Chapter 41:

Michelle did better with her second trip via portkey. Of course, it helped that she was standing between Harry and Snape so she had someone to steady herself with. They had been transported to the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey didn't seem too surprised when they appeared. She glanced over the group and easily picked out who needed her attention.

She motioned to Harry, "Bring her over to this bed."

Harry looked at Michelle's pale face and decided not to wait for her to limp to the bed. Instead, he picked her up in his arms and carried her there. He sat her down as gently as he could. Michelle had to stifle a laugh hearing a quiet "oof" come from Harry. Apparently, the romantic gesture of sweeping your girlfriend off her feet wasn't as easy as it seemed to be in the movies.

Pomfrey asked everyone to leave so she could take care of Michelle. Harry stayed fixed next to the bed.

"Mr. Potter, I will need a few minutes alone with her. One of the other nurses will attend to your hand. You may come back to see Miss Larson when I am done."

Harry looked to Michelle. She smiled up at hiim.

"It's okay. Go tell Dumbledore what happened. I'll see you in a little while."

Harry leaned down and kissed her cheek. "I'll be right back."

Snape and Harry made their way to Dumbledore's office silently. Harry seemed to be studying his bandaged hand just to avoid looking in Snape's direction. When they reached the statue, Snape said the password--raspberry tart--and they went upstairs. Dumbledore was at his desk.

"Severus, Harry...I'm very glad to see you both have returned safely." He directed them to some chairs near his desk, inviting them to sit down. "Now, why don't you tell me exactly what happened."

Snape went first, telling Dumbledore how Trelawney had immobilized them while Michelle was in her "dream state." She had taken their wands away and bound them to the wall. Snape felt Potter had been weakened by the presence of dementors. Harry was a bit annoyed by his comment, and was fully planning on asking how it was Snape had been caught off guard. Instead, he kept quiet as Snape described the moment when Michelle had come to just as Voldermort had appeared in the room. Harry picked up the story. He explained that Voldermort had succeeded in temporarily taking over Michelle's mind. She had raised a knife to attack Harry. At the last moment, she had regained control and said a spell Harry was not familiar with. The knife had turned into a sword. Michelle had turned it to stab herself and Voldermort. Trelawney had released their bodies from the sword.

"That's when Avilas did something to Voldermort..." Harry was cut off by the man himself.

"I did the dispersement spell. His form went all sorts of directions. He'll get back together soon enough I suppose." Avilas came down the stairs which lead to the second level of Dumbledore's office.

"No doubt he'll be very angry with you my old friend." Dumbledore smiled as Avilas came to stand next to him. Seeing Harry's confused look, he continued speaking. "Harry, you have already met Professor Avilas today I am sure. He has been keeping a watch on Azkaban for me. When Trelawney said she was going to need a Seer, I brought up his name and waited for her to make contact with him. He was one of the few Seers who was able to hold his own against the Death Eaters and Voldermort."

"But when he was in the room, Voldermort barely noticed him."

"Believe me Harry when I tell you that it has taken me many, many years to gain control of my powers enough to mask them from the enemy. Voldermort believed I had weakened over time." Avilas looked to Dumbledore. "I also believe he was more interested in Miss Larson. She is very strong Albus. I think she will play an important part in bringing down the Dark Lord."

Dumbledore's eyebrow went up, "Have you had a vision?"

Avilas smiled, "No, it's just a feeling I have...that's all. If you'll excuse me, I think I would like to rest. It is exhausting dealing with Dementors all day..." He said his goodbye's and left the room.

Dumbledore spoke for a few more minutes with Harry and Snape. He could see Harry was anxious to go back to Michelle, so he excused him from the office. Harry ran back down to the hospital wing. He spirits lifted seeing Ron and Hermione next to Michelle's bed as he arrived. She'd told them what had happened at the prison. Harry could tell by the look on Ron's face that he was impressed by what she had done. Michelle must have thanked Hermione for her life saving potion suggestion about a million times. They talked at length before Pomfrey came in to send them on their way. She wanted Michelle to spend the night in the wing just in case. Ron and Hermione returned to the house, but Harry begged a few more minutes out of Pomfrey. He sat on the bed carefully, not saying or doing anything. Just as Michelle was about to speak, he reached out suddenly and pulled her to him. He hugged her fiercely. Michelle could feel him shaking.

She tried to comfort him, "It's okay...we're okay..."

He pulled away enough to look into her eyes, "You could've died."

"Part of the deal...."

"I love you."

Michelle reached up and brushed his scar with her fingertips, "I love you too." She leaned in and kissed him slowly. Her fingers slid through his hair as she eased back. "So, have you figured everything out yet?"

Harry shook his head, "No...I'm still very confused."

"Well, I didn't get it all until the ceremony so don't feel too bad. Remember that night at the Weasley's?"

"Sorta hard to forget."

"True. Anyway, when I heard the phrase 'the one with the scar must be sacrificed' we all assumed 'the one' was you..."

"Not too many people running around with scars that would be connected to Voldermort."

"Exactly." She lifted up her nighshirt enough to reveal the scar from the cut she'd given herself the night of the out of control dream.

"You? I can't believe I didn't notice that earlier..." he blushed remembering what had happened between them.

"You not notice? What about me?! I shower everyday and I still didn't get it. Then, there's the engraving on the knife..."

"'Your heart will set you free.' The knife would have to go through your heart and Voldermort's to free you from his spell..."

"Very good."

"And the phrases you didn't understand?"

"Those were the last spells I cast. One had to do with reversing Voldermort's spell to suck all my power from me and the other made the knife into a more deadly weapon."

Harry took one of Michelle's hands in his, "How did you know to bring the knife?"

"I didn't exactly. It made sense since it was in the dream and everything. But..."

"But what?"

"I really brought it to use if Voldermort was going to try and use me against you. I didn't find out till the ceremony that this really was his plan. I just wanted to be able to take myself out of the equation if something went wrong."

"You're saying you would have killed yourself..." Harry's voice fell to a whisper.

"I would've died to keep you safe."

Harry hugged her again. "I won't let you."

"You may not have a choice." She buried her head in his chest. She took comfort in the movement of his body as he breathed. They held each other for a long time. Hearing Pomfrey making her rounds, Michelle caught Harry's gaze.

"There's one more thing I need to tell you. You're not going to like it. Just remember, Dumbledore will deal with her and there's nothing more she can do to hurt you now. She might as well be dead after what happened today."

"You mean Trelawney...what about her?"

"She was a Seer. She had been approached by some of Voldermort's supporters because she had never really chosen a side. She had a dream that foretold your birth. She didn't know who you were specifically, but she saw enough to warn Voldermort that someone was going to be born who could kick his ass...basically. When she told one of his henchmen, she assumed she would be spared. Instead, Voldermort hunted her down to keep her quiet. She gave up her powers and went into hiding."

"Why did she go to him again?"

"I'm not sure. Maybe she wanted her power back? Maybe she was afraid. That rat guy who sold out your folks could have seen her at school. Maybe she thought he would tell Voldermort where she was. If she didn't help again, he would either kill her or make sure everyone found out she'd helped him back in the day." Michelle studied Harry's face. He seemed to be taking the news better than she thought.

"I'm not sure what to say. I guess she made her choice." He smiled wickedly at Michelle. "How did it feel to slap her?"

"I was going to punch her, but I was too tired. It felt pretty good though."

Pomfrey reached Michelle's bed and was adament Harry leave. He kissed Michelle one more time before returning to the common room to talk to Ron and Hermione.