Chapter 12

The couple stood there dumbstruck as Snape floated an unconscious man on a stretcher down the hall.

"Bloody hell! Did we just see what I think we saw?" Ron asked an equally shocked Hermione who was standing next to him.

All she could do was nod. She was staring transfixed at Harry and Pansy. Pansy was holding on to him as though she would never let go. Once Hermione had put all of the pieces together, her heart broke for Pansy. She had seen the horrified look on Pansy's face when her father had burst through the big wooden doors. She didn't know what to say. All this time she thought that Pansy was being horrible for no reason, but no wonder why she hated everyone. Hermione couldn't bear the thought of her father hurting her, and she couldn't understand how anyone could do such a thing.

As if reading her mind Ron silently exclaimed next to her, "He's bloody crazy, storming in here like that. And did you see McGonagall? Remind me never to get on her bad side." He looked silently at Hermione who seemed to be thinking hard. He gently put a hand on her shoulder. "Should we go in there? I mean, isn't Harry still mad at us?"

"Yes, but he needs us right now."

They walked into the Great Hall not knowing what to expect.

A long, loud horn woke him. He didn't know where he was. He opened his eyes slowly but was blinded by the bright sunlight. He started to think back. The last thing he remembered was that he was going to curse Harry Potter, then that old bitch McGonagall stunned him. He opened his eyes again and looked around. After a few seconds it registered that he was in a train. It was now stopped and he couldn't hear anyone else. Was he the only one there? He got up groggily and opened the door. One look down the corridor of the train told him that he was on the Hogwarts Express. "I'll get them for this." He stepped out onto the now empty platform 9 ¾. Just as he was about to apparate home, the tattoo on his forearm burned jet black and instead he apparated to his master's side with a smile on his face. He knew that he had some useful information to give him.

Ron and Hermione walked slowly towards the embraced couple. Harry saw them coming and rather than look at them he buried his face in Pansy's shoulder. Hermione saw this and felt a small stab of sadness but continued on nevertheless.

When they finally reached them, they stood there awkwardly for a second before Ron cleared his throat softly. Pansy sprang abruptly from Harry and spun around. For a second, Ron and Hermione could see the utter misery present in her eyes. However, that was short lived. As soon as Pansy saw who it was, a hint of annoyance crept up in her.

"What," she snapped. She knew these were Harry friends but she didn't care. Besides didn't he say he was mad at them anyway? Then she felt Harry arm around her waist and all doubts were erased. He was mad at them.

"We saw-," Hermione began awkwardly but was cut off by Pansy.

"And you've come to rub it in my face? Come to laugh at me? Come to tell me how perfect your family's are?" Pansy's croaked. It was evident that she had been crying, and silent tears threatened to start again but she wiped them away angrily.

"No!" said Hermione horrified. "We wanted to say that we were sorry." Ron nodded fervently in agreement. "And if there's anything we can do, if you ever want to talk…" Hermione trailed off seeing the look on Pansy's face.

"I'll tell you what you can do. You can get out of my face," Pansy whispered.

Ron looked shocked. "We were just trying to be nice. Come on 'Mione, I think they want to be alone," Ron said with a hint of resentment in his voice.

Harry tried to hide the smirk that was threatening to form on his face at the look of indignation on Ron's face. He couldn't help but feel satisfied. At least now they knew what a maniac Pansy's father was and everything she was going through.

What bothered Hermione most was not that Pansy had totally rejected their peace offering, but that Harry had just stood there with no hint of emotion on his face at all. Did he even care about them anymore? Hermione knew she was losing her best friend and she just couldn't let that happen.

With a crack he had apparated into a lavish living room. A look around told him that whoever lived here was extremely wealthy. 'Not a bad place to hold a meeting. Certainly better than the dumps we used to use,' he thought. Suddenly, more and more wizards started apparating into the room. They were all wearing their long, black cloaks with the hoods down. He hadn't seen this many of his fellow death eaters for a long time. The Dark Lord was operating on low key ever since the incident at the Ministry of Magic two years ago. Though he did not know exactly what happened, he knew it involved Harry Potter. This is why he knew he would be highly rewarded for his information. If the Dark Lord was calling all of his followers, then he must be planning something big. Then it hit him. If the Dark Lord was calling all of his followers, then she would most certainly be here. He had to keep cool. He could not let her ruin his chance to get on the Dark Lord's good side. He would act as if nothing happened, nothing at all.

The last few people finished apparating in. Now it was obvious why this location had been chosen. The sheer size of it was needed to accommodate the few hundred death eaters now present. He marveled silently at the following his master had been able to gather.

Then, out of the shadows came Lord Voldemort. He was wearing a cloak much like that of the death eaters, only his hood was up. But nothing could cover that hideously pale skin, those red eyes that saw right through you and the snake-like slits he had for a nose.

Once everyone realized that he was there, all talking stopped at once. Then he spoke in that cold, cruel and unforgiving voice. "It pleases me to see you all here. All of you, so loyal. Your loyalty will be repaid in full. Now we get down to business. As most of you will already know, I had sent two of my most trusted followers to America to try and rally more supporters for our cause. Patricia, William, a report if you please."

Out of the crowd came two people. They walked up to the front of the room and stood next to the Dark Lord. That's when he saw her. She was just standing there without a care in the world. Her long blond hair was falling down her back and her blue eyes were addressing the crowd. The man was standing next to her also surveying the crowd with a sneer on his face. Before he spoke he gave a small bow to his master. "Thank you my lord. Now, we were able to gather quite a few American supporters, however, not as many as we would have liked. We told them not to come here just yet; we thought it would look suspicious. They are awaiting orders as we speak."

"Well done," the Dark Lord said with a sneer. "I'm sure they will come in very handy to our cause." A few people sniggered at this remark, while others had no clue what he meant. "I am aware that not all of you know what I am planning. I have told only my most trusted death eaters. At the time I was not even sure I wanted to follow through with this particular plan. However, after the events at the Ministry of Magic two years ago, I was determined!" Several people shivered at his voice. "Harry Potter has thwarted me for the last time. I have already gotten the assurance of the dementors, and the giants have also agreed, well a few of them agreed. We disposed of the rest of them; they were not sure which side they were on. It was not difficult, they practically extinguished their entire race over the years so we convinced them to fight each other," he said cruelly and several more people openly laughed. However, those who did not know what was going on only listened quietly. What could they possibly need with dementors and giants…unless? Voldemort continued, "Come this June we will launch a full attack against Hogwarts. For those of you thinking about running away, I have one word for you, don't. And for those of you thinking it is suicide, do not worry I have a plan and it will not fail me." He sounded so determined that no one questioned him. "The first thing we need to do is get Harry Potter out of the school, He cannot be there when we attack otherwise he will be under Dumbledore's protection."

Now was his chance, now he could give his master the information. He steadily walked through the crowd until he reached the front. When Patricia and William saw him their eyes narrowed in disgust. He paid them no mind and walked until he was face to face with his master. He bowed slightly before he spoke.

"Master, if you please, I have some information that might prove useful to your plan."

Voldemort surveyed him carefully before speaking. "And who are you again?"

"Maximus Parkinson, my lord."

"Very well, speak."

"Well, my lord, I propose that you lure Potter out of the castle by taking those that mean the most to him."

"If you recall, Maximus, Black is dead. He was the only one that Potter would go to any lengths to save."

Able to see that Voldemort was getting agitated, he spoke more quickly. "There is some one else. Potter is in love."

Voldemort's eyes gleamed devilishly. He almost looked excited. "And who pray tell is the lucky young witch?"

"My daughter, Pansy."

Patricia let out an audible gasp. "No! She wouldn't."

"Yes, my dear, she would," Maximus said scathingly. "My lord, if something was to happen to Pansy I am sure that Potter would go to any lengths to rescue her. Just today, I went to the school to bring her back home and he actually stood up to me and tried to protect her."

"Are you sure?" Voldemort asked not bothering to hide his excitement.

"I would stake my life on it."

"Good, because you just have."

He gulped. "If I may, my lord, there is one more thing. I believe it would prove useful to also lure his two friends. I've heard my daughter talking, well actually complaining, about them. Apparently they are inseparable. I believe their names are Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger, a mudblood."

Someone spoke up. "Yes, my lord, that is correct. I have also heard my son, Draco, speak of them. I too believe it would be useful," the drawling voice of Lucius Malfoy called out from the crowd.

"Very well, Maximus. I thank you for this information as it will prove useful. It please me to see that you are willing to use your own daughter for the cause."

"Anything for you my lord."

Patricia, who had been shocked by this whole thing, looked horrified. "Maximus you can't be serious. Your own daughter?"

"I do what I must for the cause," he said coldly.

"As should you," Voldemort said, casting Patricia a dangerous look. "We will not harm your daughter…unless of course it is necessary," he added with a cruel smile. "This meeting is adjourned." One by one all of the death eaters disapparated.

Pansy screamed with horror as Harry clutched his scar and fell to the cold stone floor of the Great Hall. When he finally stopped screaming and opened his eyes he was able to say only three words.

"Voldemort…attack…Hogwarts." Then he passed out.

Horrified Pansy ran to get the headmaster.