Chapter 18
Changes

"Potter, this is useless," Snape drawled one evening when Harry had been in the dungeons trying to make up some of his missed and failed potions. "This truth potion is obviously not penetrating your thick skull. It should be a light blue color at the moment." Harry didn't think his potion was all that bad. Sure the blue was more navy than anything else and the liquid thinner than it should have been, but other than that he had followed the directions precisely.

"Sir, could we quit for tonight please?"

"Not until you complete your potion."

"But, sir, I have to study some more for exams tomorrow."

"Well, you should have started your studies last week."

"I did."

"Don't you talk back to me, Potter! Your failure in any subject but Potions is none of my concern. Now, you should let your potion simmer for twenty minutes and then add the powdered bezoar talon..."

Seething, Harry turned back to his potion and began stirring it fervently. To think he had felt sorry for Snape only last summer...

* * *

Harry finally managed to get back to the common room at 11:30, finding every Gryffindor still frantically studying for the exams tomorrow. He managed to find Ron and Hermione in the back corner, both quizzing each other on tricky spells, obscure animals, and impossible potions. They paused when they saw Harry walking towards them.

"How did it go?" Hermione asked, stretching her neck from being hunched over for so long.

"Horribly," Harry replied, plopping down in a chair next to Ginny who looked green. She was muttering charms under her breath to study for her O.W.L.s the next day.

"Oh come on, it wasn't that bad, was it?"

"You try being in a room alone with Snape for three and a half hours."

"How many did you have to make up?" Ron asked.

"Four. One I missed and the others he just refused to grade."

"Do you want to study with us?" Hermione asked, turning back to her extensive Transfiguration notes. "We were just starting on human transformations and I know you were having some trouble when we covered it in class."

"No, I think I'll get some studying done in the morning. I'm exhausted right now." Harry looked around to see a few droopy-eyed Gryffindors starting to fall asleep on their books and notes. "Besides, I studied a bit last week and McGonagall did say that we would all go on to the next N.E.W.T. courses next year." Harry stood up and yawned luxuriously. "See you guys in the morning."

* * *

"Potter, come with me up to the headmaster's office," Professor Snape told him just before he reached the Great Hall with Hermione and Ron. Obediently but reluctantly, he followed, telling his best friends he would join them later.

Snape's step was even quicker than usual, so Harry had to practically run to keep up. This had been the last thing he wanted to do the start of the first day of his final exams; he had wanted to get some last minute studying in before the tests. "Professor?"

"Yes?" Snape snapped as he took a sharp turn to the left to go through a secret passageway in a tapestry Harry had never used before.

"What's going on?"

"The headmaster has some last minute changes and information before you will be traveling to the Abyss of the Enemy."

Harry didn't dare ask for more information. Dumbledore hadn't even told him the original plan for his trip to the Abyss. They exited the secret hallway and sure enough, the stone gargoyle guarding the entrance to the headmaster's office was right in front of them. "Chocolate frog," Snape mumbled as the gargoyle sprang aside, allowing them entrance. Sure enough, the all too familiar spiral staircase appeared, leading them upward. Harry followed the Potions master onto a moving step.

"Cornelius, you must understand..." came the frantic voice of Professor McGonagall from inside the wooden door.

"I understand plenty, Minerva," Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic replied. "The boy does not have enough experience, he is not ready..." Snape opened the door and beckoned Harry into the room where the conversation abruptly stopped.

"The boy, headmaster."

"Thank you, Severus."

"Harry! How wonderful to see you again," Fudge said in a mock-friendly tone as he stood up and violently shook Harry's hand.

"You too."

"As you probably heard, Potter," Professor McGonagall said as she shot a dirty look at Fudge, "we were just discussing your trip to the Abyss." She looked older than Harry had ever seen her.

Immediately, Harry turned towards the Minister. "I am ready and I do have enough experience. I've faced Voldemort before, and I can do it again."

"I understand this, Harry, but you're so young! You haven't completed your Auror training yet and that could be vital to survival against the Dark Lord."

"That isn't all that bothers me," Dumbledore said wearily.

"What? You didn't tell me about something else you wanted to talk about!" the Minister exclaimed.

"It is something between Severus, Minerva, Harry, and I. You may wait outside the door, Cornelius."

"Are you throwing me out?!"

"No, I simply want a private word with Harry."

"Anything you have to say to the boy here you can say in front of me."

Dumbledore's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Cornelius..."

"Fine, I'll leave!" he exclaimed reluctantly as he walked out onto the landing outside the office door, slamming it shut behind him. Snape placed a seal on the door with his wand so the Minister could not hear their discussion.

"Please sit down, Harry." Obediently, the teenager sat in the chair in between Professors McGonagall and Snape.

"Professor Dumbledore?" Harry asked tentatively.

"Yes?"

"Why did you send the Minister out of your office?"

"Cornelius knows nothing about the Order of the Phoenix and I intend to keep it that way. I dare say he would think I am simply starting a rebellion against the Ministry." Dumbledore sighed. "And now back to the topic at hand. Harry, do you remember a few months ago you were concerned with a teammate, Zachary Lyons?"

"Yes."

"It appears he has finally accomplished the task Mr. Malfoy assigned to him. Just recently, the Order has found a map of the Abyss of the Enemy. It appears this cavern has been around for hundreds of years and been used by Dark forces for just as long. The map is at least four hundred years old, and it plots the locations of great treasure as well as a great source of power. The Death Eaters have been hungry for an increase of their ability to command and control the general Wizarding population. This ancient power that we have kept contained in the last four hundred years is dangerous, and extremely deadly if placed in the wrong hands. Just last night, I looked over the map the Order had just sent to me. An urgent call beckoned me out of the office, so I gently placed the map in a secure place—a place I thought was secure. It appears while I was out of my office Mr. Lyons broke in, found the map, and took it directly to Draco Malfoy. I caught them immediately after Mr. Malfoy sent the map with his owl to his father. They are both suspended."

Harry sunk back farther into his chair. This couldn't be happening. "When am I leaving?"

"Directly after exams today. Tonks, Alastor Moody, Arthur and Molly Weasley, and a small group of all the Aurors we can spare will accompany you."

"What about tomorrow's exams?"

"You are excused from them. Next year you will continue your N.E.W.T. courses as well as your training."

"Headmaster?"

"Yes, Severus?"

"Potter here must take my exam. I thought we had agreed that no student who fails my final exam will not continue in the Potions N.E.W.T. program?"

"These are special circumstances, Severus. You know how much and how hard Harry has worked this year. I'm sure he would pass the test with flying colors." The elderly man turned towards the teenager and smiled. Harry smiled back.

"I do not believe in special treatment of students."

"Neither do I, Severus, but this must be an exception."

Running out of retaliations, Snape sank back into his chair and sulked. McGonagall still hadn't said anything. "Don't you agree with me, Minerva?"

"Yes," she replied in her sharp tone. "I must tell you this before you leave for the Abyss, Potter. You have shown a bravery and courage beyond any student I have seen in this school during your short time here. I am proud of your accomplishments and wish you the best of luck in facing Lord Voldemort." Her voice started to crack, but Harry appreciated her words all the same.

"Severus?"

"Yes, headmaster?"

"Bring Cornelius back in here. He must understand before we send Harry to the Abyss."

Snape stood up, swiftly walked over to the door, and beckoned the Minister back inside. Looking disheveled and extremely harassed, Fudge walked in and sat down in the chair directly to McGonagall's right. "So I assume you are done talking behind my back then, Dumbledore?" he asked rudely.

"You must understand our reasoning for sending Harry and the Aurors to the Abyss of the Enemy before they leave, Cornelius."

"I understand plenty. You simply want a reason to have the opportunity to take over my job! You've always wanted to be Minister of Magic and this is your chance...I should have seen it all along!"

McGonagall became outraged. "Do you think Dumbledore wants the stress of Minister of Magic?! He belongs right here in Hogwarts and wouldn't even consider taking your job! Why else did he decline all those offers for your position? You've always had poor judgment, Fudge, and you know it. You have bombarded him with letter for advice every morning and won't make an important decision without consulting Albus first!"

Harry watched Fudge cower under Professor McGonagall's outrage. "I—I see, Minerva," he stuttered. "I—well, I'm sorry. Please continue, Albus." He kept a keen eye on McGonagall who was still seething, but staring intently at Dumbledore.

"I have to admit, you have made some wrong choices in your reign as Minister of Magic, Cornelius, which is why I took control of the information the Aurors obtained about the Abyss of the Enemy. Now as you know, Harry has been studying Aurorism over the course of this last year--"

"What? This is news to me, Albus! You know the rules of Auror hopefuls! They must complete a three-year training after graduation from a magical institution."

"I explained to you in September what my plans for Harry have been. This is a special case, Cornelius."

"Surely not special enough to go against the rules!"

"Potter has considered himself to be above the rules ever since he arrived here, Minister," Snape said. "Bending the rules has been a pastime of his."

"Silence, Severus. Whether you like it or not, Cornelius, we are sending a group of Aurors to the Abyss of the Enemy this evening. They will take Harry with them."

"Preposterous! This is going too far, Dumbledore..." the Minister started but soon stopped after McGonagall narrowed her eyes at him.

"Harry, you will travel to the Abyss of the Enemy this evening," Dumbledore said, adjourning the meeting. "For now you had better go get some breakfast. Good luck on your exams." With that Harry left the office, leaving a disgruntled Fudge in his wake.