claimed they had been involved in a peaceful
demonstration, two men were crushed in the initial chaos and the remaining
forty-five were killed in running battles with the police, that lasted late into
the night.
"Oh God, I hope Moony wasn't there," Harry muttered. "I'm going up to see Dumbledore, he must have heard about this." He led the others at a run up to Dumbledore's office and burst through the door, before Dumbledore could answer the sharp knock.
Dumbledore didn't glance up from the picture on his desk he was apparently listening too.
"We've checked out half the local hospitals so far, we should have done the rest by the end of the day." A disembodied voice said from the picture.
"Speed is of the essence, I'm sure you're aware that tonight is a full moon," Dumbledore replied. "Let me know as soon as you find him." Finally Dumbledore looked up and there was a worried frown on his face. "You received your news paper I see."
"What's happened to Moony?" Harry demanded.
"We don't know for sure that anything has happened to him, he did not make his usual report last night and has not returned to headquarters yet," Dumbledore replied.
"But your checking the hospitals, you think he might have been injured in the riots?" Hermione asked.
"I hope that we are mistaken, but we must find out before this evening," Dumbledore replied.
Harry could just imagine Moony's horror at transforming in a place full of muggles. "You have to let me help," Harry announced.
"Actually I wanted to speak to you alone about that," Dumbledore replied, much to Harry's surprise.
"It's alright, you can tell me now, they know most of it anyway now," Harry replied, looking defiantly at the headmaster.
"You told them about your abilities?" Dumbledore asked cautiously. "I wanted you to try and see if you could hear him." he finished cryptically.
"I'll try," Harry replied, and sat down on the floor and closed his eyes. He listened to Hermione and Ron moving behind him to sit down and sensed Hermione's need to ask about a hundred questions.
"How can he possibly hear Moony from here?" Hermione asked. But Ron shushed her by saying he would explain later.
Harry focused on the air around him and gradually his breathing slowed, he heard a distant gasp and knew that Hermione and Ron had realised he had stopped breathing normally. He pushed them out of his awareness and focused on making his mind travel far from Hogwarts, he listened to the jumbled mutterings, trying to find his friends voice among them.
Having no luck, he tried picturing Moony's face and pick him out of the many thousands of voices crowding into his mind. The voices faded to the back ground a he heard a woman say, "Do you remember what happened, Roger?"
A tired gritty voice said, "I was at the park and then there was fighting and screaming."
"Do you know your name?"
"Remu…eh Roger Smith," The unsteady man's voice said. "How long have I been here?"
"They brought you in last night, you were hit on the head, but you couldn't remember your name."
"Where am I?" Panic was beginning to show in his voice, "Where are my things?"
"Now relax, you can't possibly get up now, your things are here, in the cabinet beside your bed," The man was obvioiusly struggling to get out of bed, "No Mr Smith, please, I will sedate you if necessary." This must have convinced him to lie still because she said, "Now you're in St. Francis's Hospital, in Comely Road, do you have any family you would like me to contact?"
Roger laughed, sounding slightly manic, he said, "I doubt you'd be able to reach them."
"If you could give me a telephone number?" the nurse sounded gentler.
"Um…they're out of the country at the moment, when can I leave?" Roger asked a bit calmer now.
"Well I think the doctor would like to keep you for a couple of day's, he mentioned a contaminated blood draw, he wants me to take another sample now."
Harry's eyes flashed open and turned to pierce Dumbledore, "Is Moony's cover mane Roger Smith?" receiving a nod he said, "he is at St. Francis hospital in Comely Road, they are taking blood samples, the nurse thinks they are odd because they were contaminated, they want to run tests on him. You have to hurry."
Dumbledore grabbed the photo frame he had been speaking to earlier and tapped it with his wand. Then he wrapped on the frame three times and a voice replied, "Yes Sir?"
"St. Francis Hospital, Comely Street, urgently, we have a lead on our friend."
"Right away, I'll get back to you when we have him."
"Thank you Harry, you could have just saved many lives," Dumbledore replaced the photo and addressed Harry.
"How long will it take them to get him?" Harry asked, brushing off the thanks.
"Not long, once they locate the hospital, they should be able to get him. I have already arranged a portkey to bring him here." Dumbledore replied.
"Um, can I ask something now?" Hermione said timidly.
Harry turned to look at his friends and nodded.
"Harry, how can you do that, I have never read about anything like that before. You didn't breath for about thirty minutes, I was watching you." Hermione looked puzzled.
"It has to do with my extra lessons, I am learning to bec…" Harry began.
"Harry!" Dumbledore interrupted.
Harry ignored him and continued, "I am learning to become more connected with the magic around us, it's like a more advanced form of meditation." He concluded, aware that he had not told his friends the entire truth, but he felt that they would not be ready to understand it and he was afraid they might start to treat him differently, if they knew about the Elemental magic.
"But why weren't you breathing?" Ron asked.
"I was, you just couldn't see me because it …um…slows down a lot when I meditate," Harry improvised.
Harry was saved by further interrogation by a noise behind them; they turned to see a very grey looking Moony appear holding a pile of clothes in one hand and a muggle pen in the other. He immediately collapsed on the floor and they rushed to his aid. Dumbledore directed the boys to lift him onto a sofa at the back of the room and they laid him out on it. Conjuring a blanket, Dumbledore placed it over the unconscious form and sent a message from his wand, Harry presumed to Madam Pomfrey.
The flame in the fire crackled and Madam Pomfrey stepped out, without a word she headed over to her patient, shooing the students out of her way. She poked and prodded for several minutes then muttering under her breath something about 'medieval healers,' she cast a golden glow from her wand which encompassed Moony's body and all the visible cuts on his face disappeared. Finally she muttered, 'enervate,' and Moony stirred, opening his eyes.
"How do you feel now Remus?" Madam Pomfrey asked.
"Better thanks, I can see straight now, what time is it?"
"Relax, it's a little after eleven in the morning, you still have time," Madam Pomfrey reassured him.
"I have to get out of here, before tonight," Moony pushed of the blanket and started to stand.
"You will do no such thing, after what they did to you in that muggle hospital, you're lucky to be alive," Madam Pomfrey said indignantly. "Do you believe they actually sewed your head, as though you were some torn piece of clothing?"
Harry and Hermione exchanged a smirk as they realised that Moony had been given perfectly normal muggle stitches. Dumbledore said, "Severus is already brewing your potion, so you will remain here tonight. That way Madam Pomfrey will be able to keep an eye on you."
"You can stay with me Moony," Harry offered.
"I think it best that Remus stays in my office tonight," Dumbledore cut in, "I know he is uncomfortable staying close to the students at these times."
Harry scowled at the headmaster, but before he could argue, Moony said, "I will go to the shrieking shack, from the whomping willow." But as he spoke he yawned and Madam Pomfrey bustled over.
"For the moment you aren't going anywhere, you will get some sleep and I will come and check on you in a few hours time," with that she turned on the others and said, "Now go on all of you and leave him to rest."
Dutifully Harry, Ron and Hermione said goodbye and went out of the office. They had gone down the stairs and were walking along the corridor when Hermione said, "Harry, what's going on with you and Dumbledore, I don't think I've ever heard you be so rude to him?"
"I wasn't being rude, I just don't like it when he orders me around all the time," Harry replied.
"But that's his job, he is the Headmaster after all," Hermione reasoned.
"Look, after all he has done for me I'm grateful, really I am. But I wish he'd stop treating me like some naughty first year, who can't look after himself," Harry said. "He knows perfectly well that I can stay with Moony, I did it at Redwood. But once again he just makes his decision and expects me to sit nicely in my room."
"Well why don't you go to the shrieking stack tonight then, after Moony goes?" Ron asked. "Dumbledore didn't actually say you couldn't. Hey I could come too; after all, that's what your Dad and Sirius used to do."
"I don't think you should Ron," Hermione said.
"Well obviously you shouldn't but Harry and I will be alright," Ron said. "Moony would only attack humans, not other animals."
"Besides Hermione, what about Moony, stuck in there all night with no one to keep him company?" Harry said. "He's just been healed, what if he hurts himself?"
"Well I know you'll go anyway so there's no use arguing, but promise me you'll be careful, you don't want to get into trouble," Hermione conceded.
With that the friends walked outside for a while and then went into lunch. Dumbledore didn't come and Harry assumed that he was still with Moony. The grounds keeper was there and Harry glanced at him suspiciously before he sat down. Something about Rex Greymarsh bothered Harry, but he couldn't decide what it was.
Hermione insisted they spend the rest of the day studying and finishing homework, obviously not wanting to push his luck, Ron agreed meekly and Harry tagged along after them to the library. Having finished his homework and bored with studying, Harry went to wander around the book shelves. He wasn't looking for anything in particular but a deep turquoise covered book caught his attention.
"How to Protect Against Potions and Poisons," by Ray S. Putin.
Harry took the book down and flipped through the page. He stopped at a useful looking paragraph.
Aclaro infensus- a simple incantation to reveal any potions
Or poisons added to food. If the food shows
a grey hue, then it is unsafe. The darker the
hue, the more potent the poison.
Harry couldn't believe there was such a simple incantation to let him check his food. If he had found it before, Dumbledore would never have been able to trick him. He quickly summoned a paper and quill and wrote down a few notes.
He rejoined the others and Hermione glanced at the parchment in his hand, "Find anything useful?" he showed her the paper and she nodded, "I've been looking for something like that for you, seems like a good idea."
Harry shook his head, typical of Hermione, she was studying for ten NEWT's and yet she still had time to go and look for other things to help her friends. He was only taking five and he rarely came to the Library just to look around.
"Come on, enough of the bookworms, I'm starving," Ron announced throwing his gear in his bag. "Let's go for dinner."
Harry tried the incantation and nothing changed colour, Harry wasn't sure if it was because the food wasn't tampered with or if he was just doing it wrong. "Try it on one of Fred and George's sweets later on, I'm sure Ron still has some upstairs," Hermione whispered to him. Harry though this was a good suggestion and nodded, he ate his food cautiously and then they went to the common room.
They tried Hermione's suggestion on Ron's sweet collection, they promptly turned dark grey. Harry was pleased but Ron was worried that they would now be inedible. But his fears were allayed when the sweets returned to their normal colour and he gave one of the first years a canary cream. The unsuspecting boy immediately turned into a canary and then moulted, earning him a round of applause from the rest of the students in the common room.
At eleven Ron and Harry, under Harry's invisibility cloak, left the common room. They quietly made their way down to the whomping willow. Using his wand, Harry stilled the huge tree and they crept inside. Turning into an eagle, Harry led Ron, who transformed into a dog, down the passage to meet Moony. He howled at them mournfully and stretched up from his position on the floor.
Moony and Ron sniffed each other with interest and Harry transformed back to a human to watch the two of them. He hadn't told Moony that Ron could transform and Moony was probably curious about who Harry had brought with him. Moony placed his head on Harry's knee and Harry scratched him gently between the ears. Ron was investigating the abandoned room as Harry sat with Moony.
"It's Ron, but you probably figured that out already, makes a good looking dog doesn't he?" Harry laughed as Ron's ears picked up. "I actually think he looks better like that, not as many freckles."
Ron bounded over and knocked Harry from his place on the bed, Harry rolled onto the floor as Ron caught a hold of one of his ankles and started to pull it playfully, growling at his friend. Moony circled the two, carefully keeping out of their way. Harry panted, "Okay, I'm sorry," Ron let go, and Harry added, "You're a mangy mutt and look much better as my freckly friend."
This time Ron barked loudly and jumped on Harry. Wagging his tail and nipping at Harry's ears, it didn't hurt but Harry was now laughing so hard, tears were rolling down his face. Moony growled at the two of them and Harry was sure the werewolf was grinning. Harry asked, "Why don't we get out of here for a while?"
Ron barked in agreement, but Moony plopped down on the floor, his head between his paws.
"Come on Moony, you're perfectly safe, you haven't even tried to bite me," Harry pointed out. He knew that Moony was consumed with guilt about all the times he had snuck out before the invention of wolfsbane, when he would still have attacked any people he had come across. Eventually Moony stood up and howled, then walked towards the door. Harry grinned and transformed back to an eagle, he flew along the passage and pecked at the knot to still the tree. The three animals bounded out and headed to the dark forest.
They played in the Forest for hours, chasing each other and hiding. Harry swooped down and pecked at them a few times and both Wolf and Dog jumped frantically, trying to catch the eagle. Harry looked down as Moony howled to the moon, and then turned to head out of the forest. It was almost dawn, they had to get back before Moony transformed. Quickly they raced back to the tree and once inside the two boys transformed. Saying a quick goodbye they grabbed the invisibility cloak and went back to their dorm.
Dumbledore smiled as he saw Harry sitting on the floor waiting for his lesson the next morning, "I see you are very much your father's son, Mr Potter."
"I know it's hard for him, he misses them especially when he has to stay locked up alone," Harry replied.
"It is good for you both to blow off some steam I would imagine," Dumbledore said quietly.
"What is the Ministry doing with the wizards they captured at the Restoration Party meeting?" Harry asked.
"They will be charged with undue interference in Muggle affairs and inciting violence," Dumbledore replied. "They have broken some of our oldest laws."
"It's illegal for a wizard to be involved in muggle politics?"
"Yes, throughout history, wizards have manipulated muggles and the international Wizarding laws were written to prevent it," Dumbledore said.
"What about the other groups?" Harry asked, "The ones in other towns?"
"The Ministry is trying to find other ways to disband them; we do not want a repeat of the trouble caused this time."
"Has there been more trouble, other than the riots? Harry asked.
"There has been an assassination attempt on the Muggle Prime Minister this morning," Dumbledore said sadly.
"By whom?"
"An anonymous man tried to plant a car bomb near the Prime Ministers car, had it gone off it would have killed many innocent people," Dumbledore said. "A phone call to a local radio station claims a group called 'Freedom of Choice,' carried out the attack. They want the government to return the Party members taken during the raid, however the Government have no idea what has happened to them."
"So if we leave them alone they arrange riots and if we stop them they arrange riots and kill people?" Harry said.
"Exactly, we cannot afford to risk more lives, so we must wait and see what Voldemort plans for them." Dumbledore sat on a chair facing Harry and said, "It is not always easy to see the best way forward. We thought by removing the wizards we would be allowing the muggles freedom. But all we have done is reinforced their views of a corrupt government, biased against them."
"I have to stop him soon," Harry said. "If he was gone, then maybe this would all stop."
"Unfortunately, he has already planted the seeds of hatred, if we cannot find a way to counter that, then they will blossom, with or without his help," Dumbledore replied. "We should start your lesson." Dumbledore stood up and held a hand out to Harry, who took it and stood beside his mentor.
"I think you need to do some practice on controlling your emotions," Dumbledore said, "You realise what happened the other day. Professor Snape informed me that this is not the first time your emotions have gotten the better of you."
So Harry spent an unusual lesson practicing a kind of relaxation technique, involving breathing and channelling his energy. Strangely, he felt very calm as he left for his next lesson. After the days lessons, Harry went to visit Moony in the headmasters office and they spent a while talking before Moony had to leave, he was returning to Redwood for a few days, then he would go back to London and rejoin the Restoration Party, claiming to have been in hospital for the past few days.
Harry was afraid of what might happen to him, he didn't think he could take losing anyone else, but Moony promised to be careful and to write soon.