TIMES OF TRIAL
Disclaimer: None of the characters, places, objects etc. that you recognise belong to me. They are mot likely the property of one JK Rowling.
Summery: This story is and will probably always be centred on Minerva McGonagall and the other professors at Hogwarts. It is set in Harry's fifth year and the dream-team will likely appear however. The rating may be subject to change but all reviews are welcome.
A/N: Well here it is, the latest chapter! Thanks to all of you who have reviewed and to Gem for giving this the once over for me *smile*. If it makes sense then the credit is all hers.
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Ron didn't know where to look first. There was activity all around even though the fighting had all but died out a few minutes ago. If he leaned forward and peered out the open gap at the end of their-own stand he could see Alastor Mad-eye Moody co-ordinating the other aurors. Some were rounding up the unconscious Death Eaters who had been abandoned by their comrades and the rest were still sweeping across the grounds presumably securing the area but he really couldn't be sure. Hermione was still watching the pitch avidly and felt the need to jab both Neville and himself when Madame Hooch began to speak again.
"Students!" She called and it was only then he noticed the commotion that had had begun to spread throughout the crowd. When she was successful a few moments later she told them what Ron already suspected, in that the situation had been brought under control and that no doubt they would soon be returning to the castle. As she finished there was another upsurge in the volume but this time it was accompanied by points and gestures towards their shield, which had slowly begun to shrink back inwards. The excitement grew as the charm contracted enough to come in contact with those sitting at the back of the stands but passed through them unremarkably. At least that's how it appeared. The reality was something far more intense as he discovered as the magic surged through his own body leaving him feeling momentarily charged and with a longer lasting sense of comfort and peace. Ron turned his attention again in time to see Dumbledore finish, somewhat abruptly it looked, his conversation with Moody and begin to walk across the pitch. He was following the headmaster with his eyes when he heard Hermione squeal somewhat uncharacteristically. He looked to see what she was staring at just in time to see Snape whirl around in a blur of black cloth and grasp McGonagall's shoulder as she fell.
The three Gryffindors sat in silence, Hermione with a hand at her mouth and Neville leaning forward as if he were going to be able to catch what they were saying. Ron had relaxed substantially when he saw that Professor McGonagall had pulled herself upright and quite obviously begun a heated debate with Dumbledore. However he refrained from trying to convince the other two to relent from their 'vigil' until she stormed across the grass and began to talk with Madame Hooch.
"She'll be fine. Dumbledore wouldn't have let her just walk away like that if he didn't think so." He tried with reasonable success.
"I suppose." Neville agreed, immediately looking brighter. Hermione didn't say anything but did take her hand down and pretended to be looking for someone else in the crowd. It was only a few minutes later that Hooch was again speaking to them but this time with distinct instructions on how they were to leave the grounds. The Hufflepuffs were called first and arranged into a group that either subconsciously or specifically resulted in the younger ones being surrounded by the older, before being led back towards the castle by Professor Sprout and a number of aurors. Then went the Ravenclaws and then the Gryffindors began to file out of the stands. When they reached the ground they were met enthusiastically by the quiditch team, or more specifically the twins and Harry, who it seemed had seen nothing of what had transpired since they had been ushered into the changing rooms. The trip back to Gryffindor Tower was spent giving a detailed, action packed (thanks to Ron and Lee Jordan) and factual (Hermione's input) account of what had happened.
Whether it was by coincidence or action, Ron was aware that the trip up to the tower entrance was speed along by rather fortunate positioning of the staircases. He didn't take long to ponder over this however as soon he was drawn back into the conversation that now centred over whether, as Neville had described, their teacher had 'swooned' or as Hermione protested 'reeled' before being caught by the two men. The train of Gryffindors reached their destination then however, and the topic of conversation switched to the identity of those who had been apprehended.
"I'm pretty sure I saw Malfoy get away." He told them remembering the aristocratic poise of the wizard or witch who had managed puncture the shield, how they had seemed to command authority over the others and had fled at the first sign of trouble. The tension was obviously lifting as they all pilled into the common room and once again the volume of discussion intensified as they waited for McGonagall to finish speaking to the Fat Lady. Ron took the time to look around the room and take in all the various groups of various ages all talking vociferously on similar topics. After a few moments of watching the drama unfold in front of him the Professor walked into the centre of the room and with her back to the fire, began to speak.
"Students!" She called and instantly there was silence. Ron had to admire that ability after watching Hooch's attempts to achieve the same results earlier. They all shuffled around a little so that they could see their head of house. Ron, Hermione, Harry and the others they had walked with ended up with prime positions just to the right of the hearth.
"Thank you." She continued. "Now I want you all to know that we are all very appreciative of your behaviour thus far today but I must ask for that to continue for a little longer. It is imperative that we establish the security of both the grounds and the castle itself and until such a time as that has been achieved you will be required to stay in the tower, no matter what. The Fat Lady will ensure that no one who does not posses appropriate Professor's access clearance will leave the portrait hole. However if you need to get in touch with myself, or any of the other Professors then you may send an owl, I believe that the are being sent down from the owlery presently, and I will of course be checking in on you periodically." She was being far more open with them than was usual and this unnerved Ron somewhat but on the other hand he supposed it was hardly surprising she was a little out of character after a day like today. He couldn't help but reconsider his earlier conclusion about her sate of (well being) and Dumbledore's decision to let her go though.
"The House elves will see to your need in the meantime. They should be arriving shortly with tea and biscuits but until then to keep you warm…" She turned to face the grate. "Incendio." Throwing both her hands in front of her she sent a fireball slamming into the previously empty grate. However, instead of resulting in the usual steady blaze, the fire leaped up sending flames lapping at the mantel. The students took a step back many smiling and laughing at the over exuberant spell.
"Still a little buzzed there Prof…." Began one of the twins, Ron was fairly certain it was Fred but could never be entirely sure, but he stopped as did every other noise in the room as all eyes turned to see their Professor crumple to the floor.
The next few moments didn't pass in slow motion for Ron exactly but more in freeze-frames. They were all just standing there, and then all of a sudden his brothers were kneeling next to the form on the floor. George was feeling first her wrist then her neck, in search of a pulse as Fred held first his back of his hand then a cheek above her mouth to see if he could feel her breathing. Ron new instinctively that they would not find a pulse from the look on his twin brothers' faces he was correct. The twins exchanged quick glances before rearranging their Professor and themselves on the floor.
"We need to get help. We need to get her out of here. Now." Fred said aloud to the room looking specifically toward his fellow seventh years.
Lee Jordan and one of the other girls were the first to snap out of the daze and suddenly took charge of the rest of them.
"Fourth years and under" The quiditch commentator called. "Dorms. Now." And they went, or at least most of them did. Then Hermione was leaning past him to say something to Harry.
"Hedwig!" And it clicked with him that the snowy was one of the few owls that preferred to stay near her master and was often to be found in their dorm. His friend nodded and bolted up the stairs. The remaining students had split into groups, one was already over at the portrait hole trying to lift the charm that had sealed it and another was standing at the hearth obviously trying to coax the fireplace into opening a floo connection. Hermione quickly joined the group at the door. The sound of a shutter clicking brought Ron back to real time with a thump. He automatically looked to the stairway up to the boys' dorm just in time to see Colin Creevey's head disappear back behind the corner. He made his way swiftly over to that side of the room. The anger bubbling up inside him was probably a result of many other emotions that he had experienced already that day and he tried his hardest not to inflict them all on the forth year.
"Go. Now." Was all he said but his low tone and expression left the younger boy in no doubt of what his options were. He turned tail and scampered up the stairs. Ron glanced up the well and saw that Semus, Dean and Neville had all stationed themselves on the different landings and looked like they had no intention of letting anybody else past.
"No sign of Hedwig but Harry's checking to see if any of the other owls are around." Semus told him and he nodded before turning around.
"Is she…"? It was Neville's call from several landings up that stopped him.
"I don't know." Was all he said trying to keep the bubble of fear that had been threatening to erupt from climbing any further in his chest. He walked back into the common room and his attention immediately fell back upon Fred and George in the centre of the floor.
"I still can't find a pulse." George told his twin as he removed his fingers from their professor's neck. "And still no sign of her breathing." Fred added glancing at the mirror he had acquired from somewhere and was holding above her face. They both nodded, oblivious to those around them, and positioned themselves in a formation that Ron had first seen in their living room at home. The summer before they had gone to Hogwarts George had fallen from a tree and had for a time, stopped breathing. After this event they had decided that neither of them ever wanted to be in a position again that they couldn't help the other should they need it. So they had taught themselves Muggle resuscitation techniques. But now instead of one of Ginny's dolls, enlarged solely for the purpose of their learning, lay one of the people Ron respected most. She looked so… so fragile there. So unlike herself, immaculate hair fallen from it's place, clothes pulled hastily parted in order that George be ably to find the correct position to place the heel of his hands. He was fairly certain that had the situation been different both he and others would have would have taken the time to comment on the perfect rhythm that they had quickly fallen into. Breathe. Five compressions. Repeat 15 times then stop, check for a pulse and signs of voluntary respiration before swapping places before beginning again. Ron desperately wanted to do something to help but was aware that he was probably better out of the way. Dotted around the room there were students who simply couldn't seem to take their eyes of the scene in front of them. At one point some of the first year girls obviously ventured down to the stairs but the first he heard of it was a squeal accompanied by a couple of sobs but then Lavender appeared to usher them back up to their dorm. It must have been a little over five minutes when a commotion next to the door alerted them to the fact something was happening. Heading across the room Ron realised that Harry was beside him and must have been for some time. Someone had obviously opened the portrait hole from outside and was now being faced with a barrage of words probably entirely incomprehensible. They stopped half way across the room when they saw who was standing there. Professor Lupin stood with his hands raised trying to get them all to calm down, probably so that he could ascertain what had happened but he looked up and obviously saw over their heads all he needed to. Totally uncharacteristically he pushed through the throng paying little heed to those he had to get past.
"Oh Merlin." He said quietly as he threw himself onto the floor beside the twins. Looking up he caught sight of one of the sixth years. "Sonia. Madame Pomfry." With a whirl the girl was gone. "Angelina you go to." The chaser nodded quickly and with her quiditch robes billowing behind her she followed her friend out. Then he turned to face them.
"Go find Professor Dumbledore. He'll want to know… He ought to still be with Professor Snape. Try the dungeons." They were on the move before he had finished. Ron was only glad that the crowd had dispersed from around the portrait hole allowing them clear access. He could only assume that someone had prevented the door from closing after Lupin's entrance. Unfortunately, when they got outside they came to a dead halt. The staircases below them were in complete disarray.
"Damn. Which way?" Harry asked looking from side to side. He thought for a moment.
"It depends. Should be that way." He said pointing right. "But only if the main stair hasn't shifted from earlier." His companion blew through his nose.
"Tell you what. I'll go that way and you head back inside and get the map from the top drawer of my bedside cabinet." Ron nodded wondering why he hadn't thought of that before. He pivoted and headed straight back into the common room, which was once again eerily quiet. They only sound that broke through an impassioned cry of 'animo vigoris'.
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