Guys I am REALLY sorry about the delay but I was really busy winning an essay contest. Yes, I get an essay contest. I'm sorry I was working on that instead of this but I thought you I could make you wait to build up the suspense. I'll try not to ever make you wait this long again but it will probably be a chapter a week from now on.
Chapter Thirteen:
Night Flight
Harry looked at Agapanthus in amazement. It was eerily quiet in Dumbledore's study. Outside the circle of the lamplight Harry sensed the witches and wizards in their portraits gazing solemnly upon the trio around the desk. She stared back at him, her strange blue eyes peering into his thoughts, it seemed. But a question rose in his head that he couldn't hold back,
"Why are you here at Hogwarts? Shouldn't you be looking for the MoonPearl Tear?"
Dumbledore smiled as Agapanthus answered the question in her sultry voice which brought to mind a windswept desert evening, "Harry, I'm here because you're here. Voldemort doesn't want you involved in looking for the tear; for you've proven many times that you're capable of keeping up with him. Where you are Voldemort will be and that means if we keep up with his activities, he will lead us to the MoonPearl Tear."
Understanding covered Harry's mind like a thick blanket. It all made sense, well most of it anyway. Perhaps that explained the Dementors attack earlier that evening but still more questions buzzed through Harry's troubled mind. He was determined to get some long awaited answers.
"What happened to Lupin? I mean, what was he doing in a golden room?" asked Harry glancing from Agapanthus to Dumbledore.
Fawkes flew over and perched himself on Harry's shoulder. All the portraits were staring down and listening intently, some with their ears pressed against the canvas, as the dialogue continued. Dumbledore took a deep breath and said, "What you saw Harry was an echo of an event that took place months ago. The Order of the Phoenix was dispatched to the Temple of Light in order to revive and enlist the aide of the Temple's guardian. Remus was attacked at the temple where Miss Agapanthus was invigorated. Voldemort's army was there to prevent that revival from taking place, and thanks to Lupin they think they succeeded."
"I had the vision days ago. Agapanthus has been here for weeks, and now you say that the events at the Temple took place even earlier. How can that be?" replied Harry with a frown upon his face.
"This is the best supposition that I can come up with Harry," returned the Master of Hogwarts slowly. "You saw the events not as the actually occurred in time, but at the time that Lord Voldemort saw them through a pensieve. You saw- as Voldemort saw- a reenactment of those events. One of his Death Eaters must have presented it to him after he returned," answered Dumbledore.
So that was it. Harry had been witnessing the evening at the Temple through Voldemort's eyes. The evil wizard must have been so absorbed in the scene and so shocked by the events which took place there that his defenses against intrusions into his mind by Harry were temporarily forgotten. But he must know what I saw, thought Harry glumly. That's why the Dementors were sent here.
Now Voldemort was going to even greater lengths to destroy him and his own defenses which had been protecting him for so long now were vanishing one by one. First the love that was his mother's protection, then the loss of Sirius. Now Lupin was severely injured and Hogwarts breeched. Harry slowly began to realize that these things had only been available to him when he wasn't capable of defending himself. From now on it was up to him alone.
"You must be extremely careful this year Harry" cautioned Dumbledore gazing seriously over at him. "Voldemort is getting more powerful than he ever was. As you just saw not even the protections of Hogwarts can withstand him any longer."
Don't worry it will be awhile before he realizes that he's failed to kill you yet again and that time we'll be ready," stated Agapanthus with forced cheerfulness.
"I suggest that you get to bed. You've had quite an ordeal tonight. Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger will be fine in the morning," added Dumbledore.
Harry decided he was worn out. This was not the time to bring up the strange potion that he had seen Agapanthus brewing. Questions as to why and how she came to be here would just have to wait. Before leaving, Harry noticed that Dumbledore looked even more ancient and .tired than Harry had ever seen him. His face was lined and careworn, even more so than when Harry had seen him through the invisibility cloak, but that was the last thing Dumbledore needed to hear. Harry started off down the corridors and barely remembered stumbling through the Gryffindor portrait and tumbling into bed.
The next morning the entire school was full of whispers and mutters about the attack last night. Hermione and Ron were as Dumbledore predicted fully recovered and perhaps glad that these events had taken the place of talk about their "encounter at Hogsmeade" with the school. They even began talking to each other again, making up for lost time. This was all good and well but Harry still hadn't told Ron about Malfoy's Quidditch challenge and since he didn't want Hermione to know it was getting to be very difficult to get Ron away to tell him privately.
Harry finally managed to do it by telling Hermione to meet him at Potions and setting off at a dead run after Ron who had just charged down the hall to begin his morning with muggle studies. When he caught up to Ron, Harry stopped a moment to catch his breath and began. The whole story of Malfoy and the secret nighttime challenge spilled out in a rush. When he had finished Ron asked incredulously,
"Harry, didn't he try that trick on you five years ago?"
"He meant it this time Ron. You didn't see his face. Will you please tell the rest of the team?" replied Harry, a little peeved that he need explain this to Ron.
Harry dashed back down the corridor and made it just in time for Potions which was agonizing as always. Then he and Hermione made their way towards Hagrid's Hut for Care of Magical Creatures.
"You al'righ then Harry?" greeted Hagrid peering down at him in concern as they made their way across the enclosure that held the Snorkack. "Heard there was a real scuffle over there last night," he added gruffly.
"I'm just fine, honestly Hagrid," Harry replied cautiously, aware of the eyes and ears of the other students all around him. The class was spent discussing what the uses for the crumpled horn on the Crumple-Horn Snorkack were. As far as Harry could tell it was once a straight horn but it had been damaged because the creature seemed to amuse itself by smacking his forehead against the ground. He tried to concentrate but his head was buzzing.
When the class had ended Hagrid motioned for Harry, Ron and Hermione to come with him. The Snorkack simply stood off to the side now that the encounter with the students was over unconcerned and uninterested. Hagrid scratched his head, sighed and pulled the indifferent Snorkack into a large wooden cage he had constructed. He gave the creature an awkward pat.
"Now... uh... can yeh follow me into the forest?" asked Hagrid making his way to the forest.
Harry and Hermione stole a glance at each other knowing where they were going but Ron ignorant of this exchange made his way to the front of the trail behind Hagrid keeping up a running stream of conversation about Norbert's recent activities along the way..
"Come on then, unfortunately, we can't let Ron get killed by Grawp alone," stated Harry setting off .
Hermione bit her lip and said, "Yes. Incredibly unfortunate."
They both laughed and made their way up the trail after the pair.
Harry and Hermione both followed Hagrid reluctantly up the path to Grawp's area, though Ron was unaware of where they were going he began to look around, puzzled as they went ever deeper into the forest. As they began to climb over low branches and ducked to avoid snagging bushes Hagrid said,
"Now, Ron. Don't fret mind yeh."
Ron suddenly looked over Harry and Hermione, horror dawning upon his face as he understood what was happening. He stopped dead in his tracks. Harry hid a snigger and Hermione barely managed to turn her grin into a frown.
Harry gave Ron a shove in the back and he was forced a few steps down the path. Ron looked at Harry murderously. When they had finally convinced Ron that he wasn't going to be eaten or hurt in any way he went on (this process had taken some doing for Hermione had only just managed to keep Hagrid from saying, "On purpose")
When they reached the boulder that was Grawp the young giant turned around, his face still laying on the ground but his muddy eyes focusing directly upon them. He looked at Harry momentarily with complete indifference upon his face. His eyes stopped a moment to gaze down on Ron, but when he saw Hermione he shouted;
"HERMY!"
Hermione trembled slightly and Ron looked like he was caught between running and standing in front of Hermione.
"Ron it's fine. He's just happy to see Hermione okay?" explained Harry.
"Right, I knew that," retorted Ron with new-found courage on his face.
Grawp turned his full attention on Hermione and continued, "WHERE YOU BEEN? GRAWP LOOK EVERYWHERE FOR HERMY BUT GRAWP NO FIND HER. GRAWP EVEN ASK HAGGER."
"I'm sorry, Grawp. I've been away from school," answered Hermione nervously.
This seemed to satisfy Grawp and he changed the topic, "WILL YOU HELP GRAWP?"
"With what?" asked Hermione a little more anxiously, and Harry was sure she was thinking, 'What in the world would a giant need my help for?'
"PLEASE HELP GRAWP WRITE," answered Grawp. He had said this as more of an order rather than a request despite the 'Please.'
"I don't see why not, but to whom?" inquired Hermione slightly relieved at the unusually mundane nature of the request.
"TO GWENY," answered Grawp and just like that he turned over and went to sleep.
"To Gweny!?" roared Ron, "Who's this Gweny? Got another one living in the forest Hagrid?"
"No, o' course not!" answered Hagrid a little too quickly, "I just brought her to visit for awhile last summer. She and Grawp really hit off. He wants to know how she is that's all."
Ron looked at Harry and Hermione with a, "What's-the-difference?" expression on his face. Harry suppressed a smile and Hermione looked a little ill. Grawp suddenly sat up and brushed some twigs and rocks from his hair. "HUNGRY HAGGER," he announced.
"Well... uh... that's all. See yeh soon then," concluded Hagrid, walking off with Grawp, abandoning Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"Oh, yes. Leave us in the middle of the Forbidden Forest," complained Ron but he quickly ceased for Hermione gave him a look that clearly demonstrated that she was not in the mood. Quickly the three set back down the path to the cottage.
The remainder of the day was spent with Ron and Harry telling the rest of the Quidditch team about the upcoming secret game against Malfoy's team. The team was a little alarmed by the lack of notice but eager to tear Malfoy's team apart a second time.
"Do you think we have a chance against the Slytherin team now that this game has no rules?" asked Ron slightly nervously as he and Harry climbed up the staircase towards Gryffindor Tower.
"What's the difference between a regular Quidditch game with Malfoy and one with no rules?" asked Harry sarcastically.
Ron laughed at this but Harry was truly having second thoughts about it too. Ron was right, Malfoy was no Voldemort but he wasn't magically deficient either. Malfoy could have the whole Gryffindor team cursed in seconds with help from the rest of his dirty, cheating team.
"I think I'll wear Hagrid's Dragon-Hide Cloak tonight," stated Harry.
"That's a good idea. Even if Malfoy curses off the rest of the team, at least our only chance of winning will still be in action," replied Ron as they neared the fat lady's portrait.
Harry muttered the password and the two entered the common-room. Hermione was sitting in a comfortable chair near the flickering fire engrossed in reading a book. She didn't seem to notice Ron and Harry and seizing the moment they both tiptoed up to the dormitories without interrupting her.
Harry tried and failed to concentrate on some school work as the evening crawled on. With a sigh, he turned from his books and crossed the room to the foot of his bed where his trunk stood. He lifted the lid and began searching through the disordered contents for the package containing the special birthday gift from Hagrid. As he was looking for the cloak he came across the old fashioned note-keeper from Lupin. Harry set it aside on his desk as he spied the gleam of the dragon scales in the bottom of the trunk in a heap. He pulled it out and stroked the shiny blue hide thoughtfully.
Eventually Ron drifted in and the two passed the time in anxious whispered strategy. Bedtime came and Neville, Shamus and Dean joined Ron and Harry in the room. The two boys lay wide eyed and tense in their beds listening to the steady breathing of the others in the quiet moonlit room. When it was near time to leave Harry slipped on the Dragon-Hide Cloak, grabbed the Dreamstorm and made his way to the Quidditch Pitch with Ron.
It was cool outside in the sharp night air, not extremely cold but just chilly enough to make Harry and Ron shiver and wrap their cloaks more tightly around themselves as they walked on. When they had arrived the rest of the team was waiting anxiously in the center of the field frost curling around them in foggy drifts.
"Harry!" roared Will cheerfully, "We brought our complete arsenal of Invisible Rockets!"
Harry nodded and was going to say something he hoped would be heartening when he heard, "Hey, Potter! At least you had the nerve to show up."
Harry wheeled around and saw Malfoy leering down at him. Behind him the rest of his team was already in the air sweeping back and forth and jeering at the Gryffindor team. Harry mounted his broom quickly and gestured for the rest of his team to do so. When he had flown closer Malfoy eyed the scaly cloak suspiciously and said derisively, "Nice cloak Potter."
"Do you have a problem with any of the conditions?" asked Harry for he was losing patience extremely quickly.
Malfoy wasn't expecting this and replied quickly, "No. Let's get started."
Malfoy pointed his wand at the box that contained all the balls and it sprung open, releasing all of its contents. Harry immediately began searching for any glint of streaking gold from the snitch as the rest of the team flew into their positions.
The match was fast and heated with both teams swooping through the biting night air. Seconds seemed to fly into minutes and when Harry glanced down at his watch he found that they had been aloft for almost an hour locked in furious concentration. The teams were tied at two goals apiece with still no sign of the golden snitch, and much to his surprise there hadn't been any cheating.
Harry spoke too soon. Crabbe and Goyle suddenly appeared from behind Harry, stretched out their arms to where the Creevey brothers hovered close by and knocked both Colin and Dennis to the ground. At the sight of the tangle of downed arms and legs on the ground below them, like generals called to the charge, Jack and Will Abersum took out their wands and with a swish and a whoop signaled their Invisible Rockets to rain down on Crabbe and Goyle who cowered in fright searching wild eyed for the source of the unseen barrage.
Both were confused as to where all the pain was coming from and before long they were on the ground, knocked out. Malfoy glared angrily at Jack and Will and shouted,
"Stupefy!"
Harry sped up and dashed between the twins and Malfoy. Malfoy's charm bounced off the shiny blue scales and rebounded on him. With a gasp of amazement Malfoy watched as another one of the Slytherin team members dove in front of him and took the hit slumping forward on his broom and sliding towards the ground..
This angered Malfoy even more so he raised his wand and shouted, "Accio Snitch!"
Harry rolled his eyes, pointing his wand too at the Snitch that was now zooming towards Malfoy, "Finite Incantatum!"
The Snitch stopped, hovering in midair, Harry sped towards it. At the same time Malfoy shouted,
"Incommendatus!"
Harry had just grasped the Snitch when the force of the spell hit him. The impact knocked him off his broom but the actual spell again rebounded on Malfoy. Harry struggled but clutched the small sphere and triumphantly fisted his hand in the air. The match was won. Seizing the moment Jack and Will fired the last of the Invisible Rockets on Malfoy. Both the spell and the rockets pummeled Malfoy as Harry got up and summoned his broom. Ron and the other Gryffindor team members all walked off the pitch leaving the unconscious Slytherins on the grass.
When a grinning Harry and Ron entered the Great Hall they ran into Professor McGonagall. She eyed them narrowly and with a thin mouth said, "I must be walking in my sleep because there can't be Quidditch players out of bed at this time of night."
She then promptly pinched herself and shrugged. As she walked away she whispered to Harry, "Nice game Potter."