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Chapter 28 Potions
The euphoria from the Quidditch win carried the friends through the night and into the next day. It was almost the beginning of June and they took their work outside and sat by the lake to study. Harry was not keen to spoil the mood but he knew they had to discuss their plans soon.
"Hermione, what did you discover about the wards around the school?" Harry asked.
"Well, many of them are regular anti-muggle wards and unplottable wards, they are ancient and can be renewed by anyone," Hermione answered, rummaging through her bag for her notes. "But the main wards are connected to Dumbledore. You remember what we learned, the stronger the wizard the stronger the wards."
"Well you won't get much stronger then," Ron added.
"If we took them down, how long would it take to replace them?" Harry asked.
"Harry, we can't just take them down," Hermione pointed out, "They only come down when something happens to Dumbledore."
"What if Dumbledore died? How would the castle be protected then?" Harry asked.
"They would last twelve hours after his death, then the new Head-master would have to reinforce them."
"How come they still work when he's not here?" Ron asked.
"Well, he has to transfer his position officially for them to go, if he retires or something," Hermione explained.
"But how long would it take him to renew them," Harry repeated.
"Well, he has to concentrate on casting them at five points around the grounds. So he has to physically travel to them, because once he puts up the first anti-apparation one, he wouldn't be able to apparate to the next spot."
"What if there were five wizards, one at each point?" Harry thought aloud.
"Well it wouldn't be so strong, because they wouldn't be connected," Hermione said.
They fell silent for a few moments and Harry tried to think of a way around it, it would not be practical for Dumbledore to spend twenty minutes at each point then walk to the next point and start again.
"What if, we connected them somehow?" Harry said finally.
"How?" Ron asked.
"The elves!" Hermione said. Looking at her two friends she explained, "Hogwarts has over two hundred elves, if the formed a physical chain round the school, they could connect the five points."
"That might work," Harry thought, "If Dumbledore, McGonagall, Flitwick, Bill and Snape stood at the main points and the elves held hands to form a link…" Harry's mind was working overtime; it did seem like the best solution.
"One bit I don't understand though," Ron said. "How do we get Dumbledore to lower the wards in the first place?"
"Nott," Harry said.
"What?" Ron replied.
"Nott used a potion to strip my powers, if we gave some to Dumbledore, then the wards should weaken."
"Are you mad?" Ron exploded. "You want to invite Voldemort here while Dumbledore doesn't have any powers?"
"Besides, if you strip his powers, how can he renew the wards?" Hermione added.
"Madam Pomfrey was able to purge the potion out of my system," Harry replied.
"Alright, say all this works and Voldemort and his cronies arrive," Ron said, "what then? How will you fight them all at one?"
"That's one the part I can't tell you," Harry replied.
"Harry, this is crazy," Hermione said quietly. "We have to talk to Dumbledore."
"We will, once the plan is ready," Harry replied.
They were interrupted by a first year ravenclaw boy, who approached them timidly and said, "Professor Dumbledore wants to see you, Harry Potter. He said to go to his office now please."
Harry stood up and thanked him, then turning he caught the worried looks on his friends faces, "What?" he asked them.
"Do you think he knows what we've been talking about?" Hermione asked.
"Probably not," Harry replied, "But there's only one way to find out. See you guys later." He turned and made the familiar journey to the Headmaster's office.
"Harry, come in and sit down," Dumbledore said, he was smiling and Harry took that as a good sign.
"You wanted to see me?" Harry asked.
"Yes, I have been reviewing Moony's reports and I think that you should carry on your mission," Dumbledore said, "But I would like to make one small change."
"My mission?" Harry asked.
"To remove the brain washing from the muggles involved in certain political parties."
"You're going to let me do the rest of the groups?" Harry asked.
"Yes, but I will accompany you this time," Dumbledore added. "We would be advised to use Dobby's services as house-elves can appear undetected by conventional wards and apparition sensors and the like."
"Well, I was thinking you could go during your detention tonight," Dumbledore replied.
"But I finished my detentions," Harry replied.
"Yes, but being out of bounds will require me to give you another," Dumbledore smiled.
"Oh that's nice," Harry replied, "I go with you and I still get a detention?"
Dumbledore laughed, "Well what would you have me tell everyone about your absence?"
Harry smiled, "Alright, but no deducting house points."
"It's a deal," Dumbledore replied, "report for your detention at six o'clock, please."
"Yes, Sir," Harry replied with false indignation.
Glancing at his watch, he saw that it was almost time for lunch, so he made his way down to the Great Hall to catch up with his friends. But not wanting to embroil them in his future law breaking, he told them that Dumbledore was giving him an extra detention for sneaking out to visit Moony. Hermione frowned slightly and Ron complained loudly on his behalf.
Their first port of call that evening was a meeting in Manchester. The disillusioned Harry and Dumbledore traveled with Dobby, and on arrival, Dumbledore told Dobby to wait for them outside, and stay out of sight. Dobby shimmered and then disappeared. Harry and Dumbledore made their way into the meeting unnoticed.
This group was almost twice the size of the London Branch and it took Harry longer to affect them. When he had finished, they stayed around for a few moments and watched the interaction of the men. The suggestion worked on most of them and soon the ring leaders found themselves severely out-numbered. Harry glimpsed Moony in the background and longed to go and speak to him, but Dumbledore placed a firm hand on Harry's shoulder and led him silently away.
Dobby took them to Newcastle next, and the process was repeated to great success. Harry was starting to feel a little tired. Dumbledore told them about a new branch in Glasgow and so off they went again. With a visit to Dublin, Harry began to feel the strain but when Dumbledore offered him the chance to continue in Europe, he couldn't refuse, he was afraid he would not get another chance.
By late evening they had been to Barcelona, Paris and Munich, Harry could barely stand when Dumbledore told Dobby to take them back to Hogwarts. Harry complained that there were still a few more main groups and they should continue. But Dumbledore was firm, it was almost 2am and there would be no more meetings at that time of night anyway Dumbledore pointed out. So Harry conceded and allowed Dobby to return them to the Headmasters office.
"Dobby, will you take Harry straight to his room, please," Dumbledore asked. "And Harry, you have a free period in the morning, I don't want you to worry about missing my lesson. Dobby will bring you some breakfast at ten and you can go to Transfigurations after that. You must rest after this evening."
Harry's eyes were almost closed as he nodded his agreement and allowed Dobby to take him to his room.
"Harry Potter should change out of his robes, Sir," Dobby tried to convince him, but Harry fell face down on the bed and stayed there. Dobby reached over and took Harry's glasses off and put a warm blanket over him. Harry vaguely heard a crack and he knew he was alone; he gave up the fight and allowed himself to sleep.
Harry woke with a jump, and scrambling to untangle himself from his robes and blanket he groped around for his glasses.
"Good morning Harry Potter, Sir," Dobby's cheerful voice said. "Did you sleep well?"
"Like the dead, Dobby," Harry replied, taking the tray that Dobby was holding out to him. "What time is it?"
"Ten o'clock, you have time to eat and change before your next lesson."
"Thank you Dobby, for everything," Harry smiled. Dobby beamed in return and bowed then with a crack disappeared.
Transfigurations, Charms and Potions were all revision lessons, the NEWTs would start the following week and the teachers were trying to help the now nervous students recover all the information they may have forgotten. Harry worked hard with everyone else, but in another part of his mind he was making plans.
Dumbledore would have to pretend to be seriously ill, and then fake his death. It was the only way Harry was sure that Voldemort would dare to attack Hogwarts. He had to find a way to get the students away, safely and secretly. Too many of them had connections to Death eaters so there was the risk of their early removal reaching Voldemort. Then he had to actually face Voldemort and his minions. This was the one part of the plan that Harry avoided thinking about.
As he sat at dinner, he thought about his seven years at the school. He would be leaving the only happy home he had ever known in a few weeks, wither he defeated Voldemort or not, and that knowledge weighed heavily on him. He looked around the Gryffindor table at all his class mates; they had all changed so much over the years. But in essence they had stayed the same.
Hermione seemed to recognize Harry's pensiveness and looked at him speculatively a few times, but Ron had his nose stuck in his Transfiguration notes, cramming, as always his full year's lessons into a few days. Harry smiled at this, no matter what happened, some things would remain constant. Ron would always be rushing at the last minute and Hermione would always nag.
Professor McGonagall had posted the timetables on the notice board,
Monday *----Transfigurations am Theory pm Practical
Tuesday *----Charms am Theory pm Practical
Wednesday *---- Defence against the Dark Arts am Theory pm Practical
Thursday *----Potions am Theory pm Practical
Friday *----Care of Magical Creature - pm Practical
Harry wrote out the list and smiled vaguely, for him the exams would only last for one week, Hermione had one everyday for two weeks and Ron would have to sit Muggle studies and Herbology in the second week. The last NEWT was scheduled to take place on the 12th, the day after Harry had to face Voldemort. Harry wondered vaguely what Dumbledore would think about that – some of the students would miss their History of Magic exam, Hermione would not be pleased.
After dinner they joined the majority of the 5th and 7th years in the library to study. Harry went to find the book that Nott had found the power stripping potion in and check he had all the details. Hermione should be the one to brew the potion, but Harry knew he couldn't ask her, she took her exams very seriously.
He replaced the book and took the parchment filled with notes back to the table. Hermione looked up from her notes and held out a silent hand, Harry handed it to her. He watched as she quickly scanned the list and he could almost see the wheels in her mind turning as she calculated how and where they could make it.
"Are you sure about the potency?" Hermione whispered.
Harry nodded.
"Well I can do this in three days, but I will need you to get some of the ingredients from Snape's personal store, when can you do that," She asked.
"Hermione, I can do it, you need to concentrate on your exams," Harry replied.
"And if you make any mistakes, you might end up poisoning Dumbledore," Hermione replied calmly, "And my exams won't mean a thing."
Gratefully, Harry leaned over and kissed her cheek, saying, "You're amazing, thanks."
"I'm sitting right here," Ron growled.
"Well, I'm not bloody kissing you," Harry replied. The three friends laughed quietly.
"If I go now, then I might be able to get the stuff now," Harry said, "The teachers have a meeting tonight."
"Good luck," whispered Hermione.
"Don't trip over the water slide step now," Ron added.
As unobtrusively as possible, Harry went behind one of the book shelves, he could disillusion himself, but he wasn't sure if the potion ingredients would be affected if he disillusioned them as well, so he dragged on his invisibility cloak and snuck out of the room. Checking the marauders map, he found that all the teachers were still in the staff room. Grabbing the nearest portkey statue, he headed for the dungeon.
Carefully, he opened the locked door and waited for a second to see if anyone would come. Deciding the coast was clear he made his way to Snape's private stores and unlocked that door. He sensed a protection spell and realized that Snape would be racing down to catch the intruder. Quickly Harry grabbed all he needed and slipped out of the door. Locking it and then running out of the class room, his last image before he transported back using the statue was Snape billowing down the corridor.
Pulse racing, Harry ran back into the library and hid behind a shelf to pull off his cloak. Snape would be searching for him, he always suspected Harry for any theft or rule breaking. Quickly taking his place beside Ron and Hermione, he said, "Mission accomplished, but he knows that someone has been in his room and I have to hide this stuff before he corners me."
"Give it here, I'll take it," Ron offered.
Harry shook his head, "No you're the next best suspect before Hermione, I need to…"
He was cut off by Hermione calling, "Neville, come here a minute."
Neville looked up and wandered over to their table. "Would you hide some stuff for Harry?" she asked without preamble, adding," From Snape," as an extra incentive.
"Sure, give it over," Neville replied without question, "I'll take it down to the common room and give it to you later."
"Thanks mate," Harry replied and handed the small bag of jars to Neville, who tucked it into his robes and went back to his seat. He had just sat down, when Snape walked into the room.
Harry opened his Potions text book and stared down at the blank parchment in front of him, grabbing his quill he thought that Snape might not be fooled so easily, closing his eyes and concentrating. Several paragraphs of writing appeared on his page, that he hoped they were notes the potion in front of him.
"Mr Potter, what are you doing?" Snape's cold voice demanded.
"Studying," Harry replied, without looking up.
"Don't be smart with me boy, you have not been here the entire evening," Snape continued coldly.
"Yes he has Sir," Hermione replied for him.
"I was not asking you," Snape said. "Potter, come with me." Snape turned to leave and then said, "You two, empty your bags on the table."
Hermione and Ron looked at one another and then complied, Hermione had an impressive number of books and notes which she placed on the table and Ron followed suit adding a much smaller pile to the table.
Snape glanced at them suspiciously and the turned and walked out, with Harry following him, hastily stuffing his books and papers into his bag. He realized he still had the parchment with the ingredients for the potion in his pocket. As subtly as possible, he pulled it from his pocket and let it flutter to the ground, hoping Hermione and Ron were still watching and would retrieve it.
Harry trotted along behind Snape and realized with a sinking feeling that Snape was heading for the Headmaster's office. Dumbledore bid them entry and Snape shoved Harry through the door roughly.
"What has happened now?" Dumbledore asked.
Harry shrugged his shoulders and Snape growled, "My private stock has been stolen, and the charm I place on the room alerted me, I arrive in time to see someone use one of Potters portkey statutes to escape the area.
"Did you see Mr Potter?" Dumbledore asked patiently.
"No," Snape answered.
"And were did you find him?"
"In the library with his friends."
"Did you ask if he had left the room?" Dumbledore asked.
"His friends would have no problem lying to cover up for him," Snape replied. "He was pretending to write an essay when I arrived.
"Show me your essay, Harry," Dumbledore said.
Harry rummaged in his bag and drew out the last piece of parchment he had charmed the writing onto and silently handed it to Dumbledore. Dumbledore opened it and after a second held it up for Snape to see.
"It would seem that Harry's essay is a little worse for wear," Dumbledore looked at Harry, "You know you should have let the ink dry before rolling it, I can hardly read what you have written."
"I didn't have much time; Professor Snape demanded I come here with him immediately."
"Would you object to showing the Professor what you have in your bag?" Dumbledore inquired.
Harry opened his bag and took out all the books and paper he had, cautiously he pushed his invisibility cloak to one side and showed Dumbledore the bottom of his bag.
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow then said, "I see you have taken my advice Harry, you have your cloak with you."
Harry nodded dumbly and pulled it out of his bag. Snape snorted and said, "He used his cloak, that's why I couldn't see him, it should be confiscated."
"If he broke into your stores, where are the stolen items?" Dumbledore reasoned. "I'm quite certain you would have checked to see if he gave them to his friends."
Sensing defeat Snape turned on his heel and stormed out of the room.
"Harry, you really shouldn't provoke Professor Snape," Dumbledore said quietly, "He is under an immense amount of stain."
"He's under strain?" Harry ogled.
"Voldemort is pushing his follower hard, since the mysterious collapse of certain muggle groups that were supporting him."
"So it worked?" Harry asked excitedly. "Can we do the rest of the European groups?"
Dumbledore smiled and said, "I don't want to interfere with your study time."
"I think it's worth it, besides I'm not really able to concentrate on exams right now," Harry replied.
"Harry, I would like you to do well in your exams," Dumbledore said. "You have studied hard for seven years; you deserve to have some official reorganization for that."
"It's not like I can use all I have learned anyway," Harry shrugged. "It's supposed to be a secret."
"No, I want you to do your best Harry; even your basic Elemental spells can be achieved by a good wizard," Dumbledore said. "I think it should be time for the secrecy to end."
Harry was confused, if he suddenly started using Elemental magic during NEWT's, surely word would get out. Voldemort would be prepared for him, and maybe even not fall for Harry's intended plan.
"Harry, I can sense that something is on your mind," Dumbledore said. "But I think that you will share it with me when you are ready."
"I will and thank you for trusting me," Harry was surprised to hear himself say. Dumbledore was starting to treat him as an equal, and the idea made Harry proud and afraid at the same time. Harry put all his things back in his bag and said, "Well, goodnight,"
"Harry, did you steal some of Professor Snape's ingredients?" Dumbledore asked.
Harry thought for a moment and then risked saying, "Please don't ask me that, because I don't want to lie to you."
Dumbledore smiled and said, "Good night Harry."
Relieved, Harry made his way quickly back to the common room. Hermione, Ron and Neville were waiting for him as soon as he came through the door.
"Well?" the three asked at once.
"Nothing, Snape couldn't prove it, so he had to let it go," Harry replied. "Did you keep it safe?"
"I have it now," Hermione said. "I'll start tonight, if you lend me your cloak."
Harry nodded and said, "We can go once everyone goes to bed."
"Ron's going to help, you get some sleep," Hermione replied.
"Are you sure?" Harry asked, he didn't want to sleep but he did feel as though he needed to relax his mind a little.
"Can I help you guys with something?" Neville asked. "I mean if it's not a big secret that is?"
"Actually, I've been thinking about arranging a DA meeting, I think I will need your help for something," Harry replied, "How about you speak to the old members and tell them to get together tomorrow at seven in the room and I'll meet them there."
"Sure, I can do that, I'll keep it a quiet as possible," Neville replied, his face glowing with unspoken pride, that Harry would trust him to help.
Harry led the way to his room and gave Ron the cloak and asked, "Did you lift the list in the library?" Hermione nodded. "Right, then I'll see you in the morning, thanks for doing this."
"It's okay," Hermione said, "See you in the morning." Ron wrapped them both in the cloak and Hermione squeaked, "Ron!" Rona laughed and Harry opened the door for them, he didn't want to know what Ron had just done. After letting them out Harry lay on his bed and started to go over his plan again.