Note: In the last chapter, I made a small error and referred to Zoe as being the third Chaser on the Quidditch Team. Zoe (a fifth year and dorm mate of Ginny) is actually a Beater. The third Chaser, in addition to Katie and Ginny, is Abigail Johnson, a third year and Angelina's younger sister. I corrected this in the last chapter as well as a few other very minor errors and omissions but thought you should know this clarification before you proceed with the chapter. Onward!
Chapter 34. The Godmother
"Who…? But why—"
Hermione's stunned question was cut off by McGonagall, who plucked the paper out of her hands and said, "Come, let's not discuss it here."
They followed her out of the empty Common Room and Harry noted vaguely that the early dawn's sunlight was just starting to creep in through the tower windows.
As their footsteps echoed upon the stone floors of the castle halls, racing thoughts finally began to slow down enough for Harry to actually focus on one at a time. Why are we being dragged out to meet with Dumbledore about this at this hour of the morning? Who…someone must have been killed…someone we know…who? A swooping feeling sliced through Harry as he thought, Oh please, let it not be Remus. Who…twenty-six dead—maybe it's just Voldemort's idea of fun. A Halloween celebration of his own with his followers. Followers!! He must have gotten more followers—maybe it was even the Dementors who were involved. Harry desperately wanted to see that newspaper again and find out just what had happened. He was glad to see that they had reached the stone gargoyle, which leapt out of the way at McGonagall's whispered password; he had questions now and needed answers.
"That's fifteen different families attacked," Moody's voice said as McGonagall pushed open the heavy oak door to the Headmaster's office. "Ah, Granger—come over here. Tell me how many of these names you know," Moody said, bypassing any greeting and beckoning Hermione over to an old table, spread with parchments.
"Just a moment, Alastor," Professor Dumbledore said, turning around from facing a portrait hung high upon the wall, near the ceiling. "Have you seen the Prophet yet?" he asked Harry and Hermione.
McGonagall brusquely stepped over towards Moody at his table and answered Dumbledore's question without looking back, "I showed them the front page headlines to get them to follow me without asking questions. Now what happened exactly?"
Dumbledore sighed heavily and then said, "The war has begun. The Prophet had only preliminary numbers when they printed in the wee hours of the morning. The number dead is at least thirty now." He turned to Harry and said, "Harry, I need to speak with you. You also, Minerva--you will need to fetch Neville Longbottom from his dormitory as well before he awakes and happens upon an edition of the paper; especially since the later editions are likely to mention more than just names."
"It's his parents who are missing?" Harry asked, hoping it wasn't true as he stepped closer towards Dumbledore's desk and looked up at the wizard for the answer. Dumbledore's sorrowful and pained eyes looking over his half-moon glasses, however, told him, it was indeed true. "Are they dead?" Harry asked steadily.
Dumbledore closed his eyes for a moment and then regretfully answered, "I am afraid we just do not know. What we do know is that very early this morning a small group of Death Eaters did manage to break into St. Mungo's Hospital. I had already received a message from both Kingsley and Amelia about the very first reports of attacks and I had sent Dilys Derwent to her portrait located in the entry of the hospital to report on anyone being brought in." Here, Dumbledore gestured up at the portrait of the silver haired witch. "Dilys saw this group arrive and was able to follow them a ways through the hospital corridors. It appears that their primary mission was to break open the Janus Thickey Ward on the fourth floor. She said she never saw the Longbottoms, nor two of the people who entered the ward, return. I believe they were taken away by a portkey. The remaining four Death Eaters then split up and she was only able to follow one pair that proceeded back to the first floor where they encountered two guards who were promptly killed. She saw them then enter an office just before the entrance to the Dai Llewellyn Ward and leave again after only a few minutes. Dilys followed them as they met back up with the other pair and they only nodded to each other before one pulled out a book that portkeyed them away." Dumbledore sighed yet again and looked at Harry and said, "There are a few things that are bound to come out now, Harry. I don't believe anyone would ever have told you but I shall now. Follow me, Minerva you as well so you know how to best answer any of Mr. Longbottom's questions. Alastor? If you could—watch the fire for me. I will return shortly."
Harry turned, unsure he wanted to hear about anything that sounded so serious at such a time and found himself looking into Hermione's face. Her eyes shown with just as much fear and dread, as he was feeling. Her eyes then darted over to the retreating forms of McGonagall and Dumbledore and then across the room where Moody still shuffled parchments about. "Come on," Harry said softly, with a hand out telling her he wanted her to hear whatever Dumbledore had to say with him. They followed McGonagall and Dumbledore up a small set of steps and curved around a tall bookcase and then ascended a second curving set of wide stairs that opened up to an elegant but well-worn sitting room.
"Please," Dumbledore gestured to a small sofa set facing two high backed wing chairs, "Be seated." Harry and Hermione seated themselves with increasing unease as both Dumbledore and McGonagall were seated into one of the wing back chairs.
Harry could feel his eyes, as if stuck open, wide and staring at Dumbledore who now seemed to move and bend slowly as if withering under the strain of time and pressure. What could have happened? Who…Who's died now?
"Is Remus alright? The Weasleys?" The words tumbled out of Harry's mouth before he could think about them. He needed to be reassured they were fine before this tight icy grip loosened from inside his chest.
Dumbledore's short nod allowed a tremendous relief to wash over Harry. "I don't have much time before I will have to answer all sorts of calls and questions and you both," Dumbledore nodded at Harry and Hermione, "shall need to be seen by your peers at breakfast this morning when the post arrives. I will try to be short and to the point about this.
"When the attacks on the Longbottoms occurred fifteen years ago, there were, I believe, a few reasons for Lord Voldemort's remaining supporters to seek them out. They surely wanted to beget revenge upon two Aurors who had worked to lock away several of their fellow followers and to gain information to help locate their fallen master, but also, they wanted to find the one responsible for the downfall of their master."
"Me?" Harry said, confused as to why anyone would go the Longbottoms to have found him.
"You, Harry," Dumbledore nodded. Hermione squeezed Harry's hand. "They sought information that night; information about the prophecy and its details if they were to be had, information about what exactly had happened to defeat Lord Voldemort and information as to where the one credited with his defeat was located. They were prepared to use any means necessary to beget this information and even if they got nowhere, they would still have exacted their revenge. Harry, I don't wish for you to be side-struck by this revelation, but they had reason to look for you to be residing with the Longbottoms; no one knew I had placed you with your Aunt's family and as Sirius, your godfather was believed to be guilty of murder and sentenced to life in Azkaban, they assumed you would be with your godmother. Harry, Alice Longbottom is your godmother."
Dumbledore paused for a moment and Harry just blinked. He had never really questioned who had been named his godmother; it seemed stupid now. Surely, it should have occurred to him to wonder, especially after he found out that Sirius was his godfather.
Dumbledore continued as he pulled out a copy of the early edition Prophet, "Harry, that information seems to have been planted to be sure to reach the news and come out. My guess is that the information is meant to torment you."
Dumbledore handed the paper across to Hermione while Harry sat numbly, thinking, Neville lost his parents because of me…two people were tortured to insanity because of me.
"What?" Hermione said loudly in disbelief as she scanned the lower half of the front page and snapped Harry out of his thoughts. She looked at Harry and shook her head, scowling as she said, "Look at this, Harry—just read it," as she shoved the newspaper towards him.
ST MUNGO'S HIT: Two Long-Term Care Patients Missing, Thought Dead
Rita Skeeter Reports from the scene where, last night, Alarms were set off at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. It was breached in a late night break-in that self-proclaimed spokeswizard Gilderoy Lockhart said, "Would certainly have been a tragic massacre if it hadn't been for my threatening to make those hooligans pay. They rushed into my suite and I dashed out of bed, assuming of course, they were just overzealous fans seeking autographs, only to find that they were so scared that they just disappeared with a poof!"
Mr. Lockhart, who gave this statement from the Welcomewitch center in the hospital's entrance while wearing what looked suspiciously like pyjamas, was then escorted away and employees of St. Mungo's refused to give further comment.
It was overheard, however, by this reporter that there were two patients who were unaccounted for from ward 49, otherwise known as the locked-down ward for long-term residents of spell damage. Further investigation revealed that the missing patients are none other than former Aurors Frank and Alice Longbottom who were tortured under the Cruciatus Curse into insanity by followers of You-Know-Who after his fall fifteen years ago.
It also seems that employees of the hospital found a cryptic note in Ward 49 that read, "Your godparents shall be together soon." Employees seemed to have no clue as to the meaning of the note and whether it did indeed have direct bearing upon the two missing patients.
"The later edition this morning is sure to have the news of the two guards who were murdered and may even make the link between Alice having been your godmother, Harry," Dumbledore said as Harry looked up from the article. "I just did not want you to be unduly shocked by this revelation. I am sorry no one ever told you before but I assume it just never occurred to anyone who knew that you not only would not know, but that you should be told." Dumbledore then stood and looked to McGonagall and said, "Alastor should have a list ready of students who have lost family last night and I will need you to distribute the names to the appropriate Head of House."
"Who?" Harry said in what sounded to him like a hollow voice. "Who has all been killed?"
Dumbledore looked at him over his glasses and said quietly, "It's a growing list, Harry. Alastor has been working on assembling the complete scope of all attacks from last night. Come down and join us when you are ready."
Harry was left staring at a pair of empty wingback chairs. He was vaguely aware that Hermione was now devouring every word on the front page of the paper.
"Oh, Harry did you see--," he heard the newspaper rustle in her hands and drop to her lap. "Harry?" Her hand was on his knee, a question in her voice.
"Hmm," was his only answer, his gaze still stuck upon the vacant chairs.
"Harry," the tone was stern and he knew the words that would leave her mouth before she even said them. "You cannot be blaming yourself for what happened. Look at me, Harry," she commanded as she steered his head to turn towards her with a hand under his chin.
Harry felt himself settle back into his body from the state of suspended shock that he had been in. His eyes focused upon Hermione's as he said, "I never even wondered whether I had a godmother. No one ever told me."
Hermione's face filled with sorrow and she said, "Well, I suspect it's like Professor Dumbledore said; no one knew what you didn't know and if they did, they probably figured there was no reason to tell you. I suppose someone might have mentioned it after we helped Sirius escape, but that was a hectic time and—"
"They didn't want to tell me about someone else who suffered because of me; because of the blasted prophecy," Harry said with a trace of bitterness and self-loathing.
"No. Because they cared about you and couldn't see how it would do anything but make you feel this way and blame yourself. Harry, listen to me—as much as this war centers on you, it centers on Voldemort. He is the one who is to blame for those who have and will suffer." Hermione had her hands framing Harry's face and was boring her brown gaze into Harry's, challenging him to question her reason. "He will choose to do things and target people because he believes it will hurt you. Now listen carefully: you—cannot—let—him—get—to—you. It's a cheap stunt by Voldemort to do this and taunt you about it. He's trying to get to you. But you need to be strong and you need to focus on the war itself and not his petty stunts to get to you."
Harry knew she was right. As he looked into her eyes, he marvelled at how she always knew what to say to him and how she was always the one to lead him in the right direction. The Order is running about, trying to do its job and I'm sitting here, brooding about losing something I never had. "You're right," he said, laying his hand atop one of Hermione's. "You're always right. There's work to be done and I shouldn't be sitting here while they're out there. Let's go." He smiled at her as he grasped her hand and led her back out and down the staircase into Dumbledore's office.
"Healer Smethwyck says he can't find anything that's out of place. They found Pye this morning, still Stunned but otherwise, unharmed. He doesn't remember a thing," said the deep voice of Kingsley from the fire. Harry saw his dark head floating in the green flames of the floo. "Hello, Harry, Hermione," he greeted them as they entered the office. "That's all I have for now, Albus. Oh yes, I did as you asked and sent Remus to find Tonks. The Ministry lacks tact when delivering bad news, I just hope he can find her before someone tells her. Good day." The Auror's head disappeared with a pop.
"Granger," Moody called from across the room. "Give me a hand with these. Potter, you can empty out the latest batch of cauldron post. We need to keep compiling the descriptions and names of those involved in the attacks last night. The sooner we figure out the pattern and the purpose, the sooner we know what they were after and what their motives are now."
"What happened to Tonks?" Harry asked as he and Hermione moved over to the table to help Moody while Dumbledore returned to his desk to write something with a long-feathered quill.
Moody looked up and answered, "Her father was killed. Her mother survived but seems to be in a state of shock and hasn't been able to tell much of what happened. He was a muggleborn, you know, probably why they went after 'em."
Harry looked down at the map of the British Isle and Ireland, thoughts of Tonks and her usually exuberant personality flashing across his mind. There were little green dots placed about the map and tiny writing by each that read things like, DUNSTAN: 3 dead-Wizard 41, Witch 43, Wizard 19. Harry scanned the map, looking for familiar names. Kilpatrick…Tonks…Mitchell…Johnson. "Is this Angelina's family?" he asked as he pointed towards the dot that listed 2 dead-Wizard 44, Witch 19.
Hermione looked to where he was pointing and breathed out, "Yes, they are from Leeds." Sure enough, the JOHNSON dot was located just south of the town mark for Leeds on the map. "That must be her," Hermione said shakily as she pointed towards the writing that said Witch 19.
Harry pushed himself to move on and not stare at it in shock. Angelina is dead, he thought as he scanned over other names that he felt grateful he didn't recognize. McAlister…Smythe-White…Lancashire…Clearwater. "Penelope?" It read CLEARWATER: 2 muggles dead- Male 48, Female 29. "Can't be her, they're too old. Maybe her family, though."
"I'm not sure where they lived," Hermione said, scanning over the map the same way Harry was. "Hopkins—there's a Wayne Hopkins in Hufflepuff," Hermione said pointing to where it said 1 dead- Wizard 34.
She gasped as she pointed towards a green dot over in Ireland. "Seamus," she said softly running her finger across the words that read FINNEGAN: 1 dead-Male 44.
"His dad was a muggle," Harry said quietly as he thought of his dorm mate of over five years.
"Eh?" Moody said. "You sure?"
Harry nodded, saying, "His mum's a witch and his dad a muggle." Harry watched Moody make a note on a long parchment and then add the word 'muggle' to the description of the dead 44-year-old-male who was Mister Finnegan.
"What about any of the others? Any connections to muggles or muggleborns? That's always been a political agenda for the Death Eaters when they've attacked in the past. Anything you know like that can help us."
Hermione took a deep breath and said, "The Clearwaters, if they are Penelope Clearwater's family, are muggles. She was a muggleborn witch from Ravenclaw that graduated with Percy Weasley. They used to date." She scanned the map. "Taylor—there was an Ian Taylor on the Muggleborn Assimilation Committee from the Ministry; I recall receiving information from him after I confirmed my enrolment in Hogwarts. I don't know about the Hopkins if they are related to the Wayne in our year. I don't know him very well."
Harry took out the parchment rolls from the enchanted cauldron on the floor and read out loud, "East Rottenburg. Corner. 48-year-old wizard dead and 42-year-old-witch with minor injuries." He watched Moody move his wand over the map until he found the location and then tapped it twice to create a green dot. "I wonder if that's Michael Corner's family?" Harry asked vaguely as he watched Moody transcribe the description of the attack onto the map.
"The Prophet says the Dark Mark was seen over the homes where the attacks occurred," Hermione said trying to maintain a business-like tone to her voice despite the gravity of the information they were absorbing. "Do they do that when they're done or when they arrive or what? You said Tonks' mother survived and there was a survivor in the Corners' attack—how do they manage to leave survivors?"
"An excellent question, Hermione," Dumbledore said, joining them for a moment and perusing the map. "The Mark is both symbolic of the Death Eaters' claim for responsibility and likely meant to inspire terror in those near it."
"It also creates busywork for the Ministry's Obliviators who need to modify the memory of any muggles who've seen it," Moody growled. "It stays and lingers until someone ends the spell."
Dumbledore seemed contemplative as he ran a long finger down one parchment list. "It is notable, though, that there does seem to be a fair number of survivors from the attacks. It's not usually their way to leave anyone alive."
"Most seem to have been knocked out," Moody said. "Probably a training exercise for his new minions." Moody turned towards Dumbledore and asked, "Speaking of minions, any word on Snape's missing student?"
Harry looked up, wondering if (hoping) Malfoy was missing. Dumbledore was looking over his glasses at Moody and answered, "No, Severus has not got back any information as of yet." Dumbledore turned to Harry and Hermione and said, "Gregory Goyle has been missing from the castle since last night. Professor Snape is looking into it but thus far, it does not appear that he was taken against his will. However," he looked sternly at them, "I believe it is too early to postulate why or how he disappeared."
"We won't say anything," Hermione said and then nudged Harry.
"Er, yeah," he said.
Dumbledore smiled at them and said, "Very well, it's nearly the start of breakfast now. I ask you two to go to the Great Hall as you normally might. Hermione, I believe you receive the Daily Prophet, I am sure the Delivery Edition will be somewhat more detailed than the one you've already seen. It is important that you be aware, Harry, many may look to you to see how you will react to this news. I believe the fact that it will not be a surprise to you will help others remain calm. I believe the students are likely to continue to see you as a model for how to react to the events of this war. Do either of you have any questions?"
"No, sir," Harry said, nodding dutifully. "I understand."
Harry and Hermione entered a very vacant Great Hall. On Saturdays, most students chose to sleep in. As she took a rasher of bacon for her plate, Hermione said, "I feel so bad for Tonks, and Seamus…and Neville, too." At Harry's stricken look, she hurriedly said, "Don't look like that. I told you, it's not your fault and you can be sure other people will comment about their disappearance." She tapped her fork on her eggs before saying tentatively; "You should talk to Neville sometime today."
"Yeah," Harry said with a sigh. "I was already thinking that. I'm not sure what McGonagall will all tell him, but I'd rather he found out now, even from me why they were taken and not from some sensational article in the Prophet."
They were quiet as they ate their breakfast and slowly watched more students trickle into the Great Hall. "I wish I had my bag here so I had something to work on or read," Hermione mused as she poured herself a third cup of tea.
Harry nodded and then said, "Hold on," as he realized he still had his shrunken bag in his pocket from last night. He pulled it out and quietly enlarged it on the bench beside him. "What do you want to read—Magic of the Mind: Occlumency and Legilimency or The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts? Or, I have essays to correct from the third years on Ghouls, Ghosts and Poltergeists—you want to help me mark them?"
An hour and half later, the Hall was about half full and they had only seen a few professors such as Professor Vector and Professor Sinistra at the head table.
"Harry, there you are," Ron said, showing an uncharacteristic morning cheerfulness and willingness to approach Harry in Hermione's presence as he sat down across from them. "I've been looking for you," he paused and eyed Hermione warily as he said, "Your bed didn't even look like it was slept in."
"Neither was Hermione's," Lavender said smugly as she and Pavarti joined the table and the two girls snickered knowingly.
Hermione rolled her eyes and said, "Oh get off it, you two, we fell asleep talking in the Common Room last night."
Lavender and Pavarti looked skeptical but dropped the questions in favor of breakfast. Ron swallowed a mouthful of something and said to Harry, "I overheard Bulstrode last night saying they needed to find another Beater before their game next Saturday. Something about Goyle not being able to play—I assume he was too stupid and they chucked him off the team or something. Isn't that great news? Maybe, if we're lucky, he's been chucked out of school," Ron said with a wistful look.
Harry and Hermione each exchanged a look and Hermione asked, "Ron, where did you overhear this?"
Ron looked at her with a scowl, his face darkening instantly, and said, "What does it matter to you? I don't ask where two got off to last night?"
Harry saw Hermione's face grow hot with indignation and he put a calming hand on her thigh and said, "Ron, I think what she meant was where were you that overheard Bulstrode talking? And who was she talking to?"
Ron looked hotly at Harry and dropped his fork with a clatter. "What is this—an inclination? I don't answer to either of you!" He pushed himself away from the table and left his half-eaten breakfast on the table as he stalked off and out of the Hall.
Hermione just slapped an exasperated hand to her forehead and muttered, "Inquisition, you idiot, the word is 'inquisition'."
"Mail's here," Harry said as he turned to face the sound of beating wings announcing the incoming owls.
Harry watched Hermione take the Prophet from the delivery owl and pay the owl as Hedwig landed beside him. His own snowy owl had nothing to deliver but often flew in to nab a few bites of Harry's breakfast. He slid over a plate of kippers towards her and she nipped him affectionately on the finger before starting in on the plate.
"Well?" he asked quietly as Hermione scanned the paper quickly.
"They've got a slew of different stories on the front page about several of the different attacks," she whispered in answer, not looking up from the paper. She flipped it open and paged through. "Here—the story about St Mungo's is now on page three. At least that's good news."
Harry read over her shoulder and saw that the news of the two killed guards found in a corridor on the first floor was now reported in the article. There was also a claim that several Potions ingredients were now missing from the hospital's supply. The Longbottoms were mentioned and confirmed to be missing and the note was again quoted, but there was no mention of just to whom Alice Longbottom had been named as godmother.
"Anything gossip-worthy in there today?" Pavarti asked innocently.
Hermione dropped the paper quickly and scowled at her and laid out the paper upon the table for them to read the front-page reports of the various attacks. Lavender and Parvati quickly sobered and shoved over to read.
"Merlin," was all Lavender could breathe out as she read. Harry watched the two read the news and saw Lavender pale considerably as Pavarti clutched her friend's arm.
"Bedfordshire," Pavarti said with shock as she pointed to one of the articles. "That's near my family. The Mitchells—they're friends of my family. Ruth Mitchell taught Padma and me Latin when we were young."
They each continued to read over the various reports of attacks, staring with shock at the two pictures that each showed the sickly green image of the Dark Mark looming over the homes of families who had been attacked. "Some of these—the Dunstans, the Taylors—they're pureblood family names!" Lavender said with horror. She looked up at Hermione and Harry with her eyes wide.
"You're sure?" Hermione asked and Harry thought she looked like she was itching to take notes on what her dorm mates knew about some of the victims. Lavender nodded as Ginny and two of her year mates slid in across the table. Ginny only looked at Harry and Hermione for a moment before rising and coming around the table to look over their shoulders at the paper.
Harry looked across the Great Hall and saw other small clusters of students doing the same thing they were—huddling together and reading what was surely a copy of the Daily Prophet. Harry saw some looking shocked, some looking scared and some whispering madly amongst themselves. His gaze stopped roaming as it fell upon Draco Malfoy, sipping from a goblet as he disinterestedly perused what appeared to be the Daily Prophet. As if he felt Harry's gaze, Malfoy looked up and locked eyes across the tables with Harry for a moment before he held up what was indeed the newspaper and grinned maliciously across at Hall.
"Your attention please," Dumbledore's strong, but calm voice called out, shushing the whispers and getting everyone's undivided attention. "As many of you have surely just read, last night a series of attacks occurred across the country. The attacks were led by the supporters of Lord Voldemort and included an array of victims. I am most aggrieved to inform you that there are some among us here at Hogwarts who have lost loved ones and family members. The Heads of Houses have been speaking to anyone who we know to have suffered these losses and will be available to answer any questions you may have. At this time, please be most accommodating to those who are grieving and remember—we are only as strong as we are united, and as weak as we are divided." Dumbledore's gaze lingered on Harry for a moment and then the old wizard nodded almost imperceptibly before he stepped back and walked out of the side door of the Great Hall.
Whispers started up again and Harry felt a hand upon his shoulder. "I think we should get the DA together today," Hermione said quietly. "It would be good for everyone. It really spurred on a lot of people to work harder last year after the breakouts from Azkaban."
Harry nodded and said, "Good idea. I'm going to cancel Quidditch practice today since Abigail, well, you know—about Angelina." He sighed heavily as he thought of Angelina Johnson and how he had known her since he was a first year on the Gryffindor Quidditch Team. She had been the only Gryffindor to properly enter her name into the Goblet of Fire two years ago. He remembered her dancing exuberantly with Fred at the Yule Ball. He thought of Abigail Johnson, her younger sister, now on the team and finding out her sister and father were now dead.
"Why don't we go back to the Common Room then," Hermione suggested. They weren't the only ones who left the Gryffindor table to retreat back up to Gryffindor Tower; it seems most people just didn't find the thought of breakfast that appealing any more. But as they exited the Great Hall, Harry saw Malfoy, looking lopsided with only Crabbe to one side of him, shovelling in food with gusto and wearing a very satisfied looking smirk.
The Gryffindor Common Room was unusually full for midmorning on a Saturday. As there had been in the Great Hall, there were clusters of people huddled around copies of the morning newspaper that were whispering and reading with wide eyes. As they stepped through the portrait hole, several people stared at Harry as he and Hermione crossed the room to their usual table. Harry casually scanned the Common Room for a sign of either Seamus or Neville, but saw neither. "Do you think Professor McGonagall already told them and sent them back here?" Hermione asked, obviously thinking the same thing.
Harry shook his head and then spotted Natalie McDonald, a third year and one of Abigail Johnson's dorm mates. He got up and approached her where she sat huddled with Dennis Creevey, and Andrew Kirke. "Hey, Natalie," Harry said quietly to get her attention. "Have you seen Abigail lately?"
"Have you seen the news, Harry?" Dennis said holding out his copy of the Daily Prophet.
"Of course he's seen you dolt," Andrew said, clipping Dennis across the head. "He was in the Great Hall when Dumbledore spoke.
Natalie looked like she was on the verge of tears and, trembling, said, "McGonagall came into our dorm early—before we went down the breakfast and got Abby up and had her leave with her. I haven't seen her. Unless, she came back when we were downstairs—why?"
Harry wasn't sure he'd like everyone spreading gossip around about him but, on the other hand, he figured it was easier if everyone knew what was going on so they didn't go and say something stupid to the wrong person. "Well," he said and cleared his throat. "I believe her family was one of the ones that were targeted last night. They live in Leeds, right?" Natalie nodded mutely. "I, well, I assume that's what McGonagall wanted to tell her about."
Dennis Creevey looked speechless and Natalie slowly asked, "What should we do?"
Hermione spoke then, making Harry realize she had followed him over and had been listening. "Why don't I go upstairs with you, Natalie? She might be back in the dorm." Natalie nodded and duly followed Hermione's suggestion and rose from her spot on the floor. Hermione looked at Harry as she took Natalie's hand to leave and said, "You should check your dorm, too."
Harry turned to leave and saw Dean sitting with Ginny. He headed over and quietly said to Dean, "Are Seamus and Neville around?"
Dean jerked a thumb towards the spiral staircase and said, "Saw 'em each head up one shortly after the other. Then Ron stormed up not too long after. That was about a half hour ago now. Seamus and Neville both…they looked…" Dean searched for the words but Ginny cut in.
"Harry, Dean said they looked awful when they came back. Do you think their families were one of the—"
Harry's nodding confirmed it before she voiced it. "Seamus's dad and…well," he cleared his voice, "Neville's parents are missing. Death Eaters broke into St. Mungo's."
Ginny stood up and in a matter of seconds went from looking shocked, sad, angry and then determined before she said, "I'll be back," before she headed out the portrait hole.
"Should we check on them?" Dean asked quietly, getting a nod from Harry.
The sixth year boys' dormitory was silent and Harry immediately noticed two bed hangings were closed and Neville was sitting, unmoving, on the side of his bed. Harry and Dean each went to their own beds and sat quietly. After a several minutes of silence and seeing Neville not move a single muscle, Harry and Dean exchanged a look and Harry took a deep breath before saying quietly towards Neville, "Do you want to talk about it?"
He expected Neville to shrug perhaps or even to ignore him. But what Harry was not expecting at all was Ron to suddenly fling open his bed hangings and shout, "WHAT IS THERE TO TALK ABOUT, HARRY? YOU WANT TO ASK ME MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT I DO?! IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT YOU, HARRY!"
Harry sat back, stunned and stung by the words Ron shouted across from his bed. Feebly, Harry said, "I…I wasn't…"
"What?" Ron spat, leaning forward now and pointing a finger towards Harry. "You weren't going to ask? It's always you and her!"
"Ron—" he tried to cut in.
"No—don't Ron me! It used to be me and you, Harry—"
"Ron," he said, slightly louder this time.
"We used to be a team, Harry! I knew all your secrets—"
"Ron!" Harry shouted and rolled off his bed, pointing his wand at Ron. "Shut it!" He saw Neville moving now and closing one side of his bed hangings. "This isn't about you, Ron and I wasn't talking to you! Do you even know what all happened over the night? Do you know about the dozens of people who were killed last night?" He was vaguely aware that Neville had stopped before closing his other hanging. "Ron, this is not the time for whatever it is that crawled up your arse and died to come spraying out at me. Two of our dorm mates have family who was targeted last night if you care to pull your head out of your arse and look around at the world." Harry replaced his wand and walked over to sit on Dean's trunk at the end of his bed. "Neville? I was asking you if you wanted to talk or if you need anything." Harry rose his voice slightly and looked at the ceiling as he said, "You as well, Seamus."
Dean shifted on his bed and said, "Yeah, I know we're not girls or anything, but, you know…we're here to talk…if you need anything…we all stick together, right?"
They could hear stirring behind Seamus's hangings and soon the sandy-haired boy peered out towards Neville and said in a croaky voice, "What happened to you, Nev?"
Neville shifted on his bed and pulled his knees to his chest as he said, "They think my parents have been kidnapped from St. Mungo's."
"What?" Ron said bluntly, scooting to the end of his bed now. "Why?"
Harry shot him a murderous look that Ron never noticed but then head Seamus say, "They killed my dad. My mum's okay—don't know how, but she was knocked out and only came 'round when the Aurors showed up. Lucky break, that." Seamus moved to sit up proper now and shoved the hanging back further. "Da was a muggle. Never had a chance, you know…not against a bunch of wizards."
The door creaked open then and a red head of hair peaked in before pushing the door open completely. "Hi," Ginny said as she came in, followed by Luna.
"What's she doing here?" Ron said sitting up and pointing at the Ravenclaw.
"Hello, Ronald," Luna said looking at Ron, unfazed by his territorial questioning.
"I brought someone, Neville," Ginny said, shooting a scathing look at Ron and letting Luna pass.
"Hello, Neville," Luna said serenely as she stood a few paces in front of Neville's bed. "May I sit down?"
Harry felt like he was intruding as he watched them and turned to see Dean and Ginny sitting together on Dean's bed. He didn't need to turn to see Ron; he knew he'd be glowering over at his sister. Neville and Luna could be heard talking in low whispers and Seamus asked, "Do you know who all else was attacked, Harry?"
Harry rattled off several of the names he remembered and somehow, Seamus seemed to be comforted by the knowledge that he wasn't alone in his grief and in the knowledge that not only muggles who were married to a witch or wizard had been targeted.
"You know, Seamus," Ginny said from her spot on Dean's bed. "I know this must be a hard time for you and everyone who lost someone, but I also know I saw Malfoy smirking at the Slytherin table after the news came out this morning." Ron made a strangled noise and looked like he was ready to storm the dungeons to flay the ferret but Ginny waved him down. "I just mean that I think it's important that we don't let them see that they can hurt us." She looked back to Seamus and saw Luna and Neville looking towards her. "They expect us to cower and be afraid of what they can do or what they threaten to do, but the fact is, if we do that, then they win. I know it's hard, but…"
"Never let them see your fear," Luna said quietly. "It's what they want." Harry felt his stomach clench uncomfortably at this. He wondered how many times Luna had taken her own advice and if that was the reason she always seemed so unflappable even when people made fun of her to her face or took her things.
After a few moments, Harry cleared his voice and said, "Er, I was wondering—and you guys can tell me if you think it's a bad idea—I was thinking I might call a DA meeting later today…"
"Yes," Seamus said sitting up. "I feel like I need to do something." He was nodding and a fire seemed to have lit in his eyes as he looked up at the ceiling briefly. "Yes."
Harry saw Luna look at Neville who nodded in solemn agreement.
Later that afternoon, the Gryffindors had trooped down to the Great Hall for lunch in near solidarity. As soon as he entered the Hall, Ernie Macmillan had waved and given Harry a thumbs up to indicate that he approved of Harry having activated the DA's Galleons to relay the intent to meet after lunch.
Hermione had gone with Natalie earlier and found Abby in hysterics over the deaths of her sister and father. She had told Hermione that her mother seemed to have been out of the house at the time the attack occurred and had escaped injury, according to an owl received that morning. Abby would be leaving via portkey on Sunday morning to visit her mom and to help arrange for a funeral for her father who had been muggleborn. Since they had her father's family who were all muggles, they would be holding a funeral for Angelina as well.
"I should send a note to Fred and George," Harry said quietly to Hermione.
"Do you think they would go to Angelina's funeral?" Hermione asked.
Ginny leaned around Hermione and said, "I already sent Mercury with a note to the twins. Katie wrote a note of her own to them and asked me to send it along."
"Oh, good," Harry said, glad someone had already thought of it.
He saw Ginny scowl then and ask in a low voice, "What was Dean on about Ron blowing his top and going spare earlier when you were all up in the dorm? What happened?"
Harry rolled his eyes and waved it off but Hermione gave him a look that clearly said she wanted to know what happened. "It was nothing," Harry said. "He was still on about this morning when he stormed out during breakfast."
"What?" was Hermione's reaction. "At a time like this he goes off about…about something so trivial!?"
"He didn't know what had happened," Harry explained.
Ginny raised her eyebrows and said, "Dean says it wasn't the first time he's heard Ron go on like that. He says Ron gets into it, muttering about you and Hermione when you're not there. Dean says the rest of the guys in the dorm have learned to either ignore him or apply the liberal use of silencing charms."
Hermione was about to give her two knuts worth on the subject but Harry cut her off before she could begin, "It's a stressful time for everyone. I'm sure he'll get over it." Harry dearly hoped he was right.
When it was time for the DA to meet, nearly everyone had showed up early and was eager to get started, despite it being the first clear and sunny day in over a week. Several people were already exchanging spells and parrying back and forth. The adrenaline level was such that Harry thought it might be an excellent time to teach them the Volleywall Charm that honed reflexes and enabled practicing alone. But that idea was pushed aside when Neville, stone-faced, walked up to Harry and said, "I want to learn the binding ropes."
Harry conceded and soon realized the Incarcerous spell was also an excellent use of the energy everyone had today. He could see it in the eyes of the members of the DA that it was an empowering thing to learn how to subdue and gain control over someone. It was likely, Harry thought, that they were all envisioning binding the nameless assailants who had been responsible for the previous night's attacks.
Harry walked slowly behind a row of students learning the spell and watched their casting. The conjuring part didn't seem to be the hard part, especially when so many people had such emotion behind the spell. But the controlling of the conjured ropes seemed to leave something to be desired.
"Expello!" Dennis Creevey cried to banish a wayward length of conjured rope, sending it flying across the room and clotheslining Tracey Davis.
"Dennis," Harry said, stopping, "Banishing Charms send something away from you. Since the ropes are conjured, you'll find them extremely easy to Vanish. Watch." Harry summoned the length of rope towards him and then clearly said, "Evanesco!" as he flicked his wand and made the ropes vanish with a poof.
"Cool," Dennis said. "Is that how you counter this spell?"
"No," Harry said, shaking his head. "You can try to counter any conjured items by Vanishing them but you'd have to manage to hit them in the air before they got to you. Actually, you can break through these bindings just like you can a Full Body Bind or even a Stunner."
Harry motioned Hermione over, the only one beside himself who could properly cast the spell, and told her to bind him so he could demonstrate the breaking of the bonds. It was only a matter of seconds after being bound that Harry's arms burst upwards and the ropes flew off.
"Are you going to demonstrate that on Hermione, too, or is that something you save for private time?" Dean asked with a smirk, causing several others to snicker.
Harry tried to repress his own smirk and said, "No, I'll demonstrate on her." He pointed his wand at Hermione who was still scowling at Dean and anyone else that had laughed and said, "Incarcerous!"
Hermione fell back with a thud to the ground as the ropes flew out of Harry's wand and wrapped her limbs tightly to her body. "Damnit!" she said and then muttered, "Thanks for the warning," as she struggled within the bonds.
As Hermione continued to struggle and fight the ropes, Harry said, "This is another spell where it matches the power of the castor's power against the willpower of the one being bound. When this spell is cast by one who's properly mastered it, this spell and the like can be used to directly compare the power of two people. It's probably a good thing to learn and to compare yourself. It's not necessarily the same as who learns the fastest or gets better marks." Harry walked over towards where Hermione lay on the floor, still bound and struggling and looked down at her and said, "Hermione is a good example; she learns most things quicker than me and gets higher marks but I have more power." He was grinning down at her and saw her eyes screw shut tight as she finally broke through the ropes with a gasp. He helped her up from the floor with a hand as she scowled at him. "You're getting slow, girl," he said to her with a smirk.
Harry continued his pacing behind the members and paused as he surveyed Tracey and Daphne. The two Slytherin girls had showed up less than a minute after Harry first arrived in the Room of Requirement and their progress was a source of pride to Harry. He watched as Daphne conjured ropes flying out of her wand and managed to have them wrap loosely around Tracey before falling to the ground.
"Not bad, not bad at all," Harry said, nodding. "This is advanced conjuring work; there's a large element of control to it. Maybe if you focus your emotions and mind more on total incapacitation of your opponent. Don't think of Tracey your friend, think of someone who's advancing on you and who you want to stop and not let get away."
Daphne conjured the ropes again and they flew from her wand faster this time, wrapping tightly around Tracey's upper body and causing her arms to pin to her side for a moment before they fell away to the floor.
"Better," Harry said with a satisfied smile. Harry watched Tracey have a go and, out of the side of his mouth, asked Daphne, "You two heard anything about your missing housemate?"
Daphne turned to stare at him with her mouth open. She snapped it shut as Tracey's ropes landed on the floor at her feet. "You know? You noticed already?"
Harry shrugged. "A missing Goyle is a hard thing to not notice. Besides, I have other ways to get information. Plus, they were overheard talking about him being gone from the quidditch team last night. What do you know about it?"
Several others in the room were now moving on to practicing their Patronus Charm as the meeting was going on two hours. Tracey walked towards them now so they could face the same direction to practice the charm.
"He already knows about it," Daphne said to Tracey with a jerk of her head towards Harry. Tracey's eyes widened and she looked at Harry and then back at Daphne. "I didn't tell him!" Daphne protested at the look.
"I found out on my own," Harry said. "Are you two going to tell me what you know or not?"
After a few moments, Tracey quietly said, "We've been told not to talk about and draw attention to it."
Harry chewed on this and asked, "Did he leave on his own?" The girls exchanged another uncomfortable look and Harry said, "Here, I'll tell you what my guess is to what happened and you can just confirm or deny. My guess--I know Goyle's father is a Death Eater who's currently still out there. Goyle--he's not that…er, bright and probably wouldn't be going anywhere in life where he'd need a NEWT anyway, so my guess is junior was ordered by his father or someone to drop out of school and join his father in service to Voldemort."
"Shh!" Daphne said, jumping. "Don't say the name!" she hissed and then looked warily at Harry. "More or less, you got it in one," she grumbled, still shuddering from hearing the name.
Harry eyed them for a moment longer and asked, "Who said not to talk about it?"
The girls looked at each other again and then refused to meet his eye, looking down at the ground and around the room. He had just given up on an answer and started to walk away when Tracey whispered, "Parkinson told us." Harry nodded once and continued on his way.
The fervour and intensity of everyone in the DA was not lending itself to anyone making any progress on producing a Patronus. Both Neville and Seamus, who for obvious reasons were charged this day, were shouting, "Expecto Patronum!" but to little effect.
Harry watched them closely. They had each made excellent progress with the conjured ropes and could bind someone for at least a few seconds before the ropes were either broken or disappeared. Now, Neville's forehead could be seen glistening with beads of sweat from the effort he was putting forth but he seemed to be getting even less of a silver vapor than usual despite his increased determination. After Seamus nearly growled in frustration after yet another unsuccessful cast, Harry cut in between them and said, "Hold on, hold on. What are you thinking about when you're trying to cast?" He could imagine what was on their minds today and didn't wait for their answers. "Sheer determination will not get you anywhere with conjuring a Patronus. You need happy memories, and believe me, it's half the battle to actually think happy thoughts when you've got a real Dementor in front of you." He ran a hand through his hair and walked over to the side of the room so everyone could see. "Listen up, most of us seem to be having even more difficulty today with the Patronus Charm than usual. It is critical that you remember that this spell is not just, er, magic, but emotion. It requires you to focus your mind on happy thoughts and to funnel that emotion into the spell. It's hard to do this today, I understand, but it will be ever more difficult when there's a Dementor advancing towards you."
Harry paced back and forth and was thinking for a few moments before he spoke, saying, "Most of you can probably remember what the Dementors make you feel when they are near, right? It's always the same for me. I know when I feel the cold and feel the rushing of air in my ears…and," he swallowed, "and when I hear the same thing I've always heard…I know that it means a Dementor. They try to drown you in…in despair; your worst memories that you fear. They make you feel like you're lost and there's no way out or that it's pointless to resist. Utter despair." Harry could see several people nodding numbly with his description; others looked pale at the thought. "But what you need to do is think just the opposite. First, stop those thoughts that drag you into despair from taking over your mind, then gather your wits about you, and then…then you need to find something that gives you happiness and…hope! Hope--,"
Harry's mind was whirling. If Boggarts preyed upon your fears and you drove them away with laughter…certainly fear and humour were opposites. Then maybe, since Dementors preyed upon your despair, what you really needed to fight them was hope--not just happy thoughts but hope! It makes sense…all hopeful thoughts would be happy but not necessarily all happy thoughts would be hopeful.
Harry stopped, ran a hand through his hair again and thought, what gives me hope? Thoughts of Hermione flitted through his mind followed by thoughts of someday being free to have a future without Voldemort. He closed his eyes and let the hope well inside his chest and murmured, "Expecto Patronum," as his brilliant, gleaming stag leapt from his wand and then cantered around to a prancing halt before returning to Harry to bow its antlered head before it dissipated. He looked up at everyone watching him and said, "Yes, try hope, not just happy thoughts, but ones that give you hope. It's the opposite of despair." It makes sense, he thought. A Patronus should be not the embodiment of happiness, but hope; after all, what but hope can truly protect anyone from despair?
Shortly thereafter, Padma Patil got her Patronus to take form; it was an eagle that flew out of her wand and soared around the room. Others also seemed to be gaining in their endeavour to produce a corporeal Patronus. Harry came upon Hermione who was nodding as she watched her own otter Patronus romp around in a circle. "You're right, Harry. It's more potent when you think purely of hope." She looked up at him and beamed. "Most thoughts that are happy are in some way connected to hope, but, oh, I never thought of thinking of the spell as being the opposite of what you need to counter!"
Since it was afternoon and not evening, they didn't have to end before curfew and so, only after three hours did people finally start to head out to go down to dinner. Harry had spent the last twenty minutes sitting and talking with Katie Bell who was in tears nearly every other minute as she thought of Angelina. She'd cried on Harry's shoulder, clutching him as he came by and reminded her yet again of their former teammate.
"I…I'm sorry, Harry," she said as she sniffed and wiped her eyes. "I know you think I'm just a silly girl for sobbing, but, oh, we were going to live together with Alicia in Diagon Alley when I got done with school. I begged them not to get an apartment without me. If…if," fresh tears were welling up again in her red-rimmed eyes and she said, "I should have let them…she wouldn't have been at home then!" She choked on a sob and clutched Harry's arm again.
Harry winced as her nails dug into his arm and he saw Ron, with Jack Sloper, walk by to leave the room. "Hey," Ron said looking at the sobbing Katie with something akin to fear and pity. (Then again, maybe it was Harry having to try to console that he pitied.)
"Ron," Harry said quietly. "Do you think you guys can help Katie back to the Tower?" Harry tried slowly to stand up and help Katie up. Ron looked dubious but obviously didn't want to say no. "Here you go, Katie. Ron will help you back to the Common Room. I can bring some food up later if you feel too tired to go down to dinner?"
Katie nodded glumly and clung to Ron, her head resting on his shoulder as Ron shot Harry a mortified look. Harry nodded and said, "Okay, see you later."
There was only a handful of people left in the Room of Requirement now and Harry saw Neville, breathing deeply with his eyes closed and then trying to cast a Patronus. A silver mist floated from his wand and hovered before tendrils started to drift off and it was no more.
"That was really good, Neville," Harry said quietly.
Neville's eyes snapped open and he looked at Harry and then nodded.
Harry didn't know if Neville knew his mother had been Harry's godmother or if Neville knew that one of the reasons his parents might have been taken was to get at Harry. He just didn't know what to say to Neville. Harry couldn't help but wonder how life would be if Neville was the one with the scar. What if Neville's parents had been killed by Voldemort and Neville was the Boy Who Lived? What if Harry's parents had been the ones to be tortured and living a life in St. Mungo's? He could have seen them then. He'd know what they looked like and not only from pictures.
"You alright, Harry?" Neville asked.
Harry snapped out of his thoughts and realized he'd been staring at Neville. "Er, yeah, sorry." He looked at Neville and saw the same round face he remembered his mother had when he'd seen her last year while visiting Mr. Weasley. "I'm so sorry, Neville," Harry said, barely above a whisper.
"For what?" asked Neville, nonplussed. Harry looked at him, unknowing what to say. He knew he had to say something. If he were Neville, he'd hate this Harry Potter who caused his defenceless parents to be kidnapped as pawns in some megalomaniac's game. Neville's face hardened and he said, "Oh, you mean pity. You pity me." It was an accusation.
"No, no--I don't. I mean, that's not it," Harry protested, knowing how the thought of anyone pitying him made him feel.
"Well then what where you just thinking as you looked at me?" Neville demanded.
"I…I was thinking...if I were you, I think I'd hate me," Harry said weakly.
Neville looked astounded. "Why?" he asked as if he could never imagine a reason to hate Harry in a million years.
Harry couldn't find a good way to ask or say what had to be said and he just blurted out, "Did you know your mum is my godmother?"
Neville looked shocked for a moment but then blinked, confused and said, "Yeah, and your mum was mine."
"Wha--really?"
"You didn't know?" Neville asked, almost sounding amused. Harry shook his head. Neville smiled sadly and said, "Gran has always said our mums were friends. They were both pregnant together at the same time and that we were born on nearly the same day--"
"July 31st," Harry said.
Neville grinned, "July 30th for me. Gran says they were in some secret group, kind of like the DA, that fought You-, er, Voldemort." He had whispered the name and shivered as he had said it, looking around to make sure no one else heard, but he said it all the same.
Harry grinned, "The Order. The Order of the Phoenix."
"Yeah," Neville said, nodding. "Gran said both our parents were in the group, Dumbledore, too."
Harry had a fleeting thought, that if both of their parents were still alive, he and Neville might have been raised together and might have been best friends from when they were little. He cleared his throat and looked down at the stone floor, scuffing his shoe across it. "They, er, found a note, you know. It the hospital ward. It was in the paper. Did you, er, see it?"
"I saw the paper," Neville said slowly. "They said they didn't know what the note meant or if it was even related."
"No, well, they wouldn't," Harry said darkly. "The paper wouldn't, but I can guess. Remember Sirius last year? He was my godfather…and they…she killed him. Bellatrix killed him."
Harry waited for some reaction from Neville and just when he thought Neville might faint, instead, he said, "They're just trying to get to you, Harry. My parents…there's nothing there. They can't make someone suffer who isn't aware they are supposed to be suffering." Neville shook his head and pocketed his wand. He took a few steps towards Harry and said quietly, "They can't get any worse than they are now. They'd be better off dead--everyone says so," and with that, he walked away.
Harry watched Neville leave the Room of Requirement, closely followed by Blaise Zabini and a pair of Ravenclaws. As he cleared away the remaining stuff from the room, Harry couldn't help but think that no matter how oblivious Frank and Alice Longbottom were to their capture and treatment, it still didn't negate the fact that those who cared for them would be hurt with the knowledge of their suffering. The thing about people who cared for one another was, it meant when one suffered, they all suffered.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Next up, the motives behind the first attacks. More attacks become common. DADA class gets their results from their Wardings/Protection assignment. Does Slytherin Find a Beater in time for the game? And maybe Harry finally settles down enough to remember what he was supposed to tell Dumbledore and Hermione about. Cheers!