FEVER
Chapter 9: Defeat of the Strongest

Author's Note:
Oops...two whole months without posting. But really, blame it on Snow who just HAD to break her arm. And her right arm for that matter resulting in her shoving all her scribbled notes to me leaving me on my own to decipher them and pull it off into a chapter. Phew. blows hair away from face Plus this is my first time I'm doing it by myself with only a bunch of horribly dirty notes glares at Snow to aid me so hang on everybody...bumpy ride. Oh, and below is a note from Snow who painfully poked it out with her left index finger. Said she took half an hour. Okay, I'm sorry...being mean over here but come on, I'm lost without my frister!

Snow: Hey everyone. So sorry for the long hiatus, as Raine had explained above, I broke my arm but that isn't the only reason. I just can't leave out the fact that she went and betrayed the Sirius/Harry fandom to migrate over to Sev/Harry (--Raine: Oh pooh!). Yeah, hit her! So anyway, hope you enjoy this part! wanders away cradling her arm

Jumping Chocolate Frogs and Pumpkin Juice sprinkled with love to:
Velith, ShadowEyedCat, hermionegranger2004, AJ-Wolf-AJ, Lilyoda, Remo Con, Iris Rose Potter, PrOnGs Da GrEaT, and Violet Moonstone!

-----

Exiting the castle from the main entrance proved much easier than sneaking out through the hole behind the portrait. Plus, no climbing was needed as he was carried down anyway. Sirius didn't seem much happy that he was there, but neither was he exactly making a big fuss out of it.

Sirius could understand a little of Harry's feelings, if not much. If anything happened to them, Harry would have nobody to rely on to the rest of his life. Practically everyone Harry knew was going down to fight what the boys claimed looked a seagull and a dirty mermaid...

Minerva was ahead, beside Dumbledore who took up the lead. Remus brought up the rear, fervently thanking the high Gods above that it wasn't a full moon today. Severus trampled ahead of Sirius, hands folded across his chest. That man always looked like he was preparing to a battle of tongues.

They paused when Dumbledore stopped ahead, a few meters away from the dark waters which swirled softly in the dawning night. The old man turned around and gestured to Sirius. "Harry, stay here."

Harry opened his mouth to protest.

"My decision is final," Dumbledore interrupted sternly. "This is the farthest you can get. I want you well out of harm's way."

"But..." Harry went on doggedly.

"No, Harry James Potter," said Sirius firmly. He sat Harry down gently on one of the rocks. "You stay here. Whatever you see happens over there, you are not to move from this spot. Am I understood?"

"Don't worry," Severus sighed. "As much as I would like it to happen, I'm sure Sirius would not be harmed."

"Give us an hour," Sirius said ruffling Harry's hair.

Minerva drew Harry's jacket tighter around the boy. "Let's go."

With a warning look directed to Harry, Sirius and the rest left Harry sitting on the rock, shifting uneasily as they covered the rest of the distance needed to reach the murky water.

-----

"You were hallucinating." Hermione was curled up on a side of the bed, eyes closed. Her skin was pallid gray and she looked like a limp rag doll.

"I am not!" Ron indignantly protested. He sat down on the floor beside Hermione's bed, drawing his knees to his chest and leaning against the wall. "I saw them! And heard the conversation between them in Dumbledore's office."

"You were hallucinating."

"I heard Professor Black claim that he could not lose Harry!" Ron continued. "And that was also what Harry said."

"You were hallucinating."

"Hermione!" Ron said. "I trust that I don't need glasses just yet. Neither do I believe that I need a hearing aid."

"People who usually need them do not admit it," Hermione told him.

"I will prove it to you!" Ron said.

"Then do so," Hermione replied.

"They are going down tonight," said Ron, standing up and leaning out of the window.

Hermione finally opened her eyes. "Well, I am not going down. I am feeling god-awful."

"Well, I am not," Ron said.

"Neither am I."

Ron snapped around quickly, shocked while the intruder finally managed to capture the whole of Hermione's attention who flipped onto her back with difficulty to identify the boy standing at the doorway.

"Neville," said Ron, upset.

"Is it true? What you were saying?" Neville whispered.

"You were eavesdropping?" Ron asked, crossly.

"I wanted to see Hermione," Neville answered in a small voice. "I'm sorry."

"Neville deserves to know to," Hermione came to his defense. "If what you say is really true. He's also Harry's friend."

"Well, until I am extremely sure," said Ron. "It's only between the three of us."

"So you really going down?" Hermione slid further into her blankets.

Ron looked at Neville. "If you are up to it."

"I am," Neville said determinedly.

-----

The sea became restless, the waves tossing with such ferocity that every professor backed away to avoid getting too wet except for Dumbledore who remained where he was. Wind blew with alarming strength and the waves crashed after one another onto the shore, as if the sea was trying to spit out something from its depths.

Dumbledore finally stepped behind as a figure emerged from the waters, mouth twisted in a roar as it shot out of the sea and thudding onto the shore. It immediately scrambled to its feet, anger pouring out from it in waves.

"You..." it snarled, lifting a dirty finger.

"What are you?" said Sirius half in wonder and half in disgust.

The creature snapped her head to glare at Sirius. "What am I? WHAT am I?"

From far, Harry cocked his head to a side. He had forgotten to tell Sirius she was extremely sensitive towards any description of her.

"I believe that's what I said," said Sirius still not catching on.

She curled her hands into fists and with nimble feet, sprang towards Sirius. Minerva gasped and struggled with her wand while Severus looked quite happy but held out his wand as well.

"Bethany!" Dumbledore said sharply.

She froze and as she was halfway off the ground, she landed ungracefully back on the sand, out of target as Sirius took a few quick steps backward.

"What?" she whispered.

"Bethany," said Dumbledore again. "Bethany Walton."

She lifted her head and her eyes locked onto Dumbledore's. Her eyes glistened slightly.

-----

"What the bloody hell..." said Crabbe as he crawled towards the window, kicking the sheets out of his bed as he climbed out of his bed clumsily.

"Crabbe, water's precious," Goyle grumbled as he turned in his sleep. "Turn of the tap."

"Idiot," said Crabbe. Lifting his foot, he gave a hard poke in his friend's ribs.

"Oww!" Goyle shouted. He rubbed his side and sat up in bed. "What?"

Crabbe who was craning his neck as far as he could was almost half out of the window. "Something's up with the sea."

"You see a mermaid?" yawned Goyle.

Crabbe rolled his eyes. "No, I see Snow White."

Goyle snorted then got out of bed as well. "Since you have woken me for absolutely no reason, I'm going to get a snack down the kitchens."

"Have you discovered a way to the kitchens?" That immediately caught onto Goyle's interest.

Goyle turned red. "I will."

He had spent a whole month crawling through dusty holes, sliding through musty tunnels and pawing through scary passageways but he still hadn't figured out where the kitchens was.

Goyle opened the door and made his way to the portrait hole past the common room. Crabbe reluctantly followed him. Be it Goyle hit the jackpot, he wanted to have a share.

The portrait slid open and Goyle climbed out followed by Crabbe. "Shh."

Tiptoeing as quietly as they could, they made their way down the corridor.

"This is where I stopped the last time," whispered Goyle. He felt for Crabbe's hand and lifted it, pressing it to a portrait. The whole castle was pitch black (he suspected Filch had purposely not bothered to light the hallways so that students might be discouraged) and he pulled Crabbe along. "Kitchens should be somewhere near according to Hogwarts: A History."

"Have you ever thought of going on a diet?"

Goyle yelled and dropped the hand, not recognizing the voice as Crabbe's. "Who are you!"

"What?" Crabbe's voice cut through the darkness.

"Uhm..." someone mumbled.

"What the..."

"Oh hell..."

Rustling of cloaks for a moment before four wands erupted into blazing lights.

"WEASLEY!"

"LONGBOTTOM!"

"There, I just told you that if anyone was going to stick himself into the kitchens, that will be Porky over here," Ron told Neville.

"Shut up!" hissed Crabbe. "What are you doing here?"

Ron and Neville suddenly looked uncomfortable. "None of your business."

-----

"Is that my name?" her voice was hoarse and broken.

Dumbledore slowly lowered himself so that he was eye level with her. "Yes. I believe it is, Bethany."

Tears began to stream down her dirty face. Suddenly the sadness in her eyes flashed and was immediately replaced with anger. Tearing herself away from the Headmaster, she leapt to her feet.

"Get away from me!" she screamed.

Dumbledore rose and took a step forward. "Betha..."

"I mean it!" She shouted.

"Okay...okay," said Dumbledore.

No one said a word.

"You do realize that we believe that there is something in these waters that made almost half of Hogwarts fall ill?" Sirius finally got too impatient.

Bethany grinned evilly. Then throwing her head back she laughed. An evil laughter that chilled them all to the bone. Harry hugged his jacket closer to himself. "Oh yes..."

"What exactly have you done?" Minerva was next.

Bethany smiled suddenly, laying her hand on her swollen belly. "Nothing that you would know."

Remus looked at Dumbledore reminding him that they had to get the water as fast as possible. Dumbledore in turn glanced at Bethany who didn't show any signs of being civil then looked back to Remus and nodded.

Remus pulled out a few jars and started towards the water.

"You stay where you are!" Bethany shrieked.

"We need the water. Many are sick," said Dumbledore.

"NO!" Bethany ran towards the waters and dived into it, causing the waters to splash up wildly around them showering everyone. "You stay away!"

"Bethany, we could work this out. Please come back here. We can take you to St. Mungo's. See if this can be reversible," Dumbledore tried.

"Reversible? I don't want to be cured!" Bethany shot back. "I want revenge!"

"Tom is no longer in school," Dumbledore said. "He had graduated."

Sirius made a face.

"I WANT REVENGE!" Bethany let out a high pitched scream. "GET HIM HERE!"

"He is no longer the Tom Riddle you know," Minerva said. "He has changed."

"I DON'T CARE!"

"If you can beat him, I'll give you a hundred knuts," Sirius muttered.

"Bethany, decades has changed the world, he has changed. Greatly," said Dumbledore. "Because of him, are you willing to see hundreds die?"

Snape, sensing that she wasn't going to calm down any sooner, put his hand into his robes to pull out his wand when Dumbledore threw a glance towards him. He withdrew his hand. Sirius shifted his foot impatiently. He couldn't understand Dumbledore at all. He could easily destroy Bethany in a second and here he was being such a gentleman. Did that guy ever run out of patience?

"I want someone. I want someone to die!" Bethany snapped. Her eyes roamed past the professors and towards the rocks. "I want him."

She pointed a finger at her target. All the professors turned following the direction her finger pointed at. Dread filled them as their eyes fell on Harry.

-----

Replies to Reviews:

Hi, Leelu2, meowmix, Nani, Washu, lost angel92, noone, Sasinak, Kangaroo, hp-lover-1-lol-, lani, Kateri1, Candidus-lupes-full Moon, harrylissa=luv, Hi2, tati1, MissLilyStar, Savoy Truffle, Siri Kat, Froboy-- Aah, sorry for the long wait! Here it is! Thank you for your wonderful reviews!
Mistress of Hogwarts -- Oh, we established that three months ago that it doesn't look any closer than a broomstick. wince
Krysalys73 -- pushes her muses out Here! Prod them! They seriously need the shocks! LOL.
EmeraldKatsEye -- I wanna hug Harry too! YAY! Turning sixteen! Have you already? Happy belated/early birthday! Ooh, Shrek! Have you watched Shrek 2? Bloody brilliant!
Dark Feline Huntress -- Gulp. I hope no one spot flaws in this story! LOL.
Hedwigs-biggest-fan -- Tie? No! I think re-writing the stone story would bore me to death! Thank you :)
Ash of Mine -- Lover? Yikes! Lord, no! Sirius is no way Harry's lover. Pause. YUCK!
Wiccan PussyKat -- Uh-oh. This hiatus must be much worser than the previous! So sorry puppy eyes Erm...how did the woman manage to poison the waters....shuffles notes frantically We'll be right back after the commercial. Okay, fine. Er....let me think about it. I guess she won't be quite enough to poison the whole sea...eh? Oh dear. Pothole.
Serebii -- I am! I am! You just don't talk to me pouts lol
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Invisible Child -- AHHHH! APOLOGIES!!! I seem to do that quite often nowadays... ;) THANK YOU!
Lyss33 -- Oh! A chocolate moon to you!
Wytil -- Hmm...are you offended? I really can't tell. Sorry.
ParanoiaIn2005 -- Oh dear! I don't quite like Ron compared to Harry so...uh-oh. LOL! Suffer in silence, Weasley! cackles evilly Oops...sorry :) Thank you for your 18 lines! LOL, it keeps me moving!
Athenakitty -- HAHA! Maybe...but just for the fun of it, she can fall in the water again at the end of the term! Pause...hey, good idea!
Neo Anderson -- Oh yea....lol