Disclaimer: I own as much as the next Harry Potter fanfic writer.
Dedication: to the Red Dragons Order.
Chapter 25: After The Flight
Albus Dumbledore couldn't help but smile. Ah, for how long had he known Jack Towers was hardly caught! And voila! He had escaped in a truly beautiful way.
Severus Snape could slap himself. He should have known the weird man –who insisted upon calling him Sev or Batman- would escape a bunch of Aurors in a truly power-proving way. The man reminded him of someone... But he couldn't remember... who? Who was the man Towers resembled? Argh! He felt his mind foggy, as if something interfered with his memories. But he had never met Towers before. He was sure of that. But what resemblance to... to... Dumbledore when he was younger? No, it wasn't Dumbledore. Was it?
Tonks nearly grinned when she saw the beautiful dragon flying above their heads. She knew he'd make it! Yes, yes she did! Good old Jack, flying out of there Of course, he'd have some problems by being an Animagus, but who cared?!
Generally, everybody was amazed, staring into space. It was only when the song Towers had put for them ended when they all started moving and talking. First it was a murmur but it very quickly became a racket.
"Come! Defence class!" Hermione cried over the racket towards Harry, Ron, Amala, Ginny and Luna.
They all rushed to the silent castle and entered it. Harry noticed that they weren't the only ones who had heard Hermione's cry, but Draco, Neville, Mark Evans and Jane Chase had come with them, too.
"This is weird. Very weird" Hermione said, going quickly to the class.
"Yeah, tell me about it?" Ron said. "An Animagus is something, but a dragon!"
"That wasn't just a dragon, Ron" she said. "That was one of the most powerful dragons in existence. Ever. Don't you see? Becoming a magical creature is damned difficult, but becoming a dragon is nearly impossible. Maybe Dumbledore or Voldemort would do it. But that... that was an Ancient Sautaus Dragon."
"A what?!" Harry and Ron asked together.
"Ancient Sautaus Dragon" she answered. "I read about it. It was one of the talking dragons. I think they're extinct now, but still. I think maybe Dumbledore would be able to become one, but not even that's for certain!"
"That means..." Ron started.
"Towers is more powerful than Dumbledore" Jane Chase completed. "I suspected... But..."
"I don't know" Hermione said. "And it's hard to become an extinct animal, too"
"What if Towers isn't an Animagus?" Jane asked.
"What do you mean? You've seen him transform!" Neville commented.
"I think I know what you mean" Luna said.
"Me too. But go on" Draco said.
"What if Towers is a... Homomagus?" Jane asked.
"A what?!" Harry asked and Ron looked thoughtful.
"I think I've heard of them, but I can't remember..."
"It means that Towers isn't human" Draco said.
"He's a dragon. And can morph into a human being" Luna said.
"The reverse of an Animagus?" Hermione asked.
"Yes. The exact reverse. The Animagus is a human that can morph into an animal and a Homomagus is an animal that can morph into a human. And talking dragons were known to do that" Draco said.
"So, Towers is an Ancient Dragon" Mark said.
"Maybe" Hermione said. "But we shouldn't make any assumptions. Many of the assumptions we had made over the years turned out to be false."
"Hermione. Stop" Amala said and the girl stopped suddenly from her march.
"Yes?" she asked.
"I have a feeling" Amala said.
"You sick?" Draco asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No. Not that kind of a feeling" Amala said. "Why did you come with us, Draco?"
"Because I heard Granger and..."
"Neville?"
"Same reason"
"Mark? Jane?"
"Us too" they answered.
"What's your point?" Draco asked.
"You weren't close enough to hear. Not in that racket. But you heard. And you came" Amala said. "I cannot explain it, but I feel it. Hermione, let's go to our room."
"What? You're going to your dorm now?" Draco asked, but Hermione took no notice.
"Are you sure, Amala?"
"Trust me" the girl answered. "Please"
"Very well. This way, everybody" Hermione said and started leading them to the room they had found. Their special room.
"This isn't the way to Gryffindor tower" Draco said.
"We know. We're not going to Gryffindor tower. We're going to a special room" Amala said.
"Are you crazy?" Ron and Harry asked. "We can't take them there!"
"Yes, we can and we will" Hermione said. "Plus, there's one thing that bothers me. All the other Ancient Dragons have name that symbolize their status. Like Ancient Warrior Dragon or Ancient Wise Dragon. But I never figured out what 'Sautaus' meant."
"Maybe it's a region?" Ron asked.
"No, at the time Ancient Dragons lived, they lived all over the world. They weren't bound to a spot" Hermione explained. "And as I said, they could speak. They called themselves 'Warrior' or 'Wise' or 'Mountain' Dragons. Only one specie did not have a name that was translated. Maybe it was the ancient dragon language with at least one word they could not translate into human languages"
"When was this, Granger?" Draco asked. "I can't remember the time."
"Don't know exactly until when, I think they were great even before the humans rose, since some of the first documents speak of them. Most such documents were destroyed or gathered by wizards, so Muggles wouldn't know about the dragons, but even in Ancient Egypt or in Sumer they knew about them. They must have disappeared sometime in the Dark Ages."
"So, theoretically, they're extinct" Draco said.
"Well, yes. But practically, we might be up for a surprise"
They made it to the pre-room and entered.
"Wow!" Draco and the others said when they saw the beautiful white room, decorated with gold.
"Light warriors!" Amala said and the wall opened, letting the teens inside 'the room'.
"Holly shit" Draco said.
"How can you keep this a secret?!" Jane asked.
"Let's check for 'Sautaus' Hermione" Amala said, picking up a book from the library. "Maybe we'll find something"
/*-/*-/*-/*-
Dumbledore had managed to get the students in their common rooms and the teachers in the teachers' room. And the Aurors had come with him to the room, all amazed and angered. All but three. Kingsley, Tonks and a young man, called Mike Arrow.
"He is an unregistered Animagus!" the Auror leader, Paul Graves cried. "I don't think a white wizard would be one!"
"James Potter was an unregistered Animagus, sir" Mike Arrow said. "I highly doubt he was a dark wizard."
"He was an exception, Arrow" Graves said. "Remember, Black was an unregistered Animagus, too"
"Yes, well, he proved to be a good guy, didn't he?" Mike asked innocently.
"And who said it? Well?"
"Um... Towers. And Remus Lupin. And Dumbledore"
"They were brainwashed by Towers!"
"Actually, I don't think I was" Dumbledore said. "And I'm still in the room, gentlemen."
"He was quite the dragon, Towers" Tonks said admiringly. "But wasn't it difficult to become a dragon?"
"Yes it was. And I am afraid to say that Towers is more powerful than even I" the Headmaster said. "Because of the one he always spoke about"
"What?!" Graves asked. "Who did the idiot always speak of?"
"He is not an idiot, Paul" Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling. "An idiot could hardly become an Animagus, and a dragon nevertheless!"
"Who made him powerful?!" Graves asked. "I'll rip the limbs off the idiot who did it!'
"His Master did" Dumbledore said. "And it would be terribly difficult to rip his limbs off. For one, nobody saw him except a few selected people and the man can very easily hide his tracks. He uses wandless magic, so you can't trace him. He can move from one place to another quicker than light and without even the pop of Apparating. I hardly doubt that you could rip his limbs off"
"What's the name of the man?" Graves asked.
"I'm afraid that I cannot tell you that, Paul" Dumbledore said. "Names are powerful things."
"Nonsense!" Graves said. "Now, Dumbledore, you must tell me his name"
"No. Besides, it would not be of much help" the Headmaster explained. "But you can stop searching for Towers. There is no chance he will fall into your hands now. His Master cares too much for him to let something like that happen."
"This is bullshit!" Graves said.
"Watch your language" Kingsley said with a look. "It is not polite to..."
"I damn well know what is polite and what isn't!" the head Auror cried, making all the others ask themselves not only how he ended up as their leader but also how he had passed the tests for Auror training.
"Now, now, Paul, calm down!" Tonks said cheerfully. She still hadn't got over seeing the dragon. "So, getting him is out of the question. What do we do now?"
"It is not out of the question!" Graves said.
"I'd say we go back to the Ministry and that's that" Kingsley proposed.
"We are not going back to the Ministry!"
"I think it's a good idea" Tonks accepted.
"It is not!"
"So, everybody to the Quiddich pitch, we should get our brooms" Kingsley said and the others nodded.
"We are staying right here!"
But the other Aurors were just waving Dumbledore goodbye and getting out of the teachers' room.
"DO YOU EVEN HEAR ME?!" Graves cried at his maximum volume.
"Well, we'll see you later, Albus" Kingsley said. "If you hear anything of our escapee, tell us"
"KINGSLEY SHAKELBOLT!"
"Of course"
"Goodbye, Albus"
"Goodbye!"
"COME BACK!"
When he found himself in a room full of teachers and no Aurors, Graves shrugged. Everybody seemed to be studiously ignoring him –which they were, by the way-. He exited the room, leaving the teachers alone.
"Finally!" Snape said. "I thought he'd never leave!"
"You and me both" Professor Vector, the Arithmancy teacher said.
"Now, now, children, play nice" Dumbledore said, the twinkle in his eyes working overtime."
"We are playing nice, Albus" Snape muttered and McGonagall stifled a chuckle.
"Wha' kind o' dragon was tha'?" Hagrid asked. "I've never seen such a beast!"
"I haven't either" Dumbledore answered. "Only in one very old book, I think it's still in the library and I'm quite sure Mrs. Granger read it. That was one of the Ancient Dragons, Hagrid."
"Ancient Dragons!" the half-giant said. "Why, I never thought ter see one in me life!"
"Indeed, they are –or at least I thought they were- extinct. But it seems that Towers managed to become one."
"But how, Albus?" Minerva questioned. "How can one man become an Ancient Dragon?"
"As I said, he is more powerful than even I. In some way, although otherwise he is weaker."
"What do you mean, Albus?" Snape asked. "How can he be and yet not be more powerful than you?"
"His Master. He has given him the power. He even admitted, once" Dumbledore answered and looked everybody in the staff room in the eye. "There are forces in this world that are far greater than ours. And they are fighting in their own ways, hidden from us"
"How can they hide from us? Wouldn't we discover them?" Vector asked.
"They hide in the same way as we do from Muggles" Dumbledore answered. "But they must be more careful. And maybe they are even fewer than us, at least on Earth they are. I have no knowledge of the full extent of their power."
"So, we're not alone in the Universe" Sprout said.
"No, we are not. We might think we know something, but I don't think we know too much. You see, Towers' Master is one of these powerful beings. Very powerful out of what the ex-Professor told me."
"Then why wouldn't he help us?" Snape asked. "He could end this war and we'd all..."
"No, Severus" Dumbledore said. "He is kept from interfering by ones even greater than him. Because there is something beyond even the powerful Master of Towers. The world is built on the concept of spheres, sphere in sphere in sphere with the Muggles most far away from the center, out of what I know."
"It's starting to scare me" Sprout admitted.
"But we needn't worry" Dumbledore said. "As we must not interfere with Muggles' lives, they will not interfere with ours. The main idea is that Towers' Master will not help us, at least not directly."
"But how come he can help Towers?" Flitwick asked.
"He has a certain power over his servants, or children. Every Master does. See, even Voldemort" –half the room flinched-"has power over his servants, although he is not the gentle parent white Masters are. He is a Dark wizard and therefore will use his power in a dark way. But think about the children you teach. You are, in some way, like Masters to them and you use your power over them to guide them well. Of course, it is a weak example, but it still is one"
The room looked at Dumbledore, who decided to finally sit down.
"But now back to our own problems. I would like it if none of you would try to catch or hurt Towers if he decides to come back. I know him well enough to understand he will be of no harm and to know that he has not done anything to those people."
"But what about the 'other things' he mentioned?" Sprout asked. "He said he had done none of the things he was accused with, but that he had done others."
"I don't think we should worry about those" Dumbledore said. "I think we should worry about Fudge going against us or doing something not very intelligent. He has mistaken friend and foe before and I think he might do it again."
The others in the room nodded. What times they were given to live in!
/*-/*-/*-/*-
"I'm bloody tired!" Draco complained. "Let's rest a bit, shall we? These books look so few and turn out to be so many!"
"It must be magic" Hermione said. "They are definitely fewer when you see them on shelves. Alright, we'll take a break"
They were, of course, in the secret room and they were all tired. Dozens of books were lying open everywhere and Ron was napping on an armchair. It was already night and they had been through nearly one hundred books. That might have not seemed too much, but since most of them were as big as a bible in a church, it had been a long work. Plus, there was always the hope the answer to 'what was a 'Sautaus'' would be on the next page. And they had stumbled across very interesting texts about pixies, Hogwarts, ancient magic, elves, vampires and centaurs –and many others- that they eagerly read. Who knew books would be that interesting! –well, Hermione, but she didn't count-.
Amala sighed and crashed on an armchair and Hermione took out a last book for checking. But when she took it out, another book fell out and crashed open on the floor, face down.
"Oh, no, I hope it's not ruined" Hermione said, picking it up. "Hey, guess what, it's the book we first found when we came in"
"Really?" Ron asked, not very interested.
"Yeah, and look, it's empty"
"What book?" Draco asked.
"When we came in, this book was here, on a shelf, and Hermione picked it up and saw it was nearly empty... It also told us how to get back here" Harry said. "Read something in it, Hermione"
She smiled and opened it in the middle.
"No, this time it's really empty" she said. "The text used to be here" She flipped a few pages and when she made it near the beginning, she almost dropped the book. "It's not empty..."
They all gathered around the book and Hermione read loudly from it.
"When the dragon flies, you guide your steps towards where it left and let it be your guide! Let the Seer See and let the Bearer Search. Help yourselves and forget not your purpose. You shall meet friend or maybe foe, but do not despair, you are helped on thou way. And if thou art wondering what dragon guides your steps, it is an Ancient one, one close to the Heart of Light, for that is what its name means. Go, all of you, brave and cunning and witty! Be all of you loyal to your goal!"
"Weird book" Draco said with a small movement of his head.
"If I had seen it yesterday, I would have laughed" Amala said. "But I think that right now, I feel a strange urge to go in the Forbidden Forest"
"You know, I think you're right" Hermione said. "The dragon flew over the Forest. And the book says 'follow the dragon'."
"Are you out of your minds?!" Draco asked. "Forbidden Forest?!"
"Did we mention Harry is the Bearer of the Green Flame Torch?" Ron asked.
"No, you forgot to mention that rather insignificant detail" Draco replied with a sneer.
"We should go in the Forest" Amala said. "The Torch is near Hogwarts. Perhaps it is in there."
"Let's go" Harry said. "I don't think I could sleep right now."
"We should take some food" Ginny proposed.
"And some sleeping bags" Neville added.
"And learn this text by heart" Jane said.
"And then, on we go" Harry completed.
"We're screwed" Draco said with a sigh. "Well, what the hell are we waiting for?!"
/*-/*-/*-/*-
Amala was going down the corridors silently, trying to reach Gryffindor Tower as quick as possible. She was supposed to take some clothes and things for her and Hermione and Mark and Harry had taken another route, so they wouldn't look suspicious together –since they would probably not be in the school next morning, never mind that night- and they could use the most time they would get. They wouldn't want anybody stopping them soon, would they?
She took a turn and saw somebody else coming on the corridor. It still wasn't curfew, so she didn't worry. Until she saw who it was.
"Hello Amala" said a slow, dark voice.
"Hello, Severus" she replied with a small smile. "Quite the events today, weren't they?"
"Yes, they were" the Professor replied. "What are you doing around here at this time?"
"Well, I, um..."
She didn't know what to say and suspicion seemed to grow in the man. Better say something quick, something that did not resemble 'nothing'.
"I um..."
"Yes?" he asked.
"I was... um..."
"I'm waiting."
"Going to the kitchens to steal some food since everybody in my group of friends is celebrating Towers' escape" she said, looking down, pretending to expect a blow. Well, she got something she didn't expect, that was sure. A laugh.
"Is that all?" he asked. "Tickle the pear. Or do you already know?"
She lifted her head, surprised.
"Um, yeah, I did. Thanks"
Severus smirked.
"Quite the rule breaker, I see. And what would you be doing tonight?"
'Not much' she thought. 'Going to find the Green Flame Torch and putting myself in danger, that sort of thing'. "I have to study, I'm a bit behind on Transfiguration."
"Can you postpone it?" Severus asked.
"Actually, no, I can't" she replied. "I'm supposed to be practicing with Neville and Ginny with Hermione helping us and I can't escape unless I explain the reason. I'm so sorry"
Severus nodded.
"No problem" he replied. "Perhaps tomorrow would be alright?"
"Yes" she replied. "Tomorrow will be fine"
He bid her goodbye and left and she started going to the Gryffindor Tower.
'That's the first time I lied to get myself out of a date with him. But there's nothing better for me to do' she thought. 'Well, the excuse is wonderful. And by tomorrow, either the whole school will know we're missing or we'll be back, so there's no harm done."
/*-/*-/*-/*-
As the night settled over the now peaceful and quiet grounds of Hogwarts, ten shadows walked silently down to the Forbidden Forest. Ten shadows carrying backpacks, of course.
"Do you think we'll be back soon?" Neville asked.
"No" Draco and Harry answered together.
"We'll most likely miss the week of school" Jane said.
"Not it wouldn't be wonderfully exciting" Mark added.
"Or we'll get ourselves killed and won't come back" Draco said. "Not that it wouldn't be fun" he added, mocking Mark.
"Well, this is it" Ginny said, when they reached the edge of the forest. "and in we go!"
They entered the forest and went in a steady pace, soon not seeing anything behind them, except for trees. Five wands were lit and ten pairs of feet were silently walking on fallen leaves and over tree roots.
The Forest was exactly as Harry remembered it. The trees were growing together closely, the silence was nearly unbearable and the feeling of danger was quite strong. He wondered how unicorns –so pure and defenseless- could survive in the dark place, where every memory he had was connected to some kind of danger. First, there had been Voldemort. Then, the acromantulas. Then the Dementors. In the fifth year, the centaurs and Grawp. Yes, he had been in the fourth year in the Forest, but it had been with Hagrid and on less 'Forbidden Forest' like paths than other times.
Right! Where was Grawp? He hadn't heard anything of Hagrid's younger brother –he could hardly be called little- for a very long time. Was that a good thing?
"Ugh. It's so dark here" Jane said with a whisper.
"No shit?" Draco asked. "Well, at least no dead unicorns this time"
"Dead unicorns?" Amala and Jane asked in the same time.
"Yep. In my first year, there were dead unicorns in the Forest and I was on a detention and had to find out what killed them."
"And you screamed like an idiot when we stumbled across him drinking" Harry said. "Almost got me killed"
"That hadn't been such a bad thing" Draco commented. "What was that, anyway?"
"You mean... you still don't know?" Harry asked.
"No, Potter. I don't. Nobody ever found the urge to tell me. After I ran away, saving my skin –thing which you weren't bright enough to do, may I remind you?-, I met the half-giant and we started searching for you when you appeared on a centaur. Remember?"
Harry raised his eyebrows in surprise. Had it really been like that for Draco? Had it really? How could he not know that was Voldemort?
"It was Voldemort, drinking"
"How could he drink? Wasn't he a spirit?" Draco asked.
"What do you mean, a spirit?"
"Yes, good idea" Luna said. "He was bodiless until two years ago, wasn't he?"
"He was in Quirrel's body!" Harry said. "Of course you know..."
"Actually, no, we don't" Luna said. "In Quirrel's body? But didn't you kill Quirrel in a duel?"
"Well, I did. Sort of. Voldemort couldn't touch me and therefore neither could Quirrel, so he died, burnt by me. The whole 'my mom died to save me' thing you all know about."
"We know nothing of that!" Draco said. "What 'mom died to save you' thing?"
"She died to save me and marked me with her love! Surely, you know this!"
"No, Harry, we don't" Neville said. "So, that was it"
"Yes, yes" he answered.
"Harry... Do you know how all things that happened to you appeared to the school?" Hermione asked.
"Um, no" Harry answered.
"Then, let us tell you" Ron said. "Hermione, go right ahead!"
"Well" the girl started "in your first year, everybody found out that at the end of the school, Professor Quirrel wanted to steal the Philosopher's Stone and that you defeated him and he died."
"So, no Voldemort" Harry said.
"None" Ron said.
"I didn't find out until now!" Draco said.
"Then, your second year" Hermione said. "Something was stunning people and a weird writing was on the wall. You had been found at the scene of the crime and during the Dueling Club you let out the fact that you were a Parselmouth. Everybody freaked. Then, Hermione got stunned and people got confused. Then, Ginny was kidnapped and you went to the Chamber of Secrets –nobody knowing where that was- and you killed the monster and saved Ginny"
"No diary?" Harry asked.
"What diary?" Luna asked.
"Tom Riddle's diary" Draco answered. "My dad was mighty upset Potter destroyed it."
"Right" Hermione said. "Next, your third year. Sirius Black going around the school, wanted to kill you or Ron and was finally caught and then mysteriously disappeared."
"I still wonder how he did it. He wasn't a dark wizard or anything" Draco said. "Do you know anything about it, Potter?"
Harry gaped and almost tripped on a tree root. Hermione went on.
"Fourth year, you get in the contest and everybody knows you want to brag, you love attention, so they hate you. All except Gryffindors, of course. Then, at the end of the Tournament, you disappear and after a while reappear with Cedric's body, saying nothing. The next day, Dumbledore tells everybody that Voldemort did it. No Barty Crouch, no how-he-got-his-body- back. Then, everybody says your crazy. They start hating you"
"I remember that" Harry said dryly.
"Yes, well... So, in your fifth year, they all start to remember how you can speak Parselmouth, how you appeared with Cedric's body, saying nearly nothing, they start believing that you are crazy."
"Well, not that it would be far from truth" Draco said.
"So, you start saying Voldemort is back. Umbridge tears apart everything, the Weasleys escape, everything's a mess, you say Voldemort is back and tell the whole story in the Quibbler, Umbridge goes mad, Quibbler is banned, people start believing you, finally, Voldemort appears at the Ministry and you prove to be right. Lucius Malfoy in jail. And in this year, Sirius Black is cleared."
"Right. How come he's alive?" Draco asked, but he wasn't answered. "I thought Bellatrix killed him."
"Then, Azkaban gets attacked, Malfoy senior is rescued and Towers escapes, nobody knowing if he's on the right side or not"
"Well, he's definitely not on the Dark Lord's side" Draco said. "My dad's written a few letters telling me to keep an eye on him and report his every move. But the guy is so... he's like... he..."
"Yes, we know" Hermione said. "So, you see, Harry, nobody sees things the same way you do. We can see your point of view, but you haven't told us too many things quickly, either."
"Potty holds secrets" Draco commented. "Well, we're much more cheery than at the beginning. What do you say, if acromantulas attack, can we protect ourselves against them?"
"I think so, yes" Hermione replied.
They had walked for quite a while and Harry was starting to wonder exactly where they were going. And then it struck him.
"Where are we going?" he asked, slowly.
"In the direction Towers flew in" Hermione replied. "The book said so."
"But what if we're going in the wrong way?" Harry asked.
"I hope not. Anyway, we can survive. If we don't get the Torch, we might get expelled, but I don't think so. They have to train you, don't they?"
"Yes, well, I wouldn't like to lose all the House points!" Draco said. "Or serve detention forever."
"That means Hufflepuff would win" Jane said with a small chuckle. "All our Houses with nix points and Hufflepuff first on the list, imagine that!"
"I'd rather not. Father would kill me" Draco said. "Losing to Gryffindor is one thing –and it was bad then- but losing to Hufflepuff is definitely worse!"
"Your father beats you if you lose the House Cup?" Ginny asked.
"Let's say that Hufflepuff is dfedefinitelyit's not pleasant" Draco replied. "But he doesn't physically touch me"
"Hexes" Amala muttered. "You have it bad, don't you?"
"Yes" the blond replied. It was something he did not want to share, so he changed the subject. "So, where do you think the Green Torch is?"
"Green Flame Torch" Ginny corrected him.
"Same thing" he replied.
"Don't you think we're making a tad too much noise?" Mark asked. "If there are werewolves, they'll hear us"
"No" Hermione said. "It's the new moon tonight, so no werewolves"
"But what about acromantulas?" Ron asked.
"They don't care" Harry answered. "I hope"
"The Forest isn't dark" Amala said. "It's just Forbidden."
"Huh?" Draco asked, raising an eyebrow at the girl.
"There are things here that aren't bad. But the Forest lives by its own rules and ones who don't know them might get themselves in grave danger"
"Tell me about it?" Harry said.
"Hey, yo, Wrighty!" Draco said. "Snap out of it, you look pretty far away from us"
Harry looked at the girl who was dreamily staring into space.
"I'm here" she replied. "I don't have to snap out of it, I am still here"
"Good to know that and watch out for trees" Draco said.
"But I have this weird feeling here. It's even more powerful than other times... Something enters my mind, so powerful and gentle... Tells me not to fear, it shall help"
"Are you ok?" Mark asked.
"Presence in your mind?!" Draco nearly cried. "A hex! The Imperius!"
"No, no" she replied. "Were it the Imperius, it would tell me what to do and I could not refuse. But it is rather gentle and tells me things... But I can't tell exactly what. It's like a slow whisper and I only get parts of the messages"
"It's a curse. Or a potion" Draco said.
"No, silly" Amala said. "I heard such voices before and I know that they don't try to control me they couldn't. I've heard evil voices and good voices, but this one is clearer than all the others. It's speaking to me. But it won't speak too long."
"What does it say?" Jane asked.
"Many things. But I can't understand all of them, I'm not even close to doing it. But for one, I know we must be careful here, but don't attack everything in sight."
"Are you some kind of a psychic?" Draco asked.
"Actually, yes" Amala said, raising her head and nodding towards Draco. "Well, that explains it!"
Draco goggled his eyes.
"Like Trelawney?"
"No, she's a phony" Amala answered. "And besides, I usually see general- truth things, not the future. Like the Forest not being dark or I can feel spirits and hear calls or magic, but I can't see the future. At least I don't think I can"
'Oh, great, a bloody psychic!" Draco said.
"Let the Seer See and the Bearer Search" Hermione said. "I think you're our Seer, Amala"
"But I can't See" the girl said.
"But hearing must do" Hermione said with a grin. "So, tell us, do you feel the way we should go towards?"
"No" she replied calmly. "Better follow somebody else, I'm most likely to get lost"
"Oh, brother" Draco said.
/*-/*-/*-/*-
A few hours had passed and the scenery seemed to remain the same. The same dark trees, the same dark forest, the same sense of tension, but somewhat more clamed by now since they had got used to it, all seeming to test their power to go on.
"This is boring" Draco commented for what seemed to be the fortieth time.
"Yes, we know" Jane answered. "Who'd have thought? The Forbidden Forest and no bloody threat!"
"Hey, Chasy!" Draco said. "Could this mean you're chasing after the Green Flame Torch?"
"Why, I think you're right!" the girl said with a grin. "Ah, I'm carrying on the tradition. And I'm quite young, too"
"Perhaps you'll die young and you need to follow the tradition" Draco said.
"That's encouraging" Jane said.
They walked silently for a few minutes, Harry wondering if dawn would catch them just the same, walking through the Forest like that. And how large was the Forest, anyway? Was it magical so that it would seem to be smaller than it actually was and stretched for a whole continent? He hoped not. Hey, but if it was the size of a continent and it was only hidden to be that size, it could be Atlantis!
Harry grinned. That was a long shot, but a funny one nevertheless. But what if the real Atlantis was hidden to seem like just a one square meter island? Who'd go on it and see it was actually enormous?
"And what would ten teens be doing in the Forest?" a voice asked and Harry turned to see the speaker, which was definitely not one of their party.
/*-/*-/*-/*-
Author's Note: There! Another chappie! And now, try to guess: who is this speaker? The one who guesses has 20 points! So, guys, review and tell me what you thought! Flame if you will.
Now, to my dear fans all over the net!
Thank you!
Skillz: Thank you!
Babyjayy: Thank you and is this soon enough?
The Red Dragons Order: Thank you and I must say that your reviewing abilities leave mine far behind. And also, your reviews are the ones I look forward to most.
Violet: Thank you and yes, I must say that my face is doing a pretty good impression of a tomato.
Akvar: Hello, my dear demon. Decided to drop by? Thanks for the review and ah! Hints are everywhere...
Other chapters:
Harryp/charmedfreak: Thank you.
Dedication: to the Red Dragons Order.
Chapter 25: After The Flight
Albus Dumbledore couldn't help but smile. Ah, for how long had he known Jack Towers was hardly caught! And voila! He had escaped in a truly beautiful way.
Severus Snape could slap himself. He should have known the weird man –who insisted upon calling him Sev or Batman- would escape a bunch of Aurors in a truly power-proving way. The man reminded him of someone... But he couldn't remember... who? Who was the man Towers resembled? Argh! He felt his mind foggy, as if something interfered with his memories. But he had never met Towers before. He was sure of that. But what resemblance to... to... Dumbledore when he was younger? No, it wasn't Dumbledore. Was it?
Tonks nearly grinned when she saw the beautiful dragon flying above their heads. She knew he'd make it! Yes, yes she did! Good old Jack, flying out of there Of course, he'd have some problems by being an Animagus, but who cared?!
Generally, everybody was amazed, staring into space. It was only when the song Towers had put for them ended when they all started moving and talking. First it was a murmur but it very quickly became a racket.
"Come! Defence class!" Hermione cried over the racket towards Harry, Ron, Amala, Ginny and Luna.
They all rushed to the silent castle and entered it. Harry noticed that they weren't the only ones who had heard Hermione's cry, but Draco, Neville, Mark Evans and Jane Chase had come with them, too.
"This is weird. Very weird" Hermione said, going quickly to the class.
"Yeah, tell me about it?" Ron said. "An Animagus is something, but a dragon!"
"That wasn't just a dragon, Ron" she said. "That was one of the most powerful dragons in existence. Ever. Don't you see? Becoming a magical creature is damned difficult, but becoming a dragon is nearly impossible. Maybe Dumbledore or Voldemort would do it. But that... that was an Ancient Sautaus Dragon."
"A what?!" Harry and Ron asked together.
"Ancient Sautaus Dragon" she answered. "I read about it. It was one of the talking dragons. I think they're extinct now, but still. I think maybe Dumbledore would be able to become one, but not even that's for certain!"
"That means..." Ron started.
"Towers is more powerful than Dumbledore" Jane Chase completed. "I suspected... But..."
"I don't know" Hermione said. "And it's hard to become an extinct animal, too"
"What if Towers isn't an Animagus?" Jane asked.
"What do you mean? You've seen him transform!" Neville commented.
"I think I know what you mean" Luna said.
"Me too. But go on" Draco said.
"What if Towers is a... Homomagus?" Jane asked.
"A what?!" Harry asked and Ron looked thoughtful.
"I think I've heard of them, but I can't remember..."
"It means that Towers isn't human" Draco said.
"He's a dragon. And can morph into a human being" Luna said.
"The reverse of an Animagus?" Hermione asked.
"Yes. The exact reverse. The Animagus is a human that can morph into an animal and a Homomagus is an animal that can morph into a human. And talking dragons were known to do that" Draco said.
"So, Towers is an Ancient Dragon" Mark said.
"Maybe" Hermione said. "But we shouldn't make any assumptions. Many of the assumptions we had made over the years turned out to be false."
"Hermione. Stop" Amala said and the girl stopped suddenly from her march.
"Yes?" she asked.
"I have a feeling" Amala said.
"You sick?" Draco asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No. Not that kind of a feeling" Amala said. "Why did you come with us, Draco?"
"Because I heard Granger and..."
"Neville?"
"Same reason"
"Mark? Jane?"
"Us too" they answered.
"What's your point?" Draco asked.
"You weren't close enough to hear. Not in that racket. But you heard. And you came" Amala said. "I cannot explain it, but I feel it. Hermione, let's go to our room."
"What? You're going to your dorm now?" Draco asked, but Hermione took no notice.
"Are you sure, Amala?"
"Trust me" the girl answered. "Please"
"Very well. This way, everybody" Hermione said and started leading them to the room they had found. Their special room.
"This isn't the way to Gryffindor tower" Draco said.
"We know. We're not going to Gryffindor tower. We're going to a special room" Amala said.
"Are you crazy?" Ron and Harry asked. "We can't take them there!"
"Yes, we can and we will" Hermione said. "Plus, there's one thing that bothers me. All the other Ancient Dragons have name that symbolize their status. Like Ancient Warrior Dragon or Ancient Wise Dragon. But I never figured out what 'Sautaus' meant."
"Maybe it's a region?" Ron asked.
"No, at the time Ancient Dragons lived, they lived all over the world. They weren't bound to a spot" Hermione explained. "And as I said, they could speak. They called themselves 'Warrior' or 'Wise' or 'Mountain' Dragons. Only one specie did not have a name that was translated. Maybe it was the ancient dragon language with at least one word they could not translate into human languages"
"When was this, Granger?" Draco asked. "I can't remember the time."
"Don't know exactly until when, I think they were great even before the humans rose, since some of the first documents speak of them. Most such documents were destroyed or gathered by wizards, so Muggles wouldn't know about the dragons, but even in Ancient Egypt or in Sumer they knew about them. They must have disappeared sometime in the Dark Ages."
"So, theoretically, they're extinct" Draco said.
"Well, yes. But practically, we might be up for a surprise"
They made it to the pre-room and entered.
"Wow!" Draco and the others said when they saw the beautiful white room, decorated with gold.
"Light warriors!" Amala said and the wall opened, letting the teens inside 'the room'.
"Holly shit" Draco said.
"How can you keep this a secret?!" Jane asked.
"Let's check for 'Sautaus' Hermione" Amala said, picking up a book from the library. "Maybe we'll find something"
/*-/*-/*-/*-
Dumbledore had managed to get the students in their common rooms and the teachers in the teachers' room. And the Aurors had come with him to the room, all amazed and angered. All but three. Kingsley, Tonks and a young man, called Mike Arrow.
"He is an unregistered Animagus!" the Auror leader, Paul Graves cried. "I don't think a white wizard would be one!"
"James Potter was an unregistered Animagus, sir" Mike Arrow said. "I highly doubt he was a dark wizard."
"He was an exception, Arrow" Graves said. "Remember, Black was an unregistered Animagus, too"
"Yes, well, he proved to be a good guy, didn't he?" Mike asked innocently.
"And who said it? Well?"
"Um... Towers. And Remus Lupin. And Dumbledore"
"They were brainwashed by Towers!"
"Actually, I don't think I was" Dumbledore said. "And I'm still in the room, gentlemen."
"He was quite the dragon, Towers" Tonks said admiringly. "But wasn't it difficult to become a dragon?"
"Yes it was. And I am afraid to say that Towers is more powerful than even I" the Headmaster said. "Because of the one he always spoke about"
"What?!" Graves asked. "Who did the idiot always speak of?"
"He is not an idiot, Paul" Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling. "An idiot could hardly become an Animagus, and a dragon nevertheless!"
"Who made him powerful?!" Graves asked. "I'll rip the limbs off the idiot who did it!'
"His Master did" Dumbledore said. "And it would be terribly difficult to rip his limbs off. For one, nobody saw him except a few selected people and the man can very easily hide his tracks. He uses wandless magic, so you can't trace him. He can move from one place to another quicker than light and without even the pop of Apparating. I hardly doubt that you could rip his limbs off"
"What's the name of the man?" Graves asked.
"I'm afraid that I cannot tell you that, Paul" Dumbledore said. "Names are powerful things."
"Nonsense!" Graves said. "Now, Dumbledore, you must tell me his name"
"No. Besides, it would not be of much help" the Headmaster explained. "But you can stop searching for Towers. There is no chance he will fall into your hands now. His Master cares too much for him to let something like that happen."
"This is bullshit!" Graves said.
"Watch your language" Kingsley said with a look. "It is not polite to..."
"I damn well know what is polite and what isn't!" the head Auror cried, making all the others ask themselves not only how he ended up as their leader but also how he had passed the tests for Auror training.
"Now, now, Paul, calm down!" Tonks said cheerfully. She still hadn't got over seeing the dragon. "So, getting him is out of the question. What do we do now?"
"It is not out of the question!" Graves said.
"I'd say we go back to the Ministry and that's that" Kingsley proposed.
"We are not going back to the Ministry!"
"I think it's a good idea" Tonks accepted.
"It is not!"
"So, everybody to the Quiddich pitch, we should get our brooms" Kingsley said and the others nodded.
"We are staying right here!"
But the other Aurors were just waving Dumbledore goodbye and getting out of the teachers' room.
"DO YOU EVEN HEAR ME?!" Graves cried at his maximum volume.
"Well, we'll see you later, Albus" Kingsley said. "If you hear anything of our escapee, tell us"
"KINGSLEY SHAKELBOLT!"
"Of course"
"Goodbye, Albus"
"Goodbye!"
"COME BACK!"
When he found himself in a room full of teachers and no Aurors, Graves shrugged. Everybody seemed to be studiously ignoring him –which they were, by the way-. He exited the room, leaving the teachers alone.
"Finally!" Snape said. "I thought he'd never leave!"
"You and me both" Professor Vector, the Arithmancy teacher said.
"Now, now, children, play nice" Dumbledore said, the twinkle in his eyes working overtime."
"We are playing nice, Albus" Snape muttered and McGonagall stifled a chuckle.
"Wha' kind o' dragon was tha'?" Hagrid asked. "I've never seen such a beast!"
"I haven't either" Dumbledore answered. "Only in one very old book, I think it's still in the library and I'm quite sure Mrs. Granger read it. That was one of the Ancient Dragons, Hagrid."
"Ancient Dragons!" the half-giant said. "Why, I never thought ter see one in me life!"
"Indeed, they are –or at least I thought they were- extinct. But it seems that Towers managed to become one."
"But how, Albus?" Minerva questioned. "How can one man become an Ancient Dragon?"
"As I said, he is more powerful than even I. In some way, although otherwise he is weaker."
"What do you mean, Albus?" Snape asked. "How can he be and yet not be more powerful than you?"
"His Master. He has given him the power. He even admitted, once" Dumbledore answered and looked everybody in the staff room in the eye. "There are forces in this world that are far greater than ours. And they are fighting in their own ways, hidden from us"
"How can they hide from us? Wouldn't we discover them?" Vector asked.
"They hide in the same way as we do from Muggles" Dumbledore answered. "But they must be more careful. And maybe they are even fewer than us, at least on Earth they are. I have no knowledge of the full extent of their power."
"So, we're not alone in the Universe" Sprout said.
"No, we are not. We might think we know something, but I don't think we know too much. You see, Towers' Master is one of these powerful beings. Very powerful out of what the ex-Professor told me."
"Then why wouldn't he help us?" Snape asked. "He could end this war and we'd all..."
"No, Severus" Dumbledore said. "He is kept from interfering by ones even greater than him. Because there is something beyond even the powerful Master of Towers. The world is built on the concept of spheres, sphere in sphere in sphere with the Muggles most far away from the center, out of what I know."
"It's starting to scare me" Sprout admitted.
"But we needn't worry" Dumbledore said. "As we must not interfere with Muggles' lives, they will not interfere with ours. The main idea is that Towers' Master will not help us, at least not directly."
"But how come he can help Towers?" Flitwick asked.
"He has a certain power over his servants, or children. Every Master does. See, even Voldemort" –half the room flinched-"has power over his servants, although he is not the gentle parent white Masters are. He is a Dark wizard and therefore will use his power in a dark way. But think about the children you teach. You are, in some way, like Masters to them and you use your power over them to guide them well. Of course, it is a weak example, but it still is one"
The room looked at Dumbledore, who decided to finally sit down.
"But now back to our own problems. I would like it if none of you would try to catch or hurt Towers if he decides to come back. I know him well enough to understand he will be of no harm and to know that he has not done anything to those people."
"But what about the 'other things' he mentioned?" Sprout asked. "He said he had done none of the things he was accused with, but that he had done others."
"I don't think we should worry about those" Dumbledore said. "I think we should worry about Fudge going against us or doing something not very intelligent. He has mistaken friend and foe before and I think he might do it again."
The others in the room nodded. What times they were given to live in!
/*-/*-/*-/*-
"I'm bloody tired!" Draco complained. "Let's rest a bit, shall we? These books look so few and turn out to be so many!"
"It must be magic" Hermione said. "They are definitely fewer when you see them on shelves. Alright, we'll take a break"
They were, of course, in the secret room and they were all tired. Dozens of books were lying open everywhere and Ron was napping on an armchair. It was already night and they had been through nearly one hundred books. That might have not seemed too much, but since most of them were as big as a bible in a church, it had been a long work. Plus, there was always the hope the answer to 'what was a 'Sautaus'' would be on the next page. And they had stumbled across very interesting texts about pixies, Hogwarts, ancient magic, elves, vampires and centaurs –and many others- that they eagerly read. Who knew books would be that interesting! –well, Hermione, but she didn't count-.
Amala sighed and crashed on an armchair and Hermione took out a last book for checking. But when she took it out, another book fell out and crashed open on the floor, face down.
"Oh, no, I hope it's not ruined" Hermione said, picking it up. "Hey, guess what, it's the book we first found when we came in"
"Really?" Ron asked, not very interested.
"Yeah, and look, it's empty"
"What book?" Draco asked.
"When we came in, this book was here, on a shelf, and Hermione picked it up and saw it was nearly empty... It also told us how to get back here" Harry said. "Read something in it, Hermione"
She smiled and opened it in the middle.
"No, this time it's really empty" she said. "The text used to be here" She flipped a few pages and when she made it near the beginning, she almost dropped the book. "It's not empty..."
They all gathered around the book and Hermione read loudly from it.
"When the dragon flies, you guide your steps towards where it left and let it be your guide! Let the Seer See and let the Bearer Search. Help yourselves and forget not your purpose. You shall meet friend or maybe foe, but do not despair, you are helped on thou way. And if thou art wondering what dragon guides your steps, it is an Ancient one, one close to the Heart of Light, for that is what its name means. Go, all of you, brave and cunning and witty! Be all of you loyal to your goal!"
"Weird book" Draco said with a small movement of his head.
"If I had seen it yesterday, I would have laughed" Amala said. "But I think that right now, I feel a strange urge to go in the Forbidden Forest"
"You know, I think you're right" Hermione said. "The dragon flew over the Forest. And the book says 'follow the dragon'."
"Are you out of your minds?!" Draco asked. "Forbidden Forest?!"
"Did we mention Harry is the Bearer of the Green Flame Torch?" Ron asked.
"No, you forgot to mention that rather insignificant detail" Draco replied with a sneer.
"We should go in the Forest" Amala said. "The Torch is near Hogwarts. Perhaps it is in there."
"Let's go" Harry said. "I don't think I could sleep right now."
"We should take some food" Ginny proposed.
"And some sleeping bags" Neville added.
"And learn this text by heart" Jane said.
"And then, on we go" Harry completed.
"We're screwed" Draco said with a sigh. "Well, what the hell are we waiting for?!"
/*-/*-/*-/*-
Amala was going down the corridors silently, trying to reach Gryffindor Tower as quick as possible. She was supposed to take some clothes and things for her and Hermione and Mark and Harry had taken another route, so they wouldn't look suspicious together –since they would probably not be in the school next morning, never mind that night- and they could use the most time they would get. They wouldn't want anybody stopping them soon, would they?
She took a turn and saw somebody else coming on the corridor. It still wasn't curfew, so she didn't worry. Until she saw who it was.
"Hello Amala" said a slow, dark voice.
"Hello, Severus" she replied with a small smile. "Quite the events today, weren't they?"
"Yes, they were" the Professor replied. "What are you doing around here at this time?"
"Well, I, um..."
She didn't know what to say and suspicion seemed to grow in the man. Better say something quick, something that did not resemble 'nothing'.
"I um..."
"Yes?" he asked.
"I was... um..."
"I'm waiting."
"Going to the kitchens to steal some food since everybody in my group of friends is celebrating Towers' escape" she said, looking down, pretending to expect a blow. Well, she got something she didn't expect, that was sure. A laugh.
"Is that all?" he asked. "Tickle the pear. Or do you already know?"
She lifted her head, surprised.
"Um, yeah, I did. Thanks"
Severus smirked.
"Quite the rule breaker, I see. And what would you be doing tonight?"
'Not much' she thought. 'Going to find the Green Flame Torch and putting myself in danger, that sort of thing'. "I have to study, I'm a bit behind on Transfiguration."
"Can you postpone it?" Severus asked.
"Actually, no, I can't" she replied. "I'm supposed to be practicing with Neville and Ginny with Hermione helping us and I can't escape unless I explain the reason. I'm so sorry"
Severus nodded.
"No problem" he replied. "Perhaps tomorrow would be alright?"
"Yes" she replied. "Tomorrow will be fine"
He bid her goodbye and left and she started going to the Gryffindor Tower.
'That's the first time I lied to get myself out of a date with him. But there's nothing better for me to do' she thought. 'Well, the excuse is wonderful. And by tomorrow, either the whole school will know we're missing or we'll be back, so there's no harm done."
/*-/*-/*-/*-
As the night settled over the now peaceful and quiet grounds of Hogwarts, ten shadows walked silently down to the Forbidden Forest. Ten shadows carrying backpacks, of course.
"Do you think we'll be back soon?" Neville asked.
"No" Draco and Harry answered together.
"We'll most likely miss the week of school" Jane said.
"Not it wouldn't be wonderfully exciting" Mark added.
"Or we'll get ourselves killed and won't come back" Draco said. "Not that it wouldn't be fun" he added, mocking Mark.
"Well, this is it" Ginny said, when they reached the edge of the forest. "and in we go!"
They entered the forest and went in a steady pace, soon not seeing anything behind them, except for trees. Five wands were lit and ten pairs of feet were silently walking on fallen leaves and over tree roots.
The Forest was exactly as Harry remembered it. The trees were growing together closely, the silence was nearly unbearable and the feeling of danger was quite strong. He wondered how unicorns –so pure and defenseless- could survive in the dark place, where every memory he had was connected to some kind of danger. First, there had been Voldemort. Then, the acromantulas. Then the Dementors. In the fifth year, the centaurs and Grawp. Yes, he had been in the fourth year in the Forest, but it had been with Hagrid and on less 'Forbidden Forest' like paths than other times.
Right! Where was Grawp? He hadn't heard anything of Hagrid's younger brother –he could hardly be called little- for a very long time. Was that a good thing?
"Ugh. It's so dark here" Jane said with a whisper.
"No shit?" Draco asked. "Well, at least no dead unicorns this time"
"Dead unicorns?" Amala and Jane asked in the same time.
"Yep. In my first year, there were dead unicorns in the Forest and I was on a detention and had to find out what killed them."
"And you screamed like an idiot when we stumbled across him drinking" Harry said. "Almost got me killed"
"That hadn't been such a bad thing" Draco commented. "What was that, anyway?"
"You mean... you still don't know?" Harry asked.
"No, Potter. I don't. Nobody ever found the urge to tell me. After I ran away, saving my skin –thing which you weren't bright enough to do, may I remind you?-, I met the half-giant and we started searching for you when you appeared on a centaur. Remember?"
Harry raised his eyebrows in surprise. Had it really been like that for Draco? Had it really? How could he not know that was Voldemort?
"It was Voldemort, drinking"
"How could he drink? Wasn't he a spirit?" Draco asked.
"What do you mean, a spirit?"
"Yes, good idea" Luna said. "He was bodiless until two years ago, wasn't he?"
"He was in Quirrel's body!" Harry said. "Of course you know..."
"Actually, no, we don't" Luna said. "In Quirrel's body? But didn't you kill Quirrel in a duel?"
"Well, I did. Sort of. Voldemort couldn't touch me and therefore neither could Quirrel, so he died, burnt by me. The whole 'my mom died to save me' thing you all know about."
"We know nothing of that!" Draco said. "What 'mom died to save you' thing?"
"She died to save me and marked me with her love! Surely, you know this!"
"No, Harry, we don't" Neville said. "So, that was it"
"Yes, yes" he answered.
"Harry... Do you know how all things that happened to you appeared to the school?" Hermione asked.
"Um, no" Harry answered.
"Then, let us tell you" Ron said. "Hermione, go right ahead!"
"Well" the girl started "in your first year, everybody found out that at the end of the school, Professor Quirrel wanted to steal the Philosopher's Stone and that you defeated him and he died."
"So, no Voldemort" Harry said.
"None" Ron said.
"I didn't find out until now!" Draco said.
"Then, your second year" Hermione said. "Something was stunning people and a weird writing was on the wall. You had been found at the scene of the crime and during the Dueling Club you let out the fact that you were a Parselmouth. Everybody freaked. Then, Hermione got stunned and people got confused. Then, Ginny was kidnapped and you went to the Chamber of Secrets –nobody knowing where that was- and you killed the monster and saved Ginny"
"No diary?" Harry asked.
"What diary?" Luna asked.
"Tom Riddle's diary" Draco answered. "My dad was mighty upset Potter destroyed it."
"Right" Hermione said. "Next, your third year. Sirius Black going around the school, wanted to kill you or Ron and was finally caught and then mysteriously disappeared."
"I still wonder how he did it. He wasn't a dark wizard or anything" Draco said. "Do you know anything about it, Potter?"
Harry gaped and almost tripped on a tree root. Hermione went on.
"Fourth year, you get in the contest and everybody knows you want to brag, you love attention, so they hate you. All except Gryffindors, of course. Then, at the end of the Tournament, you disappear and after a while reappear with Cedric's body, saying nothing. The next day, Dumbledore tells everybody that Voldemort did it. No Barty Crouch, no how-he-got-his-body- back. Then, everybody says your crazy. They start hating you"
"I remember that" Harry said dryly.
"Yes, well... So, in your fifth year, they all start to remember how you can speak Parselmouth, how you appeared with Cedric's body, saying nearly nothing, they start believing that you are crazy."
"Well, not that it would be far from truth" Draco said.
"So, you start saying Voldemort is back. Umbridge tears apart everything, the Weasleys escape, everything's a mess, you say Voldemort is back and tell the whole story in the Quibbler, Umbridge goes mad, Quibbler is banned, people start believing you, finally, Voldemort appears at the Ministry and you prove to be right. Lucius Malfoy in jail. And in this year, Sirius Black is cleared."
"Right. How come he's alive?" Draco asked, but he wasn't answered. "I thought Bellatrix killed him."
"Then, Azkaban gets attacked, Malfoy senior is rescued and Towers escapes, nobody knowing if he's on the right side or not"
"Well, he's definitely not on the Dark Lord's side" Draco said. "My dad's written a few letters telling me to keep an eye on him and report his every move. But the guy is so... he's like... he..."
"Yes, we know" Hermione said. "So, you see, Harry, nobody sees things the same way you do. We can see your point of view, but you haven't told us too many things quickly, either."
"Potty holds secrets" Draco commented. "Well, we're much more cheery than at the beginning. What do you say, if acromantulas attack, can we protect ourselves against them?"
"I think so, yes" Hermione replied.
They had walked for quite a while and Harry was starting to wonder exactly where they were going. And then it struck him.
"Where are we going?" he asked, slowly.
"In the direction Towers flew in" Hermione replied. "The book said so."
"But what if we're going in the wrong way?" Harry asked.
"I hope not. Anyway, we can survive. If we don't get the Torch, we might get expelled, but I don't think so. They have to train you, don't they?"
"Yes, well, I wouldn't like to lose all the House points!" Draco said. "Or serve detention forever."
"That means Hufflepuff would win" Jane said with a small chuckle. "All our Houses with nix points and Hufflepuff first on the list, imagine that!"
"I'd rather not. Father would kill me" Draco said. "Losing to Gryffindor is one thing –and it was bad then- but losing to Hufflepuff is definitely worse!"
"Your father beats you if you lose the House Cup?" Ginny asked.
"Let's say that Hufflepuff is dfedefinitelyit's not pleasant" Draco replied. "But he doesn't physically touch me"
"Hexes" Amala muttered. "You have it bad, don't you?"
"Yes" the blond replied. It was something he did not want to share, so he changed the subject. "So, where do you think the Green Torch is?"
"Green Flame Torch" Ginny corrected him.
"Same thing" he replied.
"Don't you think we're making a tad too much noise?" Mark asked. "If there are werewolves, they'll hear us"
"No" Hermione said. "It's the new moon tonight, so no werewolves"
"But what about acromantulas?" Ron asked.
"They don't care" Harry answered. "I hope"
"The Forest isn't dark" Amala said. "It's just Forbidden."
"Huh?" Draco asked, raising an eyebrow at the girl.
"There are things here that aren't bad. But the Forest lives by its own rules and ones who don't know them might get themselves in grave danger"
"Tell me about it?" Harry said.
"Hey, yo, Wrighty!" Draco said. "Snap out of it, you look pretty far away from us"
Harry looked at the girl who was dreamily staring into space.
"I'm here" she replied. "I don't have to snap out of it, I am still here"
"Good to know that and watch out for trees" Draco said.
"But I have this weird feeling here. It's even more powerful than other times... Something enters my mind, so powerful and gentle... Tells me not to fear, it shall help"
"Are you ok?" Mark asked.
"Presence in your mind?!" Draco nearly cried. "A hex! The Imperius!"
"No, no" she replied. "Were it the Imperius, it would tell me what to do and I could not refuse. But it is rather gentle and tells me things... But I can't tell exactly what. It's like a slow whisper and I only get parts of the messages"
"It's a curse. Or a potion" Draco said.
"No, silly" Amala said. "I heard such voices before and I know that they don't try to control me they couldn't. I've heard evil voices and good voices, but this one is clearer than all the others. It's speaking to me. But it won't speak too long."
"What does it say?" Jane asked.
"Many things. But I can't understand all of them, I'm not even close to doing it. But for one, I know we must be careful here, but don't attack everything in sight."
"Are you some kind of a psychic?" Draco asked.
"Actually, yes" Amala said, raising her head and nodding towards Draco. "Well, that explains it!"
Draco goggled his eyes.
"Like Trelawney?"
"No, she's a phony" Amala answered. "And besides, I usually see general- truth things, not the future. Like the Forest not being dark or I can feel spirits and hear calls or magic, but I can't see the future. At least I don't think I can"
'Oh, great, a bloody psychic!" Draco said.
"Let the Seer See and the Bearer Search" Hermione said. "I think you're our Seer, Amala"
"But I can't See" the girl said.
"But hearing must do" Hermione said with a grin. "So, tell us, do you feel the way we should go towards?"
"No" she replied calmly. "Better follow somebody else, I'm most likely to get lost"
"Oh, brother" Draco said.
/*-/*-/*-/*-
A few hours had passed and the scenery seemed to remain the same. The same dark trees, the same dark forest, the same sense of tension, but somewhat more clamed by now since they had got used to it, all seeming to test their power to go on.
"This is boring" Draco commented for what seemed to be the fortieth time.
"Yes, we know" Jane answered. "Who'd have thought? The Forbidden Forest and no bloody threat!"
"Hey, Chasy!" Draco said. "Could this mean you're chasing after the Green Flame Torch?"
"Why, I think you're right!" the girl said with a grin. "Ah, I'm carrying on the tradition. And I'm quite young, too"
"Perhaps you'll die young and you need to follow the tradition" Draco said.
"That's encouraging" Jane said.
They walked silently for a few minutes, Harry wondering if dawn would catch them just the same, walking through the Forest like that. And how large was the Forest, anyway? Was it magical so that it would seem to be smaller than it actually was and stretched for a whole continent? He hoped not. Hey, but if it was the size of a continent and it was only hidden to be that size, it could be Atlantis!
Harry grinned. That was a long shot, but a funny one nevertheless. But what if the real Atlantis was hidden to seem like just a one square meter island? Who'd go on it and see it was actually enormous?
"And what would ten teens be doing in the Forest?" a voice asked and Harry turned to see the speaker, which was definitely not one of their party.
/*-/*-/*-/*-
Author's Note: There! Another chappie! And now, try to guess: who is this speaker? The one who guesses has 20 points! So, guys, review and tell me what you thought! Flame if you will.
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Thank you!
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