The dining hall was covered in silver and candles as always, but only a
select few were lit. Classes didn't begin for another two weeks so it was
only the Order Members dining. Everyone was seated except for Remus, who
had his food sent out to the grounds for the later dinners. Neville was
seated next to Ginny, and Neville's cheeks were an ever so slight shade of
pink. Hermione sat in silence next to Ron and stared at her plate. Ron just
held her hand and gazed at her with love in his eyes so strong, yet it was
brought on by the hint of torture and agony in his eyes. Fred and George
were sitting and laughing as always, though after the events of the past
few days they weren't quite as jovial as usual. Of course, a crack at Ginny
and Neville was neverentirely out of order.
"Look at those two lovebirds over there!"
"Squawking up a storm if you ask me."
"Look Neville, Ginny's a real special boy, so we want you to never break his heart."
Neville looked up as they continued poking fun at the two, but Fred and George just kept going, and because Ginny was their sister, it reached an almost malicious tone.
"Neville, can't you-" Ginny looked into Fred's eyes with such ferocity that Fred instantaneously shut his mouth. George opened his mouth to continue but Fred just elbowed him in the stomach and motioned to Ginny. Neville's face had also lost its rosiness and begun to turn a slight shade of red, but this time from anger. Even though Fred and George were just joking, he still couldn't stand them when they made wisecracks at Ginny all the time. He could care less if it was about him, but as soon as they pulled Ginny into it he just wanted to deck both of them. He would do anything to protect Ginny, even die for her. He didn't know if she knew how he felt, but he didn't care. As long as she was there around him he was happy.
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Harry's arrival through the floo network into Beauxbatons was swift and silent. He made his way from the main hall fireplace to Madame Maxime's office and as he knocked on the dor he could hear two people talking. A gruff voice was close to tears as the muffled sobs of words made their way to the ears of Madame Maxime.
Harry let himself in to the sight of a very large man in animal skins practically in tears as the large woman of Madame Maxime tried to comfort the blubbering giant. "Hagrid, you have to tell me what 'as 'appened. Please don't do zis to yourself." She looked up to see Harry standing by the door. She heaved a sigh of relief. "Harry, so good to see you. Please, sit down, Hagrid iz trying to tell me something, but it 'as upset him too much."
Harry looked at Hagrid and spoke softly to him. "Hagrid, what is it? Please Hagrid, we need to know."
Hagrid managed to stifle his sobs for a moment and spoke. "Harry, its awful. Its Dumbledore Harry... he's... he's" The sobs came again but Harry and Madame Maxime had already guessed what had upset him so much. Madame Maxime broke the silence. "Harid, he isn't dead, is he?" Hagrid's sobs broke out again so loud that it was enough confirmation of their worst fear as if Hagrid had said the words himself.
After a few minutes Hagrid's sobs had somewhat subsided and though his nose was stuffy and red he began to speak again. Harry himself had almost begun to cry at the news, but he knew better. Madame Maxime still had tears streaming down her face, but Hagrid began to speak. "Yes, yes its true. Found him this morning, no one had seem him fer a few days, but that's not so strange 'round the start o' the school year."
"Hagrid, how?" Harry was in some other reality, Hogwarts was undefended, and this also meant Harry was the last hope.
"Well, the Ministry came in, found out he was poisoned. Snape's 'bin missing, so its more than just suspecting its 'bin him thats done it. Aside from that, its 'bin taken from his cupboards."
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Severus was in the one room at the ministry where he needed to be. He had gotten into the room with the veil. Fawkes rested on his shoulder, but not contentedly. He was ever vigilant to spot any chance for escape. But he wouldn't truly take flight, he knew that he needed to go on a journey beyond anything before. Severus looked at the bird and spoke the words so ancient that they had been all but forgotten. It was in some foreign tongue and didn't sound human or even so much like words. The indescribable sounds uttered were finished with these words, "Sirius Black."
And with that the bird flew into the veiled archway and didn't come out the other side.
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Volta arrived with a select group of girls who were part of the Guild. They entered through the main doors and approached Madame Maxime's office where they walked in on Harry's reaction to the news. Harry swore right there, "I will never rest until he's dead. Never."
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Things in the dining hall were interrupted by an announcement by Madame Maxime. Something about her seemed wrong, she seemed almost distracted. "Alright everyone. I 'ave an announcement to make. First of all, these girls 'ere are from the Serpent's Guild. Now please girls, go sit down, I will fill you all in on what has happened. Now, everyone, please make sure you are seated. Albus Dumbledore 'as been- he- Dumbledore is..." She sucked in her breath, "Dead."
"Look at those two lovebirds over there!"
"Squawking up a storm if you ask me."
"Look Neville, Ginny's a real special boy, so we want you to never break his heart."
Neville looked up as they continued poking fun at the two, but Fred and George just kept going, and because Ginny was their sister, it reached an almost malicious tone.
"Neville, can't you-" Ginny looked into Fred's eyes with such ferocity that Fred instantaneously shut his mouth. George opened his mouth to continue but Fred just elbowed him in the stomach and motioned to Ginny. Neville's face had also lost its rosiness and begun to turn a slight shade of red, but this time from anger. Even though Fred and George were just joking, he still couldn't stand them when they made wisecracks at Ginny all the time. He could care less if it was about him, but as soon as they pulled Ginny into it he just wanted to deck both of them. He would do anything to protect Ginny, even die for her. He didn't know if she knew how he felt, but he didn't care. As long as she was there around him he was happy.
----------------------------------------------
Harry's arrival through the floo network into Beauxbatons was swift and silent. He made his way from the main hall fireplace to Madame Maxime's office and as he knocked on the dor he could hear two people talking. A gruff voice was close to tears as the muffled sobs of words made their way to the ears of Madame Maxime.
Harry let himself in to the sight of a very large man in animal skins practically in tears as the large woman of Madame Maxime tried to comfort the blubbering giant. "Hagrid, you have to tell me what 'as 'appened. Please don't do zis to yourself." She looked up to see Harry standing by the door. She heaved a sigh of relief. "Harry, so good to see you. Please, sit down, Hagrid iz trying to tell me something, but it 'as upset him too much."
Harry looked at Hagrid and spoke softly to him. "Hagrid, what is it? Please Hagrid, we need to know."
Hagrid managed to stifle his sobs for a moment and spoke. "Harry, its awful. Its Dumbledore Harry... he's... he's" The sobs came again but Harry and Madame Maxime had already guessed what had upset him so much. Madame Maxime broke the silence. "Harid, he isn't dead, is he?" Hagrid's sobs broke out again so loud that it was enough confirmation of their worst fear as if Hagrid had said the words himself.
After a few minutes Hagrid's sobs had somewhat subsided and though his nose was stuffy and red he began to speak again. Harry himself had almost begun to cry at the news, but he knew better. Madame Maxime still had tears streaming down her face, but Hagrid began to speak. "Yes, yes its true. Found him this morning, no one had seem him fer a few days, but that's not so strange 'round the start o' the school year."
"Hagrid, how?" Harry was in some other reality, Hogwarts was undefended, and this also meant Harry was the last hope.
"Well, the Ministry came in, found out he was poisoned. Snape's 'bin missing, so its more than just suspecting its 'bin him thats done it. Aside from that, its 'bin taken from his cupboards."
----------------------------------------------
Severus was in the one room at the ministry where he needed to be. He had gotten into the room with the veil. Fawkes rested on his shoulder, but not contentedly. He was ever vigilant to spot any chance for escape. But he wouldn't truly take flight, he knew that he needed to go on a journey beyond anything before. Severus looked at the bird and spoke the words so ancient that they had been all but forgotten. It was in some foreign tongue and didn't sound human or even so much like words. The indescribable sounds uttered were finished with these words, "Sirius Black."
And with that the bird flew into the veiled archway and didn't come out the other side.
----------------------------------------------
Volta arrived with a select group of girls who were part of the Guild. They entered through the main doors and approached Madame Maxime's office where they walked in on Harry's reaction to the news. Harry swore right there, "I will never rest until he's dead. Never."
----------------------------------------------
Things in the dining hall were interrupted by an announcement by Madame Maxime. Something about her seemed wrong, she seemed almost distracted. "Alright everyone. I 'ave an announcement to make. First of all, these girls 'ere are from the Serpent's Guild. Now please girls, go sit down, I will fill you all in on what has happened. Now, everyone, please make sure you are seated. Albus Dumbledore 'as been- he- Dumbledore is..." She sucked in her breath, "Dead."