February
He didn't sleep well that night. Again & again he visited Voldemort in his dreams. He was telling the death eaters that he was going to execute his schemes soon. Malfoy was allowed to take his revenge; against whom, Harry didn't know. As instructed, Harry wrote the dreams in his diary early the next morning.
He looked outside the window in his dormitory. It was the first day of February and a thick frost lay over the grounds, making them looked as if they had icing sugar sprinkled on the grass. He thought that it would be a good day to play Quidditch, even if it was cold. Then he remembered that Ron had dropped him. It was an odd decision for the captain of the team to make; it didn't make sense. He was the best seeker in Hogwarts and they would never be able to replace him with someone of the same standard. Ron also relied on his advice. Perhaps it was just an excuse and there was another reason.
'Would it be legally or ethically right to use Legilimency to find it out?' he wondered.
Not wanting to talk to Ron that early in the day, he left the dormitory and went to the common room and sat in a chair next to the ashes of the former fire. He heard footsteps as someone else crossed the floor. It was Hermione. She flew at him and started assaulting him with a rash set of kisses.
"Hey Harry, do you want me to polish your broomstick for you?"
Harry was appalled at her behaviour. He looked her in the eyes. They were wide open and bulging.
"Hermione, what are you doing?" he asked, pushing her away.
"I love you, Harry! And I love the Weasley twins and I love Oliver Wood and I love all the people on all the Quidditch teams"
'What! Have you been at the fire whiskey?'
"Yes!" she yelled. "Anything for the game of Quidditch!"
He looked at her astounded and asked, "Hermione? Do you even know how to play Quidditch?"
She shook her head and said, "No! But I LOVE QUIDDITCH PLAYERS!"
Harry concluded that something was definitely wrong with her. "You need to go to the hospital wing"
The noise of her ranting had woken their fellow Gryffindors, including Ron. As they entered the common room the all stood looking Hermione, and started to snigger.
"Wait! I'm fine I don't need to go, really." She continued
Then she saw Ron.
She pursed her lips and said, " Ooh you're the captain"
"Hermione, you have to stop doing this. People are laughing at you" said Harry
"I don't care. I LOVE QUIDDITCH!" she shouted as she ran to Ron
"Get off me mudblood" he yelled and pushed her to the floor
This was very wrong. Both Ron & Herimone were acting totally out of character. Neville stepped forward to restrain Ron.
"Upstairs now" said Ginny sternly as she picked Herimone up and lead her back to the girls dormitory.
Fortunately she went quietly and Ron went off to the main hall for breakfast. Harry and Neville followed.
Ron found a seat by himself, so Harry sat with Neville. Luna came across from the Ravenclaw table to join them.
Half way through eating toast, the Owl arrived with Herimone's copy of the Daily Prophet. Harry paid for it, unfolded it and laid it on the table in front of them. It took a few seconds for the news to sink in
Giants rampaging through the Alps
Many muggles killed by avalanches
Reports are coming in that the Giants resident in the Alps have been attacking remote mountain villages. It is widely suspected that they have joined forces with he-who-must-not-be-named, as they did at the start of the last uprising. No reports of survivors have been received. Avalanches destroyed most of the villages
Ginny joined them.
"It's Malfoy" she whispered. "He's been using the imperious curse. I managed to get Herimone sensible enough to tell me"
"But that's illegal" said Neville "He'll end up in Azkaban"
"Big deal. No one's in there now because they've all escaped" Harry reminded him.
"It would explain her unusual behaviour this morning" continued Harry "what about Ron"
"Thought it might be stress. He's got a lot on his plate, but he'd never call her a mudblood".
"What are we going to do about it?" asked Neville
"I'm going to talk to Malfoy" said Harry getting to his feet and clambering over the seat.
He strode across the Great Hall to the Slytherin table and sat down opposite Malfoy.
"What did you do to Hermione?" he asked, peering into Malfoy's face.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, Potter" he said as he buttered a piece of toast.
"Well, that's not what she said" Harry looked into Malfoy's face once more.
Malfoy smirked and simply said, "The Dark Lord is coming Potter. I'm on the winning side"
"Your not"
"Don't think the Order of the Dodo is going to help you. Read the Daily Prophet. The Dark Lord & his allies are already moving" whispered Malfoy coldly. "Your time will come sooner than you think".
"Been there, done it" snorted Harry.
"Okay then, lets do it, right here, right now" said Malfoy, standing up, drawing his wand
"You're on. Not here, outside in the forest." replied Harry, incensed
"I've been looking forward to putting you in your place once & for all Potter" said Malfoy.
Harry turned, and walked out of the great hall, Malfoy followed.
The Forbidden Forest was still. There was no breeze to rustle the branches, and the inhabitants remained silent and hidden from view. Harry and Draco stood facing each other, wands raised in the combat position, in the middle of a clearing.
"What are you trying to prove Malfoy?" Harry asked as he stared steadily at his opponent
"Prove nothing, its revenge Potter, for what you did to my father" Draco stared intently at Harry. "Recognition from the Dark Lord, and to put you out of his misery, once and for all".
"Trying to follow in your fathers footsteps? Do you want to be a scumbag like him?" jeered Harry, starting to circle Malfoy
"At least I have one Potter. Never mind, you'll soon be joining him" retorted Malfoy
"Let's get on with it Malfoy"
They took up positions on opposite sides of the clearing, bowed,
extended their wands, and then the duel began.
Curses began flying rampant around the forest, Harry dodging Malfoy's wand-created arrows, Malfoy ducking under Harry's Confundus Charm.
"Stop!". It was Ron
The curses stopped, but Harry & Malfoy were still glaring at each other.
"Ron! It's okay, I can deal with this" shouted Harry
"Shut it Potter" replied Ron "It's about time you got what's coming to you"
Harry was stunned.
"What's going on?"
Malfoy was laughing.
"I can't believe how long it's been, and still you have no idea" he sneered. "After what happened to the mudblood, I thought you would have guessed that Weasel King was under my control"
Harry stood still for a few seconds taking it all in before shouting a quick shield spell, just before Malfoy's well-aimed Incendio nearly scorched him.
"Eructo!" Ron yelled,
Harry sunk to his knees, vomiting, before Malfoy followed up with, "Depulso!"
Harry flew backward to land heavily on the ground.
"You duelled with the Dark Lord and weren't killed Potter?" asked Malfoy in disbelief
"So he says" commented Ron, "I don't believe it myself"
"Get up Potter, we duel again"
Harry got to his feet, swaying slightly, and he, Ron & Malfoy adopted to duelling position.
"Incarresous" Harry yelled, sending the hex at Ron.
Ron was bound from head to foot in ropes, and tripped over into the brambles that grew in parts of the clearing.
Before Harry could use the Disarming Spell on Malfoy, was already firing off another jinx.
Harry dodged the Impedient Jinx with ease retaliated with a Stinging Hex to Malfoy's wand hand, but he managed to hang onto his wand despite the pain the hex caused.
"You never could fight fairly, Malfoy"
Draco raised an eyebrow in aggravation. On and on the duel went, until finally Harry shot a fire spell at the hem of Malfoy's robes, and while he was distracted by the fire, yelled, "Expelliarmus!"
Malfoy's wand flew out of his hand and into Harry's.
"It's over Malfoy" said Harry twirling Malfoy's wand between his fingers.
"Not quite" he replied, drawing a second wand from his sleeve. "I heard about the dis-arming spell you use on the Dark Lord"
That had not been the reaction he was expecting "So you've been studying then?" Harry asked, buying time
"What makes you think that I know Dark Arts spells?" said Malfoy cooly
"Again Potter"
Harry nodded, then took up the duelling position again, his wand held out in front of him, Malfoy opposite him in the same position. They bowed to each other, and then the next duel began.
Again, curses began flying the forest, but this time doing more damage to each participant. Malfoy hit Harry's arm with a dark cutting spell, which sliced open his skin and blood started trickling down his arm, but it wouldn't clot; that was why that particular spell was dark. Blood started pooling on the floor, and Harry was careful not to slip in it.
"Oculi Decipio!" Harry shouted, disregarding the blood that dripped down his arm, and Malfoy cursed as the spell hit him. Immediately the Hallucination Hex began taking effect on his eyes, causing him to see strange things all over the forest.
Then Harry shouted a wind spell that would have grabbed him, swirled him around, and slammed him against the trees. Hearing the wind swooping towards him, Malfoy ducked out of the way, then pointed his wand at his eyes, muttering, "Finite Incantatem."
The duel went on, Harry saw two or three thestrals circling above them, no doubt attracted by the blood. Their large leathery wings cast a shadow over the clearing when they pased in front of the sun.
Harry began to tire visibly, as his movements and dodges became slower, and more spells hit him than had before. Harry knew that blood loss was beginning to take a toll on him, so he raised his wand, about to cast a spell that would end the duel.
"Stupefy!"
"Protego" Malfoy conjured up a shield charm, Harry's curse was deflected back at him, catching him on his legs. Once again, he found himself on the floor
"Crucio"
Harry felt as though hot knives were sticking in him, and his arm was being cut open. He rolled around in the mud, screaming in pain.
"That's a good one isn't it Potter" Malfoy taunted.
Out of the corner of his eye Harry caught sight of more thestrals. They crashed through the brambles into the clearing; their unblnking red eyes staring at him.
Harry still had his wand. As his eyes came back into focus he could see a large branch over hanging the clearing. He was too weak to attempt a direct attack on Malfoy, who was strutting around, trying to decide which curse to use next.
"Reducto" said Harry, taking aim at the branch
"Avada Kedavra" shouted Malfoy. There was a bright green flash as the curse hit Harry on his leg.
The intense pain caused Harry to black out, but his spell had done it's job. A loud crack began the branches journey to the ground. As it fell, it caught Malfoy knocking him to the ground, and pinning him to the floor.
"The boy is utterly mad! He's a lunatic!" bellowed Snape, banging his fist on the table, his greasy hair falling down in front of his eyes.
Dumbledore had called an emergency meeting involving a few key members of The Order to discuss the duel.
"That's the problem. He's a highly skilled lunatic, with great potential" countered Mr Weasley. "but he is out of control. His moods are random, unpredictable. You can't tell which way he'll jump next"
"What we are discussing is a pathetic display of a young boy, who is beginning to crack. Let us try to bear that in mind" continued Snape
He glanced around the table, clearly disappointed at the lack of support he was receiving from the other members. For a while, no one said anything. Harry and Draco had comitted serious offences under the Mis-use of Magic Act, and deciding on their punishment was a difficult issue. Then Mrs Weasly spoke.
"He's probably afraid. He's lost a lot, and he knows he won't get it back"
"We all need to relax. We're all on the same side remember" said Tonks
"We should expel him!"
"Please try to calm down Severus. You know how we need him, and you shouldn't under estimate him" said Dumbledore.
"I don't under estimate anyone" argued Snape "the boy's victory will reflect on us all. I just want to make my disgust at Potter's behaviour perfectly clear."
"How can you make such a claim?" said Tonks getting to her feet "All the witnesses say Draco started it"
"Hogwarts is not the place for rival idologies to be slugged out"
"Has anyone considered that we are using Harry as a pawn to do our bidding?" asked Mr Weasley
"Yes, many times. I shall speak to both boys, if they recover" said Dumbledore gravely.
"Hello Harry" said a faint, but familiar voice
It was a warm, still summer day. Harry was floating over trees, hills and backwaters that wound their way across the scenery with Sirius. They glided onwards, the rich meadow grass seemed to have a morning freshness and greeness unsurpassable; never had it smelt so odorous and pervading. Then the murmur of the approaching wier began to hold the air. A wide half circle of foam and glinting lights and shining shoulders of green water, the great weir closed the river from bank to bank, troubled all the quiet surface with twirling eddies and floating foam streaks, and deadened all other sounds with its solemn and soothing rumble. In the midst of the stream, embraced in the weir's shimmering arm spread, a small island lay anchored, fringed with wilow, silver birch and elder. They swooped down to sit on the dry river bank.
"Just nod if you can hear me" the voice faded, but then recovered, similar to way that the waves lapped against the river bank. A bird pipped suddenly, and was still; and a light breeze sprang up and set the tall reeds and bulrushes rustling.
"Call you tell me where it hurts?"
Then the sun began to set and Sirius disappeared to be replaced by pain; and the trees turned into dark brambles with large thorns. Somewhere, someone was hurting. He felt a great sorrow lay over the land. Then he heard more voices, and someone was crying "Harry Potter must not die"
Then there was a snap, and he was back in the daylight with Sirius, floating over the green fields with the sun light reflecting off the river. He had no sense of time; it was as if time itself didn't exist and they had been in this beautiful day for all eternity.
"Quidditch"
Now they were floating towards Hogwarts, and below them was the quidditch pitch. Sirius became a large black dog and sat between Lupin & Dumbledore in the stand. Harry's Firebolt appear beneath him. He saw the golden snitch and instinctively raced towards it, but there was another seeker. His opponent looked like him, similar height, build but no scar; James Potter, on his Clean Sweep 2.
They chased the snitch around the pitch, Harry caught it first, and the crowd cheered. He let it go, and the chase continued.
"We lost"
Lost? The pitch disappeared and was replaced by darkness. The pain returned, but this time it was closer, much closer. It formed into a body, Harry's body. He was hurting all over. The voices returned, louder and clearer.
"I'm sure Harry won't mind though" said a girls voice.
Slowly Harry began to become more aware of his surroundings. He was lying on something soft. When he tried to move, the pain increased, particularly in his arm & leg. Someone was holding his hand. It felt soft and warm.
He opened his eyes. He was in a large, bright room, the majority of which was blurred, but he knew the three people sitting next to him; Ron Hermione & Luna.
"Urghh"
"Harry!" exclaimed Herimone "you're awake"
"Urghh"
"He can't speak! Do you think he might be brain damaged?" said Ron looking worried.
"Quick, go and find Madam Pomfrey"
Ron got up and dashed away from the bed into the blur that was the ward.
"Harry, can you hear me, it's Hermione. You're in the hospital wing... err..erm.. you've been unconscious since they brought you in last week."
Harry looked at Hermione and then Luna. Luna's eyes were bloodshot and watering. She was holding his hand.
"Thank you Miss Granger, that's enough now, I'll take over from here" said Madam Pomfrey sternly.
Hermione got up, walked round the bed to the other side and stood next to Ron. Luna stayed put.
"Well Mr Potter, you seem to be in here more often than in your dormitory"
"What happened" Harry groaned. Had he fallen off his firebolt? Been injured in a Quidditch game?
Ron's faced looked relieved when Harry uttered this sentence.
"Mr Weasley & Miss Granger would you please get Professor Dumbledore. I believe he would like to speak to Mr Potter. Miss Lovegood can stay".
Ron & Hermione said their goodbyes and walked away. Harry could hear their footsteps on the hard wooden floor.
"Well," continued Madam Pomfrey, "after you and Mr Malfoy had finished trying to kill each other in the forbidden forest, you were found by Professor Leurre & Miss Granger. That was last week"
"Last week !"
"Yes. Last week. You have a serious injury on your leg that I am treating with a mixture a Phoenix tears and bone re-growth potion. The cast on your leg has the solution sealed inside it."
Harry looked at his leg. The bits above the cast were white and withered after being inactive while he was unconscious.
"Also, I had to contact Healer Smithwick at St. Mungo's to treat your arm. It seems that Mr Malfoy used a Dark Magic curse that prevented your blood from clotting. It was very lucky for you that you were found before you bled to death, or were eaten by the thestrals."
"Now I need you to drink this" she said holding up a steaming vile of potion "there'll be no more pain, but you may feel a little sick"
Harry had no doubt that he would be sick, but lay in silence while Madam Pomfrey took his temperature and administered the pain relieving potion. The room wobbled and distorted before his eyes, his arms and legs went numb and he felt very light headed.
"How do you feel now?" she asked
"Erm numb, and a bit happy" said Harry with a vacant smile on his face
"It's a powerful potion, I pity anyone that tries to get any sense from you today. You'll feel better, but don't try to stand". Having finished her lecture, madam Pomfrey turned and walked back to her office.
Harry lay on the bed gazing out of the window. White fluffy clouds were chasing each other across the sky. He heard the door to the room creak open and footsteps coming towards him across the floor.
When they got close enough he could see it was Dumbledore and he didn't look pleased. Ron & Hermione were with him.
"So. You're awake then"
"Ha ha you're old" sniggered Harry
"Harry!" said Hermione, looking shocked
"Ha ha you're bossy" he giggled, looking at Hermione. Ron snorted, and Hermione gave him a dirty look.
Harry turned to Luna "I like you"
"He's just had a pain relieving potion" explained Madam Pomfrey
"I see" said Dumbledore "perhaps we should have this discussion later then". He turned and left. Madam Pomfrey followed.
Ron & Hermione sat down next to his bed, and Harry continued to giggle and grin vacantly for a further twenty minutes.
"Harry, you are in so much trouble" said Hermione. "I can't believe what you just did". Ron nodded
The room started to come back into focus, and Harry felt less light headed.
"I can't believe it either" he said feeling most ashamed "I couldn't help it, it was that potion. Sorry Hermione"
"It's okay. How do you feel"
"Comfortably Numb, and then sore when the potion starts to fade. That stuff tastes worse then the Polyjuice Potion you made"
"Yeah. I've been thinking about that.You know what that polyjuice potion needed? A slice of lemon and one of those little umbrellas" said Ron sarcastically.
"How about a lot more flavour and a lot less hair" added Harry
What have I missed then?"
"Malfoy's left Hogwarts" smiled Ron. "After he recovered from being crushed by a tree, he & Dumbledore agreed that Hogwarts was no longer the place for him"
"How bad was he?"
"Unfortunately you only broke half his bones" replied Ron.
"Oh what a shame" said Harry sarcastically. "He was using Dark Magic and unforgivable curses, you were under his imperious curse."
"Yeah I know. Sorry mate" Ron looked ashamed
"Don't worry about it. He got Hermione as well, remember"
They looked at Hermione and laughed
"Oh give it a rest will you" she said testily. Luna tutted
"How did you find us anyway Hermione?"
"I followed Ron"
"Ah, what about Tonks?"
"Apparently she saw you leave the hall with Malfoy, stuck her head in the fireplace to talk to Lupin. He saw what was going on with his moon guide and told Tonks to get down to the forest" explained Ron.
"They were going to take you to St Mungo's, but it's full" said Luna
"Why, what happened?"
"Voldemort's been stepping up his campaign. St Mungo's is full of muggles that have been tortured, and Wizards that have been fighting with death eaters." Said Hermione, ignoring Ron's flinch.
"All the non-emergencies are going elsewhere, including Lockheart" said Ron.
"Who's got him then?" laughed Harry.
"You have. He's three beds down" said Luna quietly "and he's got his memory back"
"Oh no. I think I just felt my IQ drop a few points" smirked Harry
"Oh yes" said Hermione "and he says he's got some unfinished business with you two"
"Yeah, and we're really scared. Remember that duelling club?" laughed Ron
Ron put on a voice that sounded nothing like Lockhart " Ahem. We have a duelling club now! Which basically means you kids can come and beat the living daylights out of each other."
"Do you really want me to demonstrate just how much of an idiot you are?" joined in Harry, in a voice entirely different to Professor Snape's.
"Fire away, Snapey!" snorted Ron
"Argh I've landed flat on my back, and it really hurts!" laughed Harry.
Where is he now, wandering the grounds again?"
"Probably" replied Hermione, totally unimpressed with Harry and Ron's sense of humour.
"How's the quidditch going?" asked Harry
"I'm really sorry I told you that you were off the team. It was Malfoy, he made me do it"
"Don't worry about it"
"Practices have been awful. Ginny was in here a few days ago"
"She tried that wonky faint thing" interrupted Hermione "but didn't pull up in time. Her broomstick broke in half, and she was in here for a day."
"I hope you don't mind mate, but I've lent her your Firebolt to practice with" Ron looked at the floor.
"I don't think I'll be needing it for a while"
Ron, Ginny, Luna & Hermione stayed with Harry for the rest of the day, and left him a wizard wireless. Just before tea time, Madam Pomfrey came to remove the cast. In the evening, Dumbledore visited again.
Harry apologised for the effect of the potion, and too his relief Dumbledore was no longer cross.
"I have informed the school that you are awake. No doubt you will have more visitors than Madam Pomfrey can stand tomorrow." smiled Dumbledore
He produced his wand from within his robes and drew a blue line on the floor around the bed.
"It's a privacy charm" he explained "no one can hear our conversation. Tell me Harry, why did you feel the need to duel with Mr Malfoy it put me in a very difficult position, having two students seriously injured"
"He was using Dark Magic on my friends". Harry suddenly realised that he had been saving people again.
"Harry, you need to take control of your feelings. If you don't, you will never defeat Voldemort. Also, you need to stop spending so much time with ghosts. You have living friends who really care about you."
"Why didn't you tell me or another Professor?" asked Dumbledore
"It's not me; I always fight my own battles; you should know that by now"
"Yes, that's true" said Dumbledore, surveying him over his half moon glasses.
"Madam Pomfrey tells me that you won't be released from here until you are able to walk, which could be another week"
"But what about my studies?"
"You're going to have to work hard this year Harry. You've got a lot of catching up to do if you want to pass your mock NEWTS in May."
Harry said nothing. He knew Dumbledore was right, but that didn't mean he had to like it.
"You're lucky to be taking any exams at all for two reasons; I had no choice but to ask Mr Malfoy to leave, and he used the killing curse on you"
Harry remembered how Malfoy had cast the spell, and that it hit him on the leg.
"I suppose you're wondering why you're still here?"
Harry nodded
"Well, last year I omitted to tell you about what happened in the months between the prophecy being made and your birth. During that time, I performed a number of spells and charms to enhance your magical abilities"
Harry was shocked; his first reaction was horror. He was horrified that someone had meddled with him, without his consent. What if it had gone wrong? he asked himself. He said nothing for a few minutes and gazed up at the ceiling. The shadows caused by the flickering torches that lit his corner of the room were dancing across the ceiling playing out an array of intricate patterns.
Harry thought about the time that uncle Vernon had tried to strangle him two summers ago, before Tonks, Moody & Lupin rescued him. Then, there was the incident with the Python at the zoo on Dudley's birthday, and the Aunt Marge incident. He had been able to do magic without a wand, or even knowing magic.
"I also performed the same treatment on Mr Longbottom. Without it, he would most definitely have been a squib".
"It's not just part of Voldemort your carrying around inside you, there's also a bit of me. I wanted to give you or Neville the best chance you could have."
Suddenly, Harry remembered something from a frog card long ago. "How did you do it?" he asked quietly, "Grindelwald, how did you do it?"
Dumbledore's face darkened like he had just leaned back into a shadow, "there are many ways to defeat a man Harry," the old man's voice sounded coarse, "it's best if you don't defeat yourself in the process."
"I don't understand," Harry said. He had no time for the headmaster's riddles; he had to be rid of Voldemort and of his fears.
Dumbledore sighed, "I was angry Harry, very angry. Grindelwald had destroyed my family, and my life. When I killed him, I killed a part of myself as well."
"Oh," said Harry feeling a bit shocked. Ron often joked that Dumbledore had been born with a beard, wise and all knowing. It was almost impossible to see him as a man, even more so, a man who had made dark mistakes - a murderer. Dumbledore had been watching him carefully. Upon seeing Harry settled, he momentarily reflected on his past.
"They were also dark times Harry," the Headmaster explained. "Grindelwald wasn't as politically active as Voldemort, having come from Europe, but his terror was just the same. Innocent lives were lost and terror ensued; that's partly why I started the Order of Phoenix when Voldemort came to be. Nobody should have to live through that. But, here we are again," Dumbledore sighed and wiped his glasses before continuing on with his story. "I still worked at the school then; I was a Transfiguration teacher. I was able to walk to Hogwarts each morning because we lived in Hogsmeade. We were so glad to have finally settled down, and I have to say that I was ready for a quieter life after working for the Ministry. Grindelwald came to England around the same time that Tom had started Hogwarts. I could feel it when he came; it was like a dark cloud moving in on my life when it should have been my time for rest. It was like trying to breathe underwater when you could still see the air just above the surface. Sometimes, I still wake up at night shivering with the memory."
Harry shifted uncomfortably in his bed; the headmaster's visage looked as though it was seeing through him and coated in the most terrible sadness. Dumbledore shifted his eyes downward. Hunched in his chair, he seemed so old and tired "It was a Hogsmeade weekend; there were students everywhere," his voice soft and teary, "it had snowed, but it was a sunny day. The snow seemed to gleam and sparkle as I walked down the street with the students. It almost made me feel like the dark shifty shadow of fate had decided to abandon us for a day of much needed happiness. I guess, in retrospect, it's the days like that which always turn out to be the worst."
Dumbledore paused to set his glasses on the table and began massaging his temples with old and tired fingers.
"Grindelwald and his supporters turned up in Hogsmeade around noon. Running down the street, I began calling out for the students to get inside. I was already an old man Harry - I wasn't prepared for this. He sauntered down the street as if he owned it while cursing the students; their screams were eerily echoing of the pristine white ground. I called for him to stop; I know he cursed me too, but I can't remember feeling it. I think I was too worried to feel anything else. He wanted the Philosophers Stone and knew I had been working with Nicholas on it. Angry that my first reaction was to defy him, he began to use Cruciatus on the students. I had to listen to their screams. Tom was hit and withered down onto the ground in agony. But still, I wouldn't tell Grindelwald...not at first anyway."
Dumbledore sighed deeply before continuing in a soft and gentle voice, "It was the Gryffindor curse of fool hearted bravery that abandoned me at last. Still, I wonder what would have happened if I'd held on a bit longer; I would have let them harm my trusts, my pupils, my children. They also had Amy my half blood wife. Tattered and beaten they tossed her in front of me, her eyes begging for help. I guess I couldn't accept that sometimes there isn't any other way. I told them; I told him, told him everything. I fell to the ground, next to my wife and battered pupils, and told Grindelwald - the very face of evil - the secrets to an immortal life."
Dumbledore's eyes glazed over in memory.
"He killed her. It was all for nothing. I could not stop myself. My wand was in my hand and the curse left my lips before I knew what happened. He crumpled to the floor as if hit by a heavy weight. The glow that shone around me was the light that flooded back into the Wizarding World, only it stopped at his dead body. I looked at him, whispering to myself in a low voice as if he were sleeping instead of lying there, murdered by my hand. People said he would have killed us all, each in turn, because he was dark and evil. But despite that, I have never forgiven myself. Harry, that's what I was trying to protect you from going through," Dumbledore said urgently snapping out of his glazed reflection, "Harry, it's a different battle; you won't make the same mistake; I'll help you; we'll find another way."
"A way the Dark Lord knows not," Harry whispered silently. It all suddenly made sense, why Voldemort feared Dumbledore and why Dumbledore trusted Snape. He knew what it was like to come back from a circle of hell. But what way? What other way?
"Anyway," said Dumbledore, "if I don't let you get your sleep, Madam Pomfrey will be after me. Good night Harry"
Dumbledore stood up and walk to the door. Madam Pomfrey came round after he had gone to turn off the lights.
Harry could see it was dark outside through the tall gothic window that streched from the floor to the ceiling. The moon had not yet risen, and there were no clouds. Harry could see the constellation of Orion, which he recognised from his astronomy classes last year. Slightly below and to the left was a bright blue star, it appeared to be flickering. Harry knew it's name; Sirius. A blue super giant that used it's fuel so quickly, it would be gone in a few million years time. Gone before it's time; the light that burns twice as right burns half as long. Like his godfather
Harry realised he'd done it again. Like the time in the Tri-Wizard Tournament when he rescued Fleur's sister, and last year when he thought he was saving Sirius from Voldemort. Instead all he managed to do was make matters worse for everyone, and had to be bailed out by Dumbledore. The Professor was a busy wizard and probably had better things to do than worry about him.
CRACK!
Harry felt a weight land on his chest. He looked and saw the big eyes, long nose and floppy ears of a house elf.
"Hallo Dobby"
"Dobby heard that Harry Potter was better, but Dobby had to visit Harry Potter to see if it was true."
"I'm not better yet"
"Dobby was so pleased that Harry Potter beat Malfoy". He paused and then started banging his head on Harry injured leg.
"Bad Dobby, bad bad Dobby"
"Arrrrrgh !!!" screamed Harry, "stop it, get off, that's my bad leg"
Dobby stopped punishing himself. As he looked at Harry, tears started to appear in his large tennis ball like eyes, and began crying
"Dobby is not meaning to hurt Harry Potter. Not like last time."
"What's going on here?" called Madam Pomfrey
CRACK. Dobby disappeared just as the lights were flicked on.
"You !" she said staring at Harry holding his leg. "time for some more pain relief"
Harry didn't argue. It would help him sleep.
Sure enough the next day, Dumbledore's prediction came true, and Madam Pomfrey had had enough of Harry's visitors by 11 o'clock.
"There are other people in this hospital who need rest. Out! Out now, all of you!" she had said as she chased them out.
Ron came back after lunch, nervously looking around to make sure Madam Pomfrey was elsewhere.
"Hey Harry" he whispered "is she about?"
Harry looked round. "Who?"
"Pomfrey"
"No"
Ron crepted quickly across the room making as little noise as possible.
"Guess what. There's another Hogsmead weekend next month. When does Pomfrey reckon you'll be out of here?"
"Don't know, but I hope it's soon"
They sat discussing quidditch tactics, with the wizard wireless on quietly.
WE INTERRUPT THIS STATION FOR BREAKING NEWS.... An accident has been reported in Diagon Alley when Ophelius Gibbons charged into a crowded shop and starting blasting the patrons with his wand. The Ministry of Magic was quick on the scene and averted the situation before any serious damage was inflicted on any of the customers. More to follow as this story unfolds.
"Blimey, I hope that's not Fred and Georges shop" said Ron. He turned the volume up, but the news flash had finished
"Try another station"
Ron turned the dial and tried a few.
"Murder in South London" from WRN. No. "Accidental drowning" from the third station, No. "Disturbance in Leeds" from the BBC, Even the BBC remarked on the bizarre events of the day.
Unfortunately the noise from the wireless attracted Gildroy Lockhart. His hair was immaculately curled, and he was wearing robes that matched his eyes. When he saw Ron and Harry, his lip curled into a snarl.
"You! I know you! " he shouted from the other side of the hospital wing. "It's your fault I'm in here" He stormed over to his bed and fumbled around in his beside cabinet for his wand.
"This is definitely your fault Ron" said Harry, watching Lockhart as he forgot what he was doing, and then remembered when he glanced in their direction.
"Well he shouldn't have tried to cast a spell with a sellotaped wand! Should have used duct tape...that fixes everything!" smirked Ron
"Oh no. I think he's got it in for us" said Harry as Lockhart marched across the room, his lilac robes billowing out behind him. He raised his arms so that his wand pointing at them.
"Harry, Harry. How could you have done this to me? Don't you remember just how thrilled you were spending that detention answering my fan mail?" asked Lockhart.
Harry tried to think up a quick witty response;
"I think I'd rather have been cleaning the cursed toilets" replied Harry after a few moments.
The smile on Lockhart's face faded.
"Right. That's it. That's the last time you two ever ruin my life again. I haven't sold a single book since my secret came out" he seethed.
"Okay. Now I'm going to teach you a lesson that you will forget" he snarled.
"Don't worry" chuckled Ron, "I've already forgotten all of your lessons!"
"HARRY POTTER AND RON WEASLEY" shrieked Madam Pomfrey. Lockhart quickly put his wand back in his robes and walked sharply back to his bed.
"Good luck" smirked Ron as he quickly gathered his things together. "See yer".
"Thanks mate" said Harry sarcastically.
"I'm going to tell Dumbledore about you" seethed Madam Pomfrey, "how dare you upset my other patients. In the mean time, it's time for some more pain relief so the rest of my patients can have so peace and quiet"
She pulled a vial from her robes and made Harry drink it. The room wobbled again, and then went dark.
Once the exact details of Lockhart's latest attempt to wipe their memories was uncovered, it was decided that he was sufficiently recovered to be discharged. On Madam Pomfrey's insistence, citing disruption to the hospital wing as the main reason, Harry was also discharged the following week.
Valentines Day
Harry stood by the door to the locker rooms, waiting impatiently for Ron to arrive. He was supposed to be there ten minutes ago. After Quidditch practice, he disappeared, instructing Harry to wait for him. It was important he told him. So here Harry stood, tapping his toe on the stone path that surrounded the locker rooms, alone, waiting for his friend. "HARRY," Ron shouted from across the Quidditch pitch. He ran to his friend's side, out of breath. "Thanks for waiting," he gasped, holding onto the stitch in his side.
"You're lucky I'm still here," Harry snapped. "I was about to leave. I have a date with Luna, and you're making me late."
"Sorry, but I had to talk to you before you spoke with her. What are you two doing for Valentine's day next week?"
"That's what was so important? We haven't made any definite plans. We were going to discuss it tonight, until you made me late."
"How about spending the evening in Hogsmeade?" Ron asked, ignoring his friend's irritation.
"That would probably be one idea, why?"
"George and Fred are having a Valentine's party this Saturday, and invited us. It's a real party, Harry, with food and music and dancing. They've already invited over a dozen couples, and Oliver Wood will be there, along with Angelina and Katie. It's a party for couples only. Great idea, huh!"
"Are you sure they want us to come? It may be another of their tricks."
"I promise. Even Bill and Charlie will be there, they have dates and everything."
"I don't know Ron. It sounds a little weird coming from Fred and George, if you ask me."
"Come on Harry, it's all on the up and up. It'll be fun. I've never been to a real party before, at least not since the Triwizard Ball."
"But you hated the Triwizard Ball, remember?"
"That was because I wasn't with Hermione. How would you feel, seeing your girl with a famous Quidditch player?"
"But she wasn't your girl, Ron. You had the chance to ask her out, and you kept dragging your feet until it was too late."
"I didn't know how to ask her. You remember what she was like that year, bossy and all."
"She's always bossy, Ron. That's why she's Hermione."
"Yeah, well I guess I was just scared. Don't you remember how beautiful she was?"
"Your girlfriend, mate, not mine. Anyway, I'm still not sure about this party. I mean, it's your brothers, the world's most notorious pranksters."
"What could happen? We'll be together; and Bill and Charlie will be there, they won't let anything happen."
"Well..."
Ron looked serious as he stared at Harry. "Come on Harry. We can talk it over with the girls, and let them decide."
"Do you really think Hermione would rather go to a party at Fred and George's, or have a quiet romantic dinner?" Ron looked flustered.
"She'll love the idea."
"This is Hermione Granger we're talking about, Ron. She has never really approved of the twins' antics."
"Trust me, she'll love the idea." With that said, the two hurried back to the castle, Ron practically bubbling over with excitement. He was positive the girls would love the idea of going to Hogsmeade for Valentine's Day.
"Have you lost your mind?" Hermione snapped some fifteen minutes later.
"But 'Mione, it'll be fun," Ron pleaded as Harry and Luna looked on silently. "It's a real party, couples only. You said the other day you wished the school would have another ball, so we could go dancing. This is even better, it's for adults only. No snickering little kids hanging around."
"But Ron, it's your brothers," Hermione echoed Harry's words from earlier.
"I promise everything will be okay," Ron pleaded. "We have spend some time there, and if you're not having a good time, we can leave and I'll buy you the best dinner in town. What do you say?"
"I don't know," Hermione said, glancing across the table to where Harry and Luna sat listening. "What about you two? Are you going?"
"With Bill and Charlie there, Fred and George would have to behave themselves," Harry told her. "So I guess we're going, but we aren't staying if they pull any pranks."
"Come on 'Mione, what do you say?" Ron pleaded again.
"Oh, all right, but if I'm not having a good time, we're leaving."
"Straight away, I promise," Ron said hugging his girlfriend. "This is going to be so much fun. I can't wait." With that said, Ron kissed Hermione's cheek and headed for the stairs. "I have to make sure my dress robes look good, wouldn't want to look like a slob.
"I don't know why he's so excited," Hermione grumbled watching the tall red head bound up the stairs to his dormitory. "With Fred and George planning this whole thing, Merlin only knows what's going to happen."
Saturday evening found Ron standing in front of the full length mirror, combing his hair flat against his head. He had used so much Sleekeasy's Hair Potion, his hair was plastered against his head tighter than Malfoy ever hoped to have his.
"Capillus Reparo," Hermione said, having seen the condition of Ron's hair.
"Why'd you do that?" he grumbled, though thankful to know his hair no longer looked like it had been painted on his head, but angry that she felt it necessary to rescue him.
"You looked like you had a red tortoise shell sitting on your shoulders instead of a head." she told him "Thanks a lot," Ron grumbled "How did you get that stuff to work?" he asked, looking at the sleek, smooth hair that cascaded down her back and across her shoulders like a satin sheet.
"I've used it before," she told him. "I know what to expect. It takes a long time, but I suppose for special occasions it's worth it."
"Do you approve?" she teased.
"Yeah. It's all right," he said, kissing her briefly before turning and heading back down stairs to the common room.
Harry and Luna were already waiting for them, when they arrived. They were dressed in their new dress robes that Harry had purchased at the end of summer. The aroma of lavender was emanating from Luna's hair.
"Ready?" Ron asked, holding Hermione's hand.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Harry said, looking at Luna.
"Come on, it'll be fun," Ron said, ignoring the whistles Seamus and Dean offered as they stepped through the portrait hole.
"Wow, Weasley look at you," Seamus said with a smirk. "You look like a million bucks, or did you get a raise in your spending money?"
"Shut up, you two," Ron growled, walking with Hermione to the portrait hole. Harry smiled at the teasing expression of the boys, as he and Luna followed
The party was much as Ron had hoped. Oliver Wood was there, along with his girlfriend, Margorie Wagtail who stated that her little sister was a first year at Hogwart's, and was in Gryffindor. Harry frowned. He remembered hearing the name at first night back to school, but hadn't paid much attention to the little blond haired girl, though he had seen her in the common room.
"Margie's dad is someone you'll probably be interested in knowing," Oliver said with a warm smile to the attractive blond next to him. "He's part of the Weird Sisters."
"Blimey!" Ron exclaimed. "Your dad is Myron Wagtail."
"I know that," Margorie smiled.
"He's the lead singer," Ron said again.
"Yes, he is. Do you like my father's music?"
"Are you mental...I mean yes, yes I do," Ron said again, slightly embarrassed.
"Well, perhaps you'd like an autograph?" Margorie asked.
"Are you kidding?" Ron said.
"Hey Ron," Oliver said, eager to change the subject. "Congratulations on making team captain. I knew you'd do it, I always knew the job was suited for you."
"It's been hard, but I'm trying to make it work."
"Remember these things Ron; there's no 'I' in team, there's no such thing as good losers, only losers"
"Yeah thanks," Ron said. "I'll remember that. We've won every game so far, and it looks like the House Cup will stay with Gryffindor."
"I'm proud of all of you," Oliver said. "It's so good to know how well you've kept up the team, despite that horrid Umbridge last year. She was a real cretin."
"Well, she got hers," Ron said with a smirk, clicking his tongue to sound much like horse hooves, causing an eruption of laughter from those gathered around.
Harry felt a little guilty for having doubted the twins' sincerity. They had been there nearly three hours and were having a wonderful time. Fred and George had managed a superb dinner, complete with games and music. Harry and Luna danced so much their legs felt like lead and they were forced to take time out, to relax a bit. Ron and Hermione had spent a great deal of the evening with Oliver Wood and Margorie or dancing themselves.
Ron and Hermione left the centre of the dance floor Angelina and Katie had conjured up for the evening. They stepped to the table of refreshments, looking over the assortment of cakes, cookies, pastries, Fire Whiskey, champagne and butter beer. Ron desperately wanted to try his first fire whiskey, but knew it wouldn't pass his brothers, who seemed to be watching him intently. He reached across the large platter of chocolate covered strawberries and retrieved two bottles of butter beer. He popped the caps off and handed one to Hermione, feeling awkward at the way the twins continued to watch him.
Hermione smiled at Ron, the two of them having already made plans to meet up later that night in the room of requirements. Harry told them just how helpful of a place it was - away from classes and D.A. meetings. Emotions were running high between the two, and Ron was actually considering making their escape, regardless of how desperately he wanted to be there in the first place. They took a drink of their butter beers, their eyes meeting as they swallowed, immediately finding the others lips, pressing into a very deep, passion kiss.
Harry stepped to their side, shaking his head as he reached for two bottles of butter beer for himself and Luna. Perhaps it was the idea of the party, but he had never seen Ron kiss Hermione so openly before, especially in front of his brothers.
"You two need to get a grip," Harry teased, glancing to the shocked look on their faces, a muffled grunt echoing from their sealed lips, as their eyes searched Harry's expression. Ron's face was a bright red, his ears flaming and Hermione wasn't much better. They stared at Harry, their lips still tightly pressed, a look of horror in their eyes. Harry frowned as he looked at the two.
"Are you all right?" he asked, watching as they tried to shake their heads, still grunting. "What's wrong?" he asked again, touching Hermione's shoulder and hearing an outburst of laughter echoing from behind him. He turned to see Angelina and Katie staring blankly at the hysterical antics of Fred and George, who were laughing so hard, they were doubled over, gasping for breath.
"What did you do?" asked Harry, looking at a horrified Ron and Hermione, still connected at the lips.
"Pep...Pep..." Fred tried to say around his laughter.
"Sticking...Peppermint..." George tried to add, but was unable to sound much more than his twin.
"Bloody hell," Bill said, setting his glass on the table and grabbing George by the arm. "Did you two spike the drinks?"
"Just theirs," his brother exploded again in laughter.
"An attraction spell on the bottles," Fred said with a gasp of air, still trying to regain control. "They had to chose them."
"What did you do?" Charlie insisted.
"Peppermint Sticking Charms," Bill answered, shoving George into a chair so hard it tipped backward, hitting into a wall.
"You two promised you wouldn't play any pranks tonight," Katie scowled at George.
"We couldn't resist," George said, ignoring his younger brother, hoping to stop laughing soon.
"It's a new line of drinks for the reluctant lovers," Fred said with a bright grin.
"We'll deal with you two later," Charlie said, hurrying behind Bill who was already at Ron and Hermione's side.
"We'd better get the basic antidote potion from the medical kit," Bill said with disgust. "Hold on you two, we'll have you apart in a minute." Five minutes later, Ron was rubbing his lips, trying to get feeling back into them, as Hermione was trying her best to hide her embarrassment.
"It would have worn off after ten minutes," George told Katie, who was so angry he thought she'd spit fire.
"It was just a joke," Fred told Angelina through a locked bedroom door. "Honest, honey, it wouldn't have done any harm, just a little quality time."
"We had to try it out on someone," George was telling Katie. "Who better than our little brother?" Ron heard this and without a word, Ron turned and left. He was so angry, he didn't hear Hermione calling to him, or see Harry and Luna running after them.
"Ron, wait!" Hermione said, grabbing his arm and pulling him to a halt in the street.
"I am so sick of being the butt of those two's jokes," Ron growled, his fists rolled tightly by his side.
"Ron, relax," Hermione said as Luna and Harry neared him.
"Relax? What would you know about it? They never pulled stupid jokes on you, they wouldn't dare do anything to you. But no, let's just terrorise Ron, he's a patsy, he'll fall for anything."
"Calm down, Ron," Hermione told him. "Let's go to the Hog's Head and get a drink, that isn't enchanted."
"We'll spend the rest of the evening together, celebrating Valentine's day as friends," Harry suggested, tucking his hand inside Luna's.
"Sure, we still have a few hours left," Hermione said hoping her calm voice would help soothe Ron who was fuming beside her. "We can share a nice drink and go back to the school, and finish our evening the way we planned." Ron ground his teeth, looking at the attractive girl. He couldn't speak, but he did nod, and the four of them walked silently down the small narrow road to the Hog's Head. They would have normally gone to the Three Broomsticks, but considering how late it was, they knew it had closed over an hour ago. The Hog's Head however, was open until the wee hours of the night.
They stepped into the tavern, looking around at the nearly deserted surroundings. There was an old witch in one corner, her hat filthy and torn, her clothes soiled and tattered. In a booth not far from her were a pair of gruff looking wizards playing a game of cards, and the shadows of a young couple in a dark corner far from the door. Harry indicated a finger toward a booth near the front, and sat down Luna. The old man behind the counter stared at the four, watching them extremely close as they sat down and discussed what they were going to drink. Ron still wanted Fire Whiskey, but decided to settle on an un-enchanted bottle of butter beer after Hermione tutted. Harry cautiously stepped up to the counter, and ordered four bottles of chilled butter beer.
The barman was a grumpy-looking old man with long grey hair and a beard. He was tall and thin and as Harry continued to watch him prepare their drinks, he couldn't help but feeling again, that the old man looked familiar. He remembered feeling this way during fifth year, when he first met the old man, but he couldn't put his finger on where he knew him from. Harry took the drinks and paid the old man, who continued to stare at him, making him feel awkward and uncomfortable.
Back at the table, Harry found the tension as thick if not more so, than it had been when he left them. The three sat in silence, refusing to look at each other, as they took their drinks from Harry.
"This is ridiculous," Harry said. "All right, so the twins turned what was a really nice evening into an excuse for a bad practical joke. It's over, forget about it and let's have a nice night. And anyway, I think Bill and Charlie will make them pay, don't you?" Ron glanced up at Harry and gave a small smile, thinking about the revenge they would no doubt have in mind.
"What a night," he said quietly. Ron smiled brightly, leaning into Hermione and kissing her neck.
"What do you say we finish up here, and head back to school?" Ron asked quietly. Hermione smiled with a blush to her creamy complexion, and looked up as the young lovers in the corner stood and began to walk past them.
"Malfoy?" she said, much louder then she had intended. He stopped and looked at the four who were staring openly as he walked hand in hand toward the door with Pansy Parkinson "What are you doing here?" Malfoy sneered.
"Celebrating the holiday," Ron said. "What are you doing here?"
"That is really none of your business, Weasel," he snapped. "Unless it has to do with the disposal of the likes of you, then it's none of your business. I suggest you four return to school soon, before you get detention again. You are breaking curfew, you know?"
"We have permission to be out," Harry said. "What about the two of you?"
"We weren't sneaking Potter, and it's none of your business either. Keep your nose where it belongs, or you may get it burned again." Malfoy and Pansy turned, and left the tavern.
"What's he up to?" Harry asked.
"He's starting to really get on my nerves," Ron said. "Why is he sneaking around here? He's been kicked out of Hogwarts "Let's not worry about it," Hermione said. "We have to be going, or we will get in trouble. We have rounds to make in an hour, anyway." Ron glanced up at her and frowned. "You're right," Harry said, reaching out and taking Luna's hand. "We'd better get going." They stood and started to the door, when an odd feeling came over him. "What is it Harry?" Luna asked, slipping her arm inside his. Harry frowned, looking down to her delicate features.
"Nothing," he told her, taking one last glance around the tavern, and forcing a smile on his face. "Let's go."
The odd feeling turned out to be guilt; he hadn't been to see if Sirius had managed to become a ghost yet. In the end, it was Luna, bubbling over with excitement, who came to see him at breakfast a few days later.
"Harry" she said, sitting beside him at breakfast one morning, "you've got to come and see this"
"See what?"
"I'm not saying here" she replied, lowering her voice so that only Harry could hear.
"Oy, you're a Ravenclaw" called Seamus "what are you doing at our table?"
"I'll see you later at Myrtle's" said Luna as she got up.
"Okay"
If Luna wanted to meet him in Myrtle's bathroom, that could mean only one thing, thought Harry to himself - Sirius.
As he had discovered on previous occasions, time had the annoying habit of slowing down whenever he wanted something to happen. It seemed as if he had been waiting for a week as Harry pushed the door to Myrtle's bathroom creaked open. It was dark inside. There was no moonlight. Only myrtle's dim glow cast any light on the room.
"Harry?" called Luna's voice
"Yeah, it's me" he replied
"Come and see, it's amazing"
He closed the door and rushed across the stone floor, his footsteps echoing off the dark walls. A second glow appeared as he came closer, and Harry wished it would be Sirius. It was, but not the Sirius Harry had known. Instead of the waxy, boney face and tired eyes caused by twelve years in Azkaban, it was the handsome Sirius who was in the pictures of his parents wedding.
"Sirius?" asked Harry, half in disbelief, half in immeasurable joy
"Hallo Harry" said Sirius, smiling
"I never thought I'd see you again. You look great"
"That's not all he can do" said Myrtle excitedly, "go on, show him"
The ghostly Sirius, vanished for a brief moment, and then a huge bear dog reappeared.
Harry, Luna, Myrtle and Sirius sat for hours catching up on the past seven months since Sirius fell through the veil. Sirius wasn't surprised to hear that Fudge was a former death eater, and not the slightest bit upset to find out he was dead. He listened intently to the story of Harry's duel with Malfoy, and praised him on his excellent spell work.
"And Dumbledore still trust Snivellus, does he?" asked Sirius
"Yeah, and no one knows why" replied Harry.
"That's not strictly true" said Sirius wisely "two people know, Dumbledore and Snape; and you're studying Occlumency with one of them"
A smile appeared across Harry's tired face. At last he had a means to solving one of the greatest mysteries in Hogwarts; why did Dumbldore trust Snape? All he had to do was master Occlumency.
He didn't sleep well that night. Again & again he visited Voldemort in his dreams. He was telling the death eaters that he was going to execute his schemes soon. Malfoy was allowed to take his revenge; against whom, Harry didn't know. As instructed, Harry wrote the dreams in his diary early the next morning.
He looked outside the window in his dormitory. It was the first day of February and a thick frost lay over the grounds, making them looked as if they had icing sugar sprinkled on the grass. He thought that it would be a good day to play Quidditch, even if it was cold. Then he remembered that Ron had dropped him. It was an odd decision for the captain of the team to make; it didn't make sense. He was the best seeker in Hogwarts and they would never be able to replace him with someone of the same standard. Ron also relied on his advice. Perhaps it was just an excuse and there was another reason.
'Would it be legally or ethically right to use Legilimency to find it out?' he wondered.
Not wanting to talk to Ron that early in the day, he left the dormitory and went to the common room and sat in a chair next to the ashes of the former fire. He heard footsteps as someone else crossed the floor. It was Hermione. She flew at him and started assaulting him with a rash set of kisses.
"Hey Harry, do you want me to polish your broomstick for you?"
Harry was appalled at her behaviour. He looked her in the eyes. They were wide open and bulging.
"Hermione, what are you doing?" he asked, pushing her away.
"I love you, Harry! And I love the Weasley twins and I love Oliver Wood and I love all the people on all the Quidditch teams"
'What! Have you been at the fire whiskey?'
"Yes!" she yelled. "Anything for the game of Quidditch!"
He looked at her astounded and asked, "Hermione? Do you even know how to play Quidditch?"
She shook her head and said, "No! But I LOVE QUIDDITCH PLAYERS!"
Harry concluded that something was definitely wrong with her. "You need to go to the hospital wing"
The noise of her ranting had woken their fellow Gryffindors, including Ron. As they entered the common room the all stood looking Hermione, and started to snigger.
"Wait! I'm fine I don't need to go, really." She continued
Then she saw Ron.
She pursed her lips and said, " Ooh you're the captain"
"Hermione, you have to stop doing this. People are laughing at you" said Harry
"I don't care. I LOVE QUIDDITCH!" she shouted as she ran to Ron
"Get off me mudblood" he yelled and pushed her to the floor
This was very wrong. Both Ron & Herimone were acting totally out of character. Neville stepped forward to restrain Ron.
"Upstairs now" said Ginny sternly as she picked Herimone up and lead her back to the girls dormitory.
Fortunately she went quietly and Ron went off to the main hall for breakfast. Harry and Neville followed.
Ron found a seat by himself, so Harry sat with Neville. Luna came across from the Ravenclaw table to join them.
Half way through eating toast, the Owl arrived with Herimone's copy of the Daily Prophet. Harry paid for it, unfolded it and laid it on the table in front of them. It took a few seconds for the news to sink in
Giants rampaging through the Alps
Many muggles killed by avalanches
Reports are coming in that the Giants resident in the Alps have been attacking remote mountain villages. It is widely suspected that they have joined forces with he-who-must-not-be-named, as they did at the start of the last uprising. No reports of survivors have been received. Avalanches destroyed most of the villages
Ginny joined them.
"It's Malfoy" she whispered. "He's been using the imperious curse. I managed to get Herimone sensible enough to tell me"
"But that's illegal" said Neville "He'll end up in Azkaban"
"Big deal. No one's in there now because they've all escaped" Harry reminded him.
"It would explain her unusual behaviour this morning" continued Harry "what about Ron"
"Thought it might be stress. He's got a lot on his plate, but he'd never call her a mudblood".
"What are we going to do about it?" asked Neville
"I'm going to talk to Malfoy" said Harry getting to his feet and clambering over the seat.
He strode across the Great Hall to the Slytherin table and sat down opposite Malfoy.
"What did you do to Hermione?" he asked, peering into Malfoy's face.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, Potter" he said as he buttered a piece of toast.
"Well, that's not what she said" Harry looked into Malfoy's face once more.
Malfoy smirked and simply said, "The Dark Lord is coming Potter. I'm on the winning side"
"Your not"
"Don't think the Order of the Dodo is going to help you. Read the Daily Prophet. The Dark Lord & his allies are already moving" whispered Malfoy coldly. "Your time will come sooner than you think".
"Been there, done it" snorted Harry.
"Okay then, lets do it, right here, right now" said Malfoy, standing up, drawing his wand
"You're on. Not here, outside in the forest." replied Harry, incensed
"I've been looking forward to putting you in your place once & for all Potter" said Malfoy.
Harry turned, and walked out of the great hall, Malfoy followed.
The Forbidden Forest was still. There was no breeze to rustle the branches, and the inhabitants remained silent and hidden from view. Harry and Draco stood facing each other, wands raised in the combat position, in the middle of a clearing.
"What are you trying to prove Malfoy?" Harry asked as he stared steadily at his opponent
"Prove nothing, its revenge Potter, for what you did to my father" Draco stared intently at Harry. "Recognition from the Dark Lord, and to put you out of his misery, once and for all".
"Trying to follow in your fathers footsteps? Do you want to be a scumbag like him?" jeered Harry, starting to circle Malfoy
"At least I have one Potter. Never mind, you'll soon be joining him" retorted Malfoy
"Let's get on with it Malfoy"
They took up positions on opposite sides of the clearing, bowed,
extended their wands, and then the duel began.
Curses began flying rampant around the forest, Harry dodging Malfoy's wand-created arrows, Malfoy ducking under Harry's Confundus Charm.
"Stop!". It was Ron
The curses stopped, but Harry & Malfoy were still glaring at each other.
"Ron! It's okay, I can deal with this" shouted Harry
"Shut it Potter" replied Ron "It's about time you got what's coming to you"
Harry was stunned.
"What's going on?"
Malfoy was laughing.
"I can't believe how long it's been, and still you have no idea" he sneered. "After what happened to the mudblood, I thought you would have guessed that Weasel King was under my control"
Harry stood still for a few seconds taking it all in before shouting a quick shield spell, just before Malfoy's well-aimed Incendio nearly scorched him.
"Eructo!" Ron yelled,
Harry sunk to his knees, vomiting, before Malfoy followed up with, "Depulso!"
Harry flew backward to land heavily on the ground.
"You duelled with the Dark Lord and weren't killed Potter?" asked Malfoy in disbelief
"So he says" commented Ron, "I don't believe it myself"
"Get up Potter, we duel again"
Harry got to his feet, swaying slightly, and he, Ron & Malfoy adopted to duelling position.
"Incarresous" Harry yelled, sending the hex at Ron.
Ron was bound from head to foot in ropes, and tripped over into the brambles that grew in parts of the clearing.
Before Harry could use the Disarming Spell on Malfoy, was already firing off another jinx.
Harry dodged the Impedient Jinx with ease retaliated with a Stinging Hex to Malfoy's wand hand, but he managed to hang onto his wand despite the pain the hex caused.
"You never could fight fairly, Malfoy"
Draco raised an eyebrow in aggravation. On and on the duel went, until finally Harry shot a fire spell at the hem of Malfoy's robes, and while he was distracted by the fire, yelled, "Expelliarmus!"
Malfoy's wand flew out of his hand and into Harry's.
"It's over Malfoy" said Harry twirling Malfoy's wand between his fingers.
"Not quite" he replied, drawing a second wand from his sleeve. "I heard about the dis-arming spell you use on the Dark Lord"
That had not been the reaction he was expecting "So you've been studying then?" Harry asked, buying time
"What makes you think that I know Dark Arts spells?" said Malfoy cooly
"Again Potter"
Harry nodded, then took up the duelling position again, his wand held out in front of him, Malfoy opposite him in the same position. They bowed to each other, and then the next duel began.
Again, curses began flying the forest, but this time doing more damage to each participant. Malfoy hit Harry's arm with a dark cutting spell, which sliced open his skin and blood started trickling down his arm, but it wouldn't clot; that was why that particular spell was dark. Blood started pooling on the floor, and Harry was careful not to slip in it.
"Oculi Decipio!" Harry shouted, disregarding the blood that dripped down his arm, and Malfoy cursed as the spell hit him. Immediately the Hallucination Hex began taking effect on his eyes, causing him to see strange things all over the forest.
Then Harry shouted a wind spell that would have grabbed him, swirled him around, and slammed him against the trees. Hearing the wind swooping towards him, Malfoy ducked out of the way, then pointed his wand at his eyes, muttering, "Finite Incantatem."
The duel went on, Harry saw two or three thestrals circling above them, no doubt attracted by the blood. Their large leathery wings cast a shadow over the clearing when they pased in front of the sun.
Harry began to tire visibly, as his movements and dodges became slower, and more spells hit him than had before. Harry knew that blood loss was beginning to take a toll on him, so he raised his wand, about to cast a spell that would end the duel.
"Stupefy!"
"Protego" Malfoy conjured up a shield charm, Harry's curse was deflected back at him, catching him on his legs. Once again, he found himself on the floor
"Crucio"
Harry felt as though hot knives were sticking in him, and his arm was being cut open. He rolled around in the mud, screaming in pain.
"That's a good one isn't it Potter" Malfoy taunted.
Out of the corner of his eye Harry caught sight of more thestrals. They crashed through the brambles into the clearing; their unblnking red eyes staring at him.
Harry still had his wand. As his eyes came back into focus he could see a large branch over hanging the clearing. He was too weak to attempt a direct attack on Malfoy, who was strutting around, trying to decide which curse to use next.
"Reducto" said Harry, taking aim at the branch
"Avada Kedavra" shouted Malfoy. There was a bright green flash as the curse hit Harry on his leg.
The intense pain caused Harry to black out, but his spell had done it's job. A loud crack began the branches journey to the ground. As it fell, it caught Malfoy knocking him to the ground, and pinning him to the floor.
"The boy is utterly mad! He's a lunatic!" bellowed Snape, banging his fist on the table, his greasy hair falling down in front of his eyes.
Dumbledore had called an emergency meeting involving a few key members of The Order to discuss the duel.
"That's the problem. He's a highly skilled lunatic, with great potential" countered Mr Weasley. "but he is out of control. His moods are random, unpredictable. You can't tell which way he'll jump next"
"What we are discussing is a pathetic display of a young boy, who is beginning to crack. Let us try to bear that in mind" continued Snape
He glanced around the table, clearly disappointed at the lack of support he was receiving from the other members. For a while, no one said anything. Harry and Draco had comitted serious offences under the Mis-use of Magic Act, and deciding on their punishment was a difficult issue. Then Mrs Weasly spoke.
"He's probably afraid. He's lost a lot, and he knows he won't get it back"
"We all need to relax. We're all on the same side remember" said Tonks
"We should expel him!"
"Please try to calm down Severus. You know how we need him, and you shouldn't under estimate him" said Dumbledore.
"I don't under estimate anyone" argued Snape "the boy's victory will reflect on us all. I just want to make my disgust at Potter's behaviour perfectly clear."
"How can you make such a claim?" said Tonks getting to her feet "All the witnesses say Draco started it"
"Hogwarts is not the place for rival idologies to be slugged out"
"Has anyone considered that we are using Harry as a pawn to do our bidding?" asked Mr Weasley
"Yes, many times. I shall speak to both boys, if they recover" said Dumbledore gravely.
"Hello Harry" said a faint, but familiar voice
It was a warm, still summer day. Harry was floating over trees, hills and backwaters that wound their way across the scenery with Sirius. They glided onwards, the rich meadow grass seemed to have a morning freshness and greeness unsurpassable; never had it smelt so odorous and pervading. Then the murmur of the approaching wier began to hold the air. A wide half circle of foam and glinting lights and shining shoulders of green water, the great weir closed the river from bank to bank, troubled all the quiet surface with twirling eddies and floating foam streaks, and deadened all other sounds with its solemn and soothing rumble. In the midst of the stream, embraced in the weir's shimmering arm spread, a small island lay anchored, fringed with wilow, silver birch and elder. They swooped down to sit on the dry river bank.
"Just nod if you can hear me" the voice faded, but then recovered, similar to way that the waves lapped against the river bank. A bird pipped suddenly, and was still; and a light breeze sprang up and set the tall reeds and bulrushes rustling.
"Call you tell me where it hurts?"
Then the sun began to set and Sirius disappeared to be replaced by pain; and the trees turned into dark brambles with large thorns. Somewhere, someone was hurting. He felt a great sorrow lay over the land. Then he heard more voices, and someone was crying "Harry Potter must not die"
Then there was a snap, and he was back in the daylight with Sirius, floating over the green fields with the sun light reflecting off the river. He had no sense of time; it was as if time itself didn't exist and they had been in this beautiful day for all eternity.
"Quidditch"
Now they were floating towards Hogwarts, and below them was the quidditch pitch. Sirius became a large black dog and sat between Lupin & Dumbledore in the stand. Harry's Firebolt appear beneath him. He saw the golden snitch and instinctively raced towards it, but there was another seeker. His opponent looked like him, similar height, build but no scar; James Potter, on his Clean Sweep 2.
They chased the snitch around the pitch, Harry caught it first, and the crowd cheered. He let it go, and the chase continued.
"We lost"
Lost? The pitch disappeared and was replaced by darkness. The pain returned, but this time it was closer, much closer. It formed into a body, Harry's body. He was hurting all over. The voices returned, louder and clearer.
"I'm sure Harry won't mind though" said a girls voice.
Slowly Harry began to become more aware of his surroundings. He was lying on something soft. When he tried to move, the pain increased, particularly in his arm & leg. Someone was holding his hand. It felt soft and warm.
He opened his eyes. He was in a large, bright room, the majority of which was blurred, but he knew the three people sitting next to him; Ron Hermione & Luna.
"Urghh"
"Harry!" exclaimed Herimone "you're awake"
"Urghh"
"He can't speak! Do you think he might be brain damaged?" said Ron looking worried.
"Quick, go and find Madam Pomfrey"
Ron got up and dashed away from the bed into the blur that was the ward.
"Harry, can you hear me, it's Hermione. You're in the hospital wing... err..erm.. you've been unconscious since they brought you in last week."
Harry looked at Hermione and then Luna. Luna's eyes were bloodshot and watering. She was holding his hand.
"Thank you Miss Granger, that's enough now, I'll take over from here" said Madam Pomfrey sternly.
Hermione got up, walked round the bed to the other side and stood next to Ron. Luna stayed put.
"Well Mr Potter, you seem to be in here more often than in your dormitory"
"What happened" Harry groaned. Had he fallen off his firebolt? Been injured in a Quidditch game?
Ron's faced looked relieved when Harry uttered this sentence.
"Mr Weasley & Miss Granger would you please get Professor Dumbledore. I believe he would like to speak to Mr Potter. Miss Lovegood can stay".
Ron & Hermione said their goodbyes and walked away. Harry could hear their footsteps on the hard wooden floor.
"Well," continued Madam Pomfrey, "after you and Mr Malfoy had finished trying to kill each other in the forbidden forest, you were found by Professor Leurre & Miss Granger. That was last week"
"Last week !"
"Yes. Last week. You have a serious injury on your leg that I am treating with a mixture a Phoenix tears and bone re-growth potion. The cast on your leg has the solution sealed inside it."
Harry looked at his leg. The bits above the cast were white and withered after being inactive while he was unconscious.
"Also, I had to contact Healer Smithwick at St. Mungo's to treat your arm. It seems that Mr Malfoy used a Dark Magic curse that prevented your blood from clotting. It was very lucky for you that you were found before you bled to death, or were eaten by the thestrals."
"Now I need you to drink this" she said holding up a steaming vile of potion "there'll be no more pain, but you may feel a little sick"
Harry had no doubt that he would be sick, but lay in silence while Madam Pomfrey took his temperature and administered the pain relieving potion. The room wobbled and distorted before his eyes, his arms and legs went numb and he felt very light headed.
"How do you feel now?" she asked
"Erm numb, and a bit happy" said Harry with a vacant smile on his face
"It's a powerful potion, I pity anyone that tries to get any sense from you today. You'll feel better, but don't try to stand". Having finished her lecture, madam Pomfrey turned and walked back to her office.
Harry lay on the bed gazing out of the window. White fluffy clouds were chasing each other across the sky. He heard the door to the room creak open and footsteps coming towards him across the floor.
When they got close enough he could see it was Dumbledore and he didn't look pleased. Ron & Hermione were with him.
"So. You're awake then"
"Ha ha you're old" sniggered Harry
"Harry!" said Hermione, looking shocked
"Ha ha you're bossy" he giggled, looking at Hermione. Ron snorted, and Hermione gave him a dirty look.
Harry turned to Luna "I like you"
"He's just had a pain relieving potion" explained Madam Pomfrey
"I see" said Dumbledore "perhaps we should have this discussion later then". He turned and left. Madam Pomfrey followed.
Ron & Hermione sat down next to his bed, and Harry continued to giggle and grin vacantly for a further twenty minutes.
"Harry, you are in so much trouble" said Hermione. "I can't believe what you just did". Ron nodded
The room started to come back into focus, and Harry felt less light headed.
"I can't believe it either" he said feeling most ashamed "I couldn't help it, it was that potion. Sorry Hermione"
"It's okay. How do you feel"
"Comfortably Numb, and then sore when the potion starts to fade. That stuff tastes worse then the Polyjuice Potion you made"
"Yeah. I've been thinking about that.You know what that polyjuice potion needed? A slice of lemon and one of those little umbrellas" said Ron sarcastically.
"How about a lot more flavour and a lot less hair" added Harry
What have I missed then?"
"Malfoy's left Hogwarts" smiled Ron. "After he recovered from being crushed by a tree, he & Dumbledore agreed that Hogwarts was no longer the place for him"
"How bad was he?"
"Unfortunately you only broke half his bones" replied Ron.
"Oh what a shame" said Harry sarcastically. "He was using Dark Magic and unforgivable curses, you were under his imperious curse."
"Yeah I know. Sorry mate" Ron looked ashamed
"Don't worry about it. He got Hermione as well, remember"
They looked at Hermione and laughed
"Oh give it a rest will you" she said testily. Luna tutted
"How did you find us anyway Hermione?"
"I followed Ron"
"Ah, what about Tonks?"
"Apparently she saw you leave the hall with Malfoy, stuck her head in the fireplace to talk to Lupin. He saw what was going on with his moon guide and told Tonks to get down to the forest" explained Ron.
"They were going to take you to St Mungo's, but it's full" said Luna
"Why, what happened?"
"Voldemort's been stepping up his campaign. St Mungo's is full of muggles that have been tortured, and Wizards that have been fighting with death eaters." Said Hermione, ignoring Ron's flinch.
"All the non-emergencies are going elsewhere, including Lockheart" said Ron.
"Who's got him then?" laughed Harry.
"You have. He's three beds down" said Luna quietly "and he's got his memory back"
"Oh no. I think I just felt my IQ drop a few points" smirked Harry
"Oh yes" said Hermione "and he says he's got some unfinished business with you two"
"Yeah, and we're really scared. Remember that duelling club?" laughed Ron
Ron put on a voice that sounded nothing like Lockhart " Ahem. We have a duelling club now! Which basically means you kids can come and beat the living daylights out of each other."
"Do you really want me to demonstrate just how much of an idiot you are?" joined in Harry, in a voice entirely different to Professor Snape's.
"Fire away, Snapey!" snorted Ron
"Argh I've landed flat on my back, and it really hurts!" laughed Harry.
Where is he now, wandering the grounds again?"
"Probably" replied Hermione, totally unimpressed with Harry and Ron's sense of humour.
"How's the quidditch going?" asked Harry
"I'm really sorry I told you that you were off the team. It was Malfoy, he made me do it"
"Don't worry about it"
"Practices have been awful. Ginny was in here a few days ago"
"She tried that wonky faint thing" interrupted Hermione "but didn't pull up in time. Her broomstick broke in half, and she was in here for a day."
"I hope you don't mind mate, but I've lent her your Firebolt to practice with" Ron looked at the floor.
"I don't think I'll be needing it for a while"
Ron, Ginny, Luna & Hermione stayed with Harry for the rest of the day, and left him a wizard wireless. Just before tea time, Madam Pomfrey came to remove the cast. In the evening, Dumbledore visited again.
Harry apologised for the effect of the potion, and too his relief Dumbledore was no longer cross.
"I have informed the school that you are awake. No doubt you will have more visitors than Madam Pomfrey can stand tomorrow." smiled Dumbledore
He produced his wand from within his robes and drew a blue line on the floor around the bed.
"It's a privacy charm" he explained "no one can hear our conversation. Tell me Harry, why did you feel the need to duel with Mr Malfoy it put me in a very difficult position, having two students seriously injured"
"He was using Dark Magic on my friends". Harry suddenly realised that he had been saving people again.
"Harry, you need to take control of your feelings. If you don't, you will never defeat Voldemort. Also, you need to stop spending so much time with ghosts. You have living friends who really care about you."
"Why didn't you tell me or another Professor?" asked Dumbledore
"It's not me; I always fight my own battles; you should know that by now"
"Yes, that's true" said Dumbledore, surveying him over his half moon glasses.
"Madam Pomfrey tells me that you won't be released from here until you are able to walk, which could be another week"
"But what about my studies?"
"You're going to have to work hard this year Harry. You've got a lot of catching up to do if you want to pass your mock NEWTS in May."
Harry said nothing. He knew Dumbledore was right, but that didn't mean he had to like it.
"You're lucky to be taking any exams at all for two reasons; I had no choice but to ask Mr Malfoy to leave, and he used the killing curse on you"
Harry remembered how Malfoy had cast the spell, and that it hit him on the leg.
"I suppose you're wondering why you're still here?"
Harry nodded
"Well, last year I omitted to tell you about what happened in the months between the prophecy being made and your birth. During that time, I performed a number of spells and charms to enhance your magical abilities"
Harry was shocked; his first reaction was horror. He was horrified that someone had meddled with him, without his consent. What if it had gone wrong? he asked himself. He said nothing for a few minutes and gazed up at the ceiling. The shadows caused by the flickering torches that lit his corner of the room were dancing across the ceiling playing out an array of intricate patterns.
Harry thought about the time that uncle Vernon had tried to strangle him two summers ago, before Tonks, Moody & Lupin rescued him. Then, there was the incident with the Python at the zoo on Dudley's birthday, and the Aunt Marge incident. He had been able to do magic without a wand, or even knowing magic.
"I also performed the same treatment on Mr Longbottom. Without it, he would most definitely have been a squib".
"It's not just part of Voldemort your carrying around inside you, there's also a bit of me. I wanted to give you or Neville the best chance you could have."
Suddenly, Harry remembered something from a frog card long ago. "How did you do it?" he asked quietly, "Grindelwald, how did you do it?"
Dumbledore's face darkened like he had just leaned back into a shadow, "there are many ways to defeat a man Harry," the old man's voice sounded coarse, "it's best if you don't defeat yourself in the process."
"I don't understand," Harry said. He had no time for the headmaster's riddles; he had to be rid of Voldemort and of his fears.
Dumbledore sighed, "I was angry Harry, very angry. Grindelwald had destroyed my family, and my life. When I killed him, I killed a part of myself as well."
"Oh," said Harry feeling a bit shocked. Ron often joked that Dumbledore had been born with a beard, wise and all knowing. It was almost impossible to see him as a man, even more so, a man who had made dark mistakes - a murderer. Dumbledore had been watching him carefully. Upon seeing Harry settled, he momentarily reflected on his past.
"They were also dark times Harry," the Headmaster explained. "Grindelwald wasn't as politically active as Voldemort, having come from Europe, but his terror was just the same. Innocent lives were lost and terror ensued; that's partly why I started the Order of Phoenix when Voldemort came to be. Nobody should have to live through that. But, here we are again," Dumbledore sighed and wiped his glasses before continuing on with his story. "I still worked at the school then; I was a Transfiguration teacher. I was able to walk to Hogwarts each morning because we lived in Hogsmeade. We were so glad to have finally settled down, and I have to say that I was ready for a quieter life after working for the Ministry. Grindelwald came to England around the same time that Tom had started Hogwarts. I could feel it when he came; it was like a dark cloud moving in on my life when it should have been my time for rest. It was like trying to breathe underwater when you could still see the air just above the surface. Sometimes, I still wake up at night shivering with the memory."
Harry shifted uncomfortably in his bed; the headmaster's visage looked as though it was seeing through him and coated in the most terrible sadness. Dumbledore shifted his eyes downward. Hunched in his chair, he seemed so old and tired "It was a Hogsmeade weekend; there were students everywhere," his voice soft and teary, "it had snowed, but it was a sunny day. The snow seemed to gleam and sparkle as I walked down the street with the students. It almost made me feel like the dark shifty shadow of fate had decided to abandon us for a day of much needed happiness. I guess, in retrospect, it's the days like that which always turn out to be the worst."
Dumbledore paused to set his glasses on the table and began massaging his temples with old and tired fingers.
"Grindelwald and his supporters turned up in Hogsmeade around noon. Running down the street, I began calling out for the students to get inside. I was already an old man Harry - I wasn't prepared for this. He sauntered down the street as if he owned it while cursing the students; their screams were eerily echoing of the pristine white ground. I called for him to stop; I know he cursed me too, but I can't remember feeling it. I think I was too worried to feel anything else. He wanted the Philosophers Stone and knew I had been working with Nicholas on it. Angry that my first reaction was to defy him, he began to use Cruciatus on the students. I had to listen to their screams. Tom was hit and withered down onto the ground in agony. But still, I wouldn't tell Grindelwald...not at first anyway."
Dumbledore sighed deeply before continuing in a soft and gentle voice, "It was the Gryffindor curse of fool hearted bravery that abandoned me at last. Still, I wonder what would have happened if I'd held on a bit longer; I would have let them harm my trusts, my pupils, my children. They also had Amy my half blood wife. Tattered and beaten they tossed her in front of me, her eyes begging for help. I guess I couldn't accept that sometimes there isn't any other way. I told them; I told him, told him everything. I fell to the ground, next to my wife and battered pupils, and told Grindelwald - the very face of evil - the secrets to an immortal life."
Dumbledore's eyes glazed over in memory.
"He killed her. It was all for nothing. I could not stop myself. My wand was in my hand and the curse left my lips before I knew what happened. He crumpled to the floor as if hit by a heavy weight. The glow that shone around me was the light that flooded back into the Wizarding World, only it stopped at his dead body. I looked at him, whispering to myself in a low voice as if he were sleeping instead of lying there, murdered by my hand. People said he would have killed us all, each in turn, because he was dark and evil. But despite that, I have never forgiven myself. Harry, that's what I was trying to protect you from going through," Dumbledore said urgently snapping out of his glazed reflection, "Harry, it's a different battle; you won't make the same mistake; I'll help you; we'll find another way."
"A way the Dark Lord knows not," Harry whispered silently. It all suddenly made sense, why Voldemort feared Dumbledore and why Dumbledore trusted Snape. He knew what it was like to come back from a circle of hell. But what way? What other way?
"Anyway," said Dumbledore, "if I don't let you get your sleep, Madam Pomfrey will be after me. Good night Harry"
Dumbledore stood up and walk to the door. Madam Pomfrey came round after he had gone to turn off the lights.
Harry could see it was dark outside through the tall gothic window that streched from the floor to the ceiling. The moon had not yet risen, and there were no clouds. Harry could see the constellation of Orion, which he recognised from his astronomy classes last year. Slightly below and to the left was a bright blue star, it appeared to be flickering. Harry knew it's name; Sirius. A blue super giant that used it's fuel so quickly, it would be gone in a few million years time. Gone before it's time; the light that burns twice as right burns half as long. Like his godfather
Harry realised he'd done it again. Like the time in the Tri-Wizard Tournament when he rescued Fleur's sister, and last year when he thought he was saving Sirius from Voldemort. Instead all he managed to do was make matters worse for everyone, and had to be bailed out by Dumbledore. The Professor was a busy wizard and probably had better things to do than worry about him.
CRACK!
Harry felt a weight land on his chest. He looked and saw the big eyes, long nose and floppy ears of a house elf.
"Hallo Dobby"
"Dobby heard that Harry Potter was better, but Dobby had to visit Harry Potter to see if it was true."
"I'm not better yet"
"Dobby was so pleased that Harry Potter beat Malfoy". He paused and then started banging his head on Harry injured leg.
"Bad Dobby, bad bad Dobby"
"Arrrrrgh !!!" screamed Harry, "stop it, get off, that's my bad leg"
Dobby stopped punishing himself. As he looked at Harry, tears started to appear in his large tennis ball like eyes, and began crying
"Dobby is not meaning to hurt Harry Potter. Not like last time."
"What's going on here?" called Madam Pomfrey
CRACK. Dobby disappeared just as the lights were flicked on.
"You !" she said staring at Harry holding his leg. "time for some more pain relief"
Harry didn't argue. It would help him sleep.
Sure enough the next day, Dumbledore's prediction came true, and Madam Pomfrey had had enough of Harry's visitors by 11 o'clock.
"There are other people in this hospital who need rest. Out! Out now, all of you!" she had said as she chased them out.
Ron came back after lunch, nervously looking around to make sure Madam Pomfrey was elsewhere.
"Hey Harry" he whispered "is she about?"
Harry looked round. "Who?"
"Pomfrey"
"No"
Ron crepted quickly across the room making as little noise as possible.
"Guess what. There's another Hogsmead weekend next month. When does Pomfrey reckon you'll be out of here?"
"Don't know, but I hope it's soon"
They sat discussing quidditch tactics, with the wizard wireless on quietly.
WE INTERRUPT THIS STATION FOR BREAKING NEWS.... An accident has been reported in Diagon Alley when Ophelius Gibbons charged into a crowded shop and starting blasting the patrons with his wand. The Ministry of Magic was quick on the scene and averted the situation before any serious damage was inflicted on any of the customers. More to follow as this story unfolds.
"Blimey, I hope that's not Fred and Georges shop" said Ron. He turned the volume up, but the news flash had finished
"Try another station"
Ron turned the dial and tried a few.
"Murder in South London" from WRN. No. "Accidental drowning" from the third station, No. "Disturbance in Leeds" from the BBC, Even the BBC remarked on the bizarre events of the day.
Unfortunately the noise from the wireless attracted Gildroy Lockhart. His hair was immaculately curled, and he was wearing robes that matched his eyes. When he saw Ron and Harry, his lip curled into a snarl.
"You! I know you! " he shouted from the other side of the hospital wing. "It's your fault I'm in here" He stormed over to his bed and fumbled around in his beside cabinet for his wand.
"This is definitely your fault Ron" said Harry, watching Lockhart as he forgot what he was doing, and then remembered when he glanced in their direction.
"Well he shouldn't have tried to cast a spell with a sellotaped wand! Should have used duct tape...that fixes everything!" smirked Ron
"Oh no. I think he's got it in for us" said Harry as Lockhart marched across the room, his lilac robes billowing out behind him. He raised his arms so that his wand pointing at them.
"Harry, Harry. How could you have done this to me? Don't you remember just how thrilled you were spending that detention answering my fan mail?" asked Lockhart.
Harry tried to think up a quick witty response;
"I think I'd rather have been cleaning the cursed toilets" replied Harry after a few moments.
The smile on Lockhart's face faded.
"Right. That's it. That's the last time you two ever ruin my life again. I haven't sold a single book since my secret came out" he seethed.
"Okay. Now I'm going to teach you a lesson that you will forget" he snarled.
"Don't worry" chuckled Ron, "I've already forgotten all of your lessons!"
"HARRY POTTER AND RON WEASLEY" shrieked Madam Pomfrey. Lockhart quickly put his wand back in his robes and walked sharply back to his bed.
"Good luck" smirked Ron as he quickly gathered his things together. "See yer".
"Thanks mate" said Harry sarcastically.
"I'm going to tell Dumbledore about you" seethed Madam Pomfrey, "how dare you upset my other patients. In the mean time, it's time for some more pain relief so the rest of my patients can have so peace and quiet"
She pulled a vial from her robes and made Harry drink it. The room wobbled again, and then went dark.
Once the exact details of Lockhart's latest attempt to wipe their memories was uncovered, it was decided that he was sufficiently recovered to be discharged. On Madam Pomfrey's insistence, citing disruption to the hospital wing as the main reason, Harry was also discharged the following week.
Valentines Day
Harry stood by the door to the locker rooms, waiting impatiently for Ron to arrive. He was supposed to be there ten minutes ago. After Quidditch practice, he disappeared, instructing Harry to wait for him. It was important he told him. So here Harry stood, tapping his toe on the stone path that surrounded the locker rooms, alone, waiting for his friend. "HARRY," Ron shouted from across the Quidditch pitch. He ran to his friend's side, out of breath. "Thanks for waiting," he gasped, holding onto the stitch in his side.
"You're lucky I'm still here," Harry snapped. "I was about to leave. I have a date with Luna, and you're making me late."
"Sorry, but I had to talk to you before you spoke with her. What are you two doing for Valentine's day next week?"
"That's what was so important? We haven't made any definite plans. We were going to discuss it tonight, until you made me late."
"How about spending the evening in Hogsmeade?" Ron asked, ignoring his friend's irritation.
"That would probably be one idea, why?"
"George and Fred are having a Valentine's party this Saturday, and invited us. It's a real party, Harry, with food and music and dancing. They've already invited over a dozen couples, and Oliver Wood will be there, along with Angelina and Katie. It's a party for couples only. Great idea, huh!"
"Are you sure they want us to come? It may be another of their tricks."
"I promise. Even Bill and Charlie will be there, they have dates and everything."
"I don't know Ron. It sounds a little weird coming from Fred and George, if you ask me."
"Come on Harry, it's all on the up and up. It'll be fun. I've never been to a real party before, at least not since the Triwizard Ball."
"But you hated the Triwizard Ball, remember?"
"That was because I wasn't with Hermione. How would you feel, seeing your girl with a famous Quidditch player?"
"But she wasn't your girl, Ron. You had the chance to ask her out, and you kept dragging your feet until it was too late."
"I didn't know how to ask her. You remember what she was like that year, bossy and all."
"She's always bossy, Ron. That's why she's Hermione."
"Yeah, well I guess I was just scared. Don't you remember how beautiful she was?"
"Your girlfriend, mate, not mine. Anyway, I'm still not sure about this party. I mean, it's your brothers, the world's most notorious pranksters."
"What could happen? We'll be together; and Bill and Charlie will be there, they won't let anything happen."
"Well..."
Ron looked serious as he stared at Harry. "Come on Harry. We can talk it over with the girls, and let them decide."
"Do you really think Hermione would rather go to a party at Fred and George's, or have a quiet romantic dinner?" Ron looked flustered.
"She'll love the idea."
"This is Hermione Granger we're talking about, Ron. She has never really approved of the twins' antics."
"Trust me, she'll love the idea." With that said, the two hurried back to the castle, Ron practically bubbling over with excitement. He was positive the girls would love the idea of going to Hogsmeade for Valentine's Day.
"Have you lost your mind?" Hermione snapped some fifteen minutes later.
"But 'Mione, it'll be fun," Ron pleaded as Harry and Luna looked on silently. "It's a real party, couples only. You said the other day you wished the school would have another ball, so we could go dancing. This is even better, it's for adults only. No snickering little kids hanging around."
"But Ron, it's your brothers," Hermione echoed Harry's words from earlier.
"I promise everything will be okay," Ron pleaded. "We have spend some time there, and if you're not having a good time, we can leave and I'll buy you the best dinner in town. What do you say?"
"I don't know," Hermione said, glancing across the table to where Harry and Luna sat listening. "What about you two? Are you going?"
"With Bill and Charlie there, Fred and George would have to behave themselves," Harry told her. "So I guess we're going, but we aren't staying if they pull any pranks."
"Come on 'Mione, what do you say?" Ron pleaded again.
"Oh, all right, but if I'm not having a good time, we're leaving."
"Straight away, I promise," Ron said hugging his girlfriend. "This is going to be so much fun. I can't wait." With that said, Ron kissed Hermione's cheek and headed for the stairs. "I have to make sure my dress robes look good, wouldn't want to look like a slob.
"I don't know why he's so excited," Hermione grumbled watching the tall red head bound up the stairs to his dormitory. "With Fred and George planning this whole thing, Merlin only knows what's going to happen."
Saturday evening found Ron standing in front of the full length mirror, combing his hair flat against his head. He had used so much Sleekeasy's Hair Potion, his hair was plastered against his head tighter than Malfoy ever hoped to have his.
"Capillus Reparo," Hermione said, having seen the condition of Ron's hair.
"Why'd you do that?" he grumbled, though thankful to know his hair no longer looked like it had been painted on his head, but angry that she felt it necessary to rescue him.
"You looked like you had a red tortoise shell sitting on your shoulders instead of a head." she told him "Thanks a lot," Ron grumbled "How did you get that stuff to work?" he asked, looking at the sleek, smooth hair that cascaded down her back and across her shoulders like a satin sheet.
"I've used it before," she told him. "I know what to expect. It takes a long time, but I suppose for special occasions it's worth it."
"Do you approve?" she teased.
"Yeah. It's all right," he said, kissing her briefly before turning and heading back down stairs to the common room.
Harry and Luna were already waiting for them, when they arrived. They were dressed in their new dress robes that Harry had purchased at the end of summer. The aroma of lavender was emanating from Luna's hair.
"Ready?" Ron asked, holding Hermione's hand.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Harry said, looking at Luna.
"Come on, it'll be fun," Ron said, ignoring the whistles Seamus and Dean offered as they stepped through the portrait hole.
"Wow, Weasley look at you," Seamus said with a smirk. "You look like a million bucks, or did you get a raise in your spending money?"
"Shut up, you two," Ron growled, walking with Hermione to the portrait hole. Harry smiled at the teasing expression of the boys, as he and Luna followed
The party was much as Ron had hoped. Oliver Wood was there, along with his girlfriend, Margorie Wagtail who stated that her little sister was a first year at Hogwart's, and was in Gryffindor. Harry frowned. He remembered hearing the name at first night back to school, but hadn't paid much attention to the little blond haired girl, though he had seen her in the common room.
"Margie's dad is someone you'll probably be interested in knowing," Oliver said with a warm smile to the attractive blond next to him. "He's part of the Weird Sisters."
"Blimey!" Ron exclaimed. "Your dad is Myron Wagtail."
"I know that," Margorie smiled.
"He's the lead singer," Ron said again.
"Yes, he is. Do you like my father's music?"
"Are you mental...I mean yes, yes I do," Ron said again, slightly embarrassed.
"Well, perhaps you'd like an autograph?" Margorie asked.
"Are you kidding?" Ron said.
"Hey Ron," Oliver said, eager to change the subject. "Congratulations on making team captain. I knew you'd do it, I always knew the job was suited for you."
"It's been hard, but I'm trying to make it work."
"Remember these things Ron; there's no 'I' in team, there's no such thing as good losers, only losers"
"Yeah thanks," Ron said. "I'll remember that. We've won every game so far, and it looks like the House Cup will stay with Gryffindor."
"I'm proud of all of you," Oliver said. "It's so good to know how well you've kept up the team, despite that horrid Umbridge last year. She was a real cretin."
"Well, she got hers," Ron said with a smirk, clicking his tongue to sound much like horse hooves, causing an eruption of laughter from those gathered around.
Harry felt a little guilty for having doubted the twins' sincerity. They had been there nearly three hours and were having a wonderful time. Fred and George had managed a superb dinner, complete with games and music. Harry and Luna danced so much their legs felt like lead and they were forced to take time out, to relax a bit. Ron and Hermione had spent a great deal of the evening with Oliver Wood and Margorie or dancing themselves.
Ron and Hermione left the centre of the dance floor Angelina and Katie had conjured up for the evening. They stepped to the table of refreshments, looking over the assortment of cakes, cookies, pastries, Fire Whiskey, champagne and butter beer. Ron desperately wanted to try his first fire whiskey, but knew it wouldn't pass his brothers, who seemed to be watching him intently. He reached across the large platter of chocolate covered strawberries and retrieved two bottles of butter beer. He popped the caps off and handed one to Hermione, feeling awkward at the way the twins continued to watch him.
Hermione smiled at Ron, the two of them having already made plans to meet up later that night in the room of requirements. Harry told them just how helpful of a place it was - away from classes and D.A. meetings. Emotions were running high between the two, and Ron was actually considering making their escape, regardless of how desperately he wanted to be there in the first place. They took a drink of their butter beers, their eyes meeting as they swallowed, immediately finding the others lips, pressing into a very deep, passion kiss.
Harry stepped to their side, shaking his head as he reached for two bottles of butter beer for himself and Luna. Perhaps it was the idea of the party, but he had never seen Ron kiss Hermione so openly before, especially in front of his brothers.
"You two need to get a grip," Harry teased, glancing to the shocked look on their faces, a muffled grunt echoing from their sealed lips, as their eyes searched Harry's expression. Ron's face was a bright red, his ears flaming and Hermione wasn't much better. They stared at Harry, their lips still tightly pressed, a look of horror in their eyes. Harry frowned as he looked at the two.
"Are you all right?" he asked, watching as they tried to shake their heads, still grunting. "What's wrong?" he asked again, touching Hermione's shoulder and hearing an outburst of laughter echoing from behind him. He turned to see Angelina and Katie staring blankly at the hysterical antics of Fred and George, who were laughing so hard, they were doubled over, gasping for breath.
"What did you do?" asked Harry, looking at a horrified Ron and Hermione, still connected at the lips.
"Pep...Pep..." Fred tried to say around his laughter.
"Sticking...Peppermint..." George tried to add, but was unable to sound much more than his twin.
"Bloody hell," Bill said, setting his glass on the table and grabbing George by the arm. "Did you two spike the drinks?"
"Just theirs," his brother exploded again in laughter.
"An attraction spell on the bottles," Fred said with a gasp of air, still trying to regain control. "They had to chose them."
"What did you do?" Charlie insisted.
"Peppermint Sticking Charms," Bill answered, shoving George into a chair so hard it tipped backward, hitting into a wall.
"You two promised you wouldn't play any pranks tonight," Katie scowled at George.
"We couldn't resist," George said, ignoring his younger brother, hoping to stop laughing soon.
"It's a new line of drinks for the reluctant lovers," Fred said with a bright grin.
"We'll deal with you two later," Charlie said, hurrying behind Bill who was already at Ron and Hermione's side.
"We'd better get the basic antidote potion from the medical kit," Bill said with disgust. "Hold on you two, we'll have you apart in a minute." Five minutes later, Ron was rubbing his lips, trying to get feeling back into them, as Hermione was trying her best to hide her embarrassment.
"It would have worn off after ten minutes," George told Katie, who was so angry he thought she'd spit fire.
"It was just a joke," Fred told Angelina through a locked bedroom door. "Honest, honey, it wouldn't have done any harm, just a little quality time."
"We had to try it out on someone," George was telling Katie. "Who better than our little brother?" Ron heard this and without a word, Ron turned and left. He was so angry, he didn't hear Hermione calling to him, or see Harry and Luna running after them.
"Ron, wait!" Hermione said, grabbing his arm and pulling him to a halt in the street.
"I am so sick of being the butt of those two's jokes," Ron growled, his fists rolled tightly by his side.
"Ron, relax," Hermione said as Luna and Harry neared him.
"Relax? What would you know about it? They never pulled stupid jokes on you, they wouldn't dare do anything to you. But no, let's just terrorise Ron, he's a patsy, he'll fall for anything."
"Calm down, Ron," Hermione told him. "Let's go to the Hog's Head and get a drink, that isn't enchanted."
"We'll spend the rest of the evening together, celebrating Valentine's day as friends," Harry suggested, tucking his hand inside Luna's.
"Sure, we still have a few hours left," Hermione said hoping her calm voice would help soothe Ron who was fuming beside her. "We can share a nice drink and go back to the school, and finish our evening the way we planned." Ron ground his teeth, looking at the attractive girl. He couldn't speak, but he did nod, and the four of them walked silently down the small narrow road to the Hog's Head. They would have normally gone to the Three Broomsticks, but considering how late it was, they knew it had closed over an hour ago. The Hog's Head however, was open until the wee hours of the night.
They stepped into the tavern, looking around at the nearly deserted surroundings. There was an old witch in one corner, her hat filthy and torn, her clothes soiled and tattered. In a booth not far from her were a pair of gruff looking wizards playing a game of cards, and the shadows of a young couple in a dark corner far from the door. Harry indicated a finger toward a booth near the front, and sat down Luna. The old man behind the counter stared at the four, watching them extremely close as they sat down and discussed what they were going to drink. Ron still wanted Fire Whiskey, but decided to settle on an un-enchanted bottle of butter beer after Hermione tutted. Harry cautiously stepped up to the counter, and ordered four bottles of chilled butter beer.
The barman was a grumpy-looking old man with long grey hair and a beard. He was tall and thin and as Harry continued to watch him prepare their drinks, he couldn't help but feeling again, that the old man looked familiar. He remembered feeling this way during fifth year, when he first met the old man, but he couldn't put his finger on where he knew him from. Harry took the drinks and paid the old man, who continued to stare at him, making him feel awkward and uncomfortable.
Back at the table, Harry found the tension as thick if not more so, than it had been when he left them. The three sat in silence, refusing to look at each other, as they took their drinks from Harry.
"This is ridiculous," Harry said. "All right, so the twins turned what was a really nice evening into an excuse for a bad practical joke. It's over, forget about it and let's have a nice night. And anyway, I think Bill and Charlie will make them pay, don't you?" Ron glanced up at Harry and gave a small smile, thinking about the revenge they would no doubt have in mind.
"What a night," he said quietly. Ron smiled brightly, leaning into Hermione and kissing her neck.
"What do you say we finish up here, and head back to school?" Ron asked quietly. Hermione smiled with a blush to her creamy complexion, and looked up as the young lovers in the corner stood and began to walk past them.
"Malfoy?" she said, much louder then she had intended. He stopped and looked at the four who were staring openly as he walked hand in hand toward the door with Pansy Parkinson "What are you doing here?" Malfoy sneered.
"Celebrating the holiday," Ron said. "What are you doing here?"
"That is really none of your business, Weasel," he snapped. "Unless it has to do with the disposal of the likes of you, then it's none of your business. I suggest you four return to school soon, before you get detention again. You are breaking curfew, you know?"
"We have permission to be out," Harry said. "What about the two of you?"
"We weren't sneaking Potter, and it's none of your business either. Keep your nose where it belongs, or you may get it burned again." Malfoy and Pansy turned, and left the tavern.
"What's he up to?" Harry asked.
"He's starting to really get on my nerves," Ron said. "Why is he sneaking around here? He's been kicked out of Hogwarts "Let's not worry about it," Hermione said. "We have to be going, or we will get in trouble. We have rounds to make in an hour, anyway." Ron glanced up at her and frowned. "You're right," Harry said, reaching out and taking Luna's hand. "We'd better get going." They stood and started to the door, when an odd feeling came over him. "What is it Harry?" Luna asked, slipping her arm inside his. Harry frowned, looking down to her delicate features.
"Nothing," he told her, taking one last glance around the tavern, and forcing a smile on his face. "Let's go."
The odd feeling turned out to be guilt; he hadn't been to see if Sirius had managed to become a ghost yet. In the end, it was Luna, bubbling over with excitement, who came to see him at breakfast a few days later.
"Harry" she said, sitting beside him at breakfast one morning, "you've got to come and see this"
"See what?"
"I'm not saying here" she replied, lowering her voice so that only Harry could hear.
"Oy, you're a Ravenclaw" called Seamus "what are you doing at our table?"
"I'll see you later at Myrtle's" said Luna as she got up.
"Okay"
If Luna wanted to meet him in Myrtle's bathroom, that could mean only one thing, thought Harry to himself - Sirius.
As he had discovered on previous occasions, time had the annoying habit of slowing down whenever he wanted something to happen. It seemed as if he had been waiting for a week as Harry pushed the door to Myrtle's bathroom creaked open. It was dark inside. There was no moonlight. Only myrtle's dim glow cast any light on the room.
"Harry?" called Luna's voice
"Yeah, it's me" he replied
"Come and see, it's amazing"
He closed the door and rushed across the stone floor, his footsteps echoing off the dark walls. A second glow appeared as he came closer, and Harry wished it would be Sirius. It was, but not the Sirius Harry had known. Instead of the waxy, boney face and tired eyes caused by twelve years in Azkaban, it was the handsome Sirius who was in the pictures of his parents wedding.
"Sirius?" asked Harry, half in disbelief, half in immeasurable joy
"Hallo Harry" said Sirius, smiling
"I never thought I'd see you again. You look great"
"That's not all he can do" said Myrtle excitedly, "go on, show him"
The ghostly Sirius, vanished for a brief moment, and then a huge bear dog reappeared.
Harry, Luna, Myrtle and Sirius sat for hours catching up on the past seven months since Sirius fell through the veil. Sirius wasn't surprised to hear that Fudge was a former death eater, and not the slightest bit upset to find out he was dead. He listened intently to the story of Harry's duel with Malfoy, and praised him on his excellent spell work.
"And Dumbledore still trust Snivellus, does he?" asked Sirius
"Yeah, and no one knows why" replied Harry.
"That's not strictly true" said Sirius wisely "two people know, Dumbledore and Snape; and you're studying Occlumency with one of them"
A smile appeared across Harry's tired face. At last he had a means to solving one of the greatest mysteries in Hogwarts; why did Dumbldore trust Snape? All he had to do was master Occlumency.