Ch 18: - Relief and Reports.

Harry sagged down into a chair as soon as Dora had been taken away, reaction and worry hitting him from both sides. Ginny came over and sat beside him. She took out her wand and turned it over and over in her fingers.

'I'm sorry we couldn't get there earlier, Harry.' she said quietly, at last.

Harry looked at her in amazement. 'Gin, I'm just so grateful you turned up at all, honestly. I didn't expect you to even hear me, let alone dash out of dinner at a dead run.'

Ginny still looked doubtful

'Dora might not hav-'

'Dora was injured about twenty seconds after I thought of you. You couldn't have saved her. If I'd thought of you before, maybe, but until I was caught up in the fight, you probably wouldn't have heard me, anyway.'

'So - you did specifically think of me?'

'Yeah. Why?'

Harry wondered what Ginny was getting at; she was looking at him in a most peculiar way.

'Oh nothing.'

She seemed more puzzled than anything, but the dubious look cleared as she stood up.

'I'd better go and find McGonagall and tell her what the Headmaster ordered.' she hesitated, 'If you're going to stay here, Harry, do you want me to get Hermione and Ron to stay with you? And what about dinner? You didn't get any, did you?'

Now Harry wondered at Ginny's burst of solicitousness,

'Er - thanks, Ginny, but I'd rather stay here alone - and Madam Pomfrey can order up some food, if I feel hungry. If you - er - go outside to look for McGonagall, don't forget to take someone with you, Hmmm?' he swallowed hard, 'Dean was pretty handy in that fight, he can back you up.'

Ginny sighed and turned to go.

'Yeah, I'll get Dean' she muttered. 'We'll be careful.'

Harry settled down to wait. Madam Pomfrey had gone off to check on her other charges, so Harry had nothing to do but think about the battle against the Death Eaters - and poor Dora. The adrenaline was dying away, leaving him with a sense of frustration as he thought of things he could have done to stop Dora getting hurt.

He could have checked the map earlier, and managed to catch her before she reached the trees.

He could have attacked sooner, before he'd made sure she was on his side.

He could have used his wand sooner

He could have called for Ginny earlier - no - he couldn't, she probably wouldn't have heard.

That thought nudged Harry's mind onto another track. Why had Ginny been concerned about whether he'd specifically thought of her? That was how the link between them worked, wasn't it?

Didn't Ginny realise?

Harry began to squirm with embarrassment. Maybe she hadn't realised. The only other time Ginny'd heard him, he been with Dora! The last thing Ginny would have imagined was that he'd deliberately thought of her, when he'd been with someone else. Perhaps, now, she was beginning to suspect!

Trying to drag his train of thought away from the cringemaking possibility of Ginny suspecting his feelings for her, Harry hauled both wands out of his pocket and studied them thoughtfully.

He gave his a clean with his hanky and put it back, then studied Bellatrix's wand with interest. He had no idea what wood it was made of, or what core it had, and he spent several minutes thinking up the most appropriate combination, (Ebony and toad intestine), before he began to think of the spells this wand had cast.

The Cruciatius curses that sent the Longbottoms mad - the curses that had killed other members of the order - the curse that blasted Sirius beyond the veil - and the curse that had wounded Dora! If he could get the Headmaster to perform the priori incantatio spell on this wand, at least they would know the words of the curse! which would be the first step to a counter curse.

That still left Harry with a hatfull of questions. For instance, how long had Dora been around? Had the various sightings of Trelawney really been Dora? How had she got here? Why didn't she show up on his Marauders' Map? And - most important of all, what had Bellatrix Lestrange intended to do if she hadn't been stopped? Had she really intended to try to abduct Trelawney from her tower?

Harry settled down to wait - and to think.

- o -

Several people turned up during the evening, including Moody, again, McGonagall, Hermione and Ron. Ginny had come back briefly, looked at him, and left without saying a word. The rest had tried to make conversation, but Harry had been grateful when they'd given up and gone away. Like Dumbledore, he didn't care about details whilst Dora's future was in the balance.

It was after one o'clock in the morning before Harry was jogged out of a fitful doze by the crack of displaced air that indicated the return of the portkey, and at least one person. He jumped up and almost ran into the portkey reception room. Professor Dumbledore was just leaving the reception square as Harry charged into the room and almost crashed into him.

Both stopped and regarded each other.

Dumbledore finally managed a small smile. 'Nymphadora's condition is stable, Harry.' he murmured. 'She will recover, eventually.'

Harry nearly fainted with relief. He staggered over to the wall and propped himself up.

'Thank you, Professor!' he gasped.

Dumbledore stepped forward and placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. 'I am proud of you Harry,' he said.

'It wasn't just me, Professor!' protested Harry.

'I am aware of the fact that Ginny Weasley and Dean Thomas helped you, she told me before you arrived, she also told me who the attackers were. Nevertheless it was you who drove off the Death Eaters in the first place.

The Professor stood back and considered Harry shrewdly. 'I must hear the details of the attack, but not tonight, you must go to bed now Harry. Tomorrow, I will hear your story, and arrange for you to visit St Mungo's.'

Harry started at the name of the hospital.

'May I Professor?'

'Indeed! Nymphadora will be in no fit state to travel for several months, but I imagine she will want to thank her saviour.'

'Saviours, Professor.'

Dumbledore considered for a second or two. 'Perhaps Ginny Weasley will be able to accompany you then.'

'Er- yes - she might want to,' he mumbled, 'By the way, Professor, did she tell you that I managed to snatch Bellatrix LeStrange's wand?'

He held out the wand for inspection.

Dumbledore took the wand carefully. 'Did you use it, Harry?'

Harry wondered if he had done something wrong. 'Yes, Professor, for the incendio and stunning spells - er - was that wrong?'

The Headmaster looked carefully at Harry. 'I do not think so, Harry. Did you have any difficulty using this wand?'

Harry considered. 'No. - no, I didn't. Maybe it didn't produce quite such powerful spells, but it's hard to remember. One thing I do know though, Professor, Bellatrix used that wand to produce the curse that hurt Dora.'

Dumbledore smiled suddenly. 'Very good Harry. Tomorrow, we shall also investigate the recent history of this wand. I suspect it may be very revealing. Now, to your dormitory, Harry! I will keep this wand safe, never fear.'

- o -

The common room was almost dark when Harry finally got there. The fire burned low in the fireplace, casting flickering shadows on the walls and the armchairs and settee ranged around it. One of the armchairs was occupied.

Ginny was curled up in the chair, wearing a pair of pyjamas and a dressing gown, with a rug draped over her. Her head was on the arm of the chair and she was fast asleep. She looked so sweet and vulnerable that Harry was overcome by a sudden urge to kiss her. He knelt down and gently stroked her hair, then, oh so gently, touched his lips to her forehead. She stirred slightly, making him move back and stand up, but she didn't wake. He gently shook her shoulder.

'Ginny!' he said, quietly. 'Wake up, Ginny!'

Ginny's eyes opened slowly. For a second she didn't seem to know where she was, then full wakefulness struck and she struggled out of the chair with the blanket half way round her.

'Harry! What's happened? Has Dumbledore got back?'

Harry put his hands on her shoulders. 'Its good news, Ginny. Dora's going to recover.'

Ginny seemed to hesitate for a second, before throwing herself at Harry and giving him a rib cracking hug.

'Harry! That's tremendous! Oh I'm so pleased - so pleased!'

She seemed to be near to tears.

Harry gently disengaged himself from her embrace. 'That makes two of us' he chuckled. 'Thanks for waiting for me, Gin. Now, you'd better get yourself to bed, it'll be more comfortable than an armchair.'

'Well, At least I got some sleep. I bet you didn't get any did you?'

'No,' he admitted. 'though I reckon I must have dozed a bit.'

Harry could just see Ginny's smile in the light from the fire.

'So you get yourself to bed as well' she said, 'Good night, Harry.'

'Goodnight Ginny,' he said in return, 'and thanks again for coming to help.'

Harry watched her as she headed for the girls dormitories. She gave him a quick wave, and headed upstairs.

Harry trudged up the stairs to his dormitory. All the others were asleep, with curtains drawn. There didn't seem any point in waking Ron; he'd only want the full story, and that could wait till tomorrow. Harry climbed wearily into bed, and completely failed to get to sleep.

- o -

Ron had left Harry to sleep as long as possible, but eventually he drew back the curtains of Harry's four poster and shook him awake.

'Harry - Harry! You'll get no breakfast if you don't get up, mate.'

Harry blearily opened one eye. Sleep had come, but only after a couple of hours of tormented thought. Worries about Dora and Death Eaters now had to vie with renewed thoughts of Ginny - and what had possessed her to deliberately stay downstairs to wait for him.

'Thanks Ron,' he groaned. Then the memories hit him. - Death Eaters! - Dora! - and Ron hadn't asked a thing!

'Ginny told you all about it?'

'Yeah, well, some of it. What the blazes was Tonks doing here? And why was she attacked and -'

'Whoa, Ron, Whoa.' Harry started to get dressed. 'I'll tell you about it after breakfast. There's some things I don't know either. I've got to write a report for Dumbledore, and there'll probably be a meeting later today.'

'We've got quidditch practice this afternoon.' muttered Ron.

'Well, I'll probably have to miss it. I've been playing long enough by now, it'll probably not matter.'

'Katie'll do her nut!'

'Yeah, she's worse than old Oliver - I'll see you after I've grabbed a bit of grub.'

The common room was fairly full; Ginny was holding forth, with Dean backing her up. As soon as Harry appeared, all eyes latched onto him and everyone started asking questions.

It was Hermione who jumped up and reined them in.

'Harry hasn't had any breakfast yet. Let him alone. We'll all hear about it in good time.'

Harry grinned at her and kept moving. He would take a bet that Hermione was as keen to know the truth as any of them.

- o -

The few students in the Great Hall looked up and stared at Harry as he sat down and started to eat; obviously the story had got round. It wasn't surprising, really, but at least no one tried to bother him and as soon as he had got a bit of food inside him, he went straight to classroom fourteen and considered his report.

Harry wondered who would be reading the report. Very few knew about the Marauder's Map; he couldn't even remember exactly who did, possibly not even the Headmaster. He didn't want to give that away, or the fact that he and Ginny could occasionally communicate mind to mind. Only Remus Lupin, Hermione and Ron knew about that. He'd been going to ask the Headmaster about it, but forgot.

This was looking more and more like two reports; he would have to trust the headmaster, but not everyone else. Calling up some parchment, he began to write.

- o -

The report for Dumbledore was complete and Harry had just started on the abridged version when the Headmaster himself entered the classroom. Harry jumped up as the Professor strode purposefully towards the teacher's desk. A feeling of panic began to permeate his mind; had Dora worsened or something?

Dumbledore slowed and smiled encouragingly. 'Do not worry, Harry. Nothing has happened for you to be concerned about. I was wondering how your report was coming on - and I wanted to talk to you before this afternoon.'

Harry relaxed slightly and slumped back down. The Headmaster seated himself in a hastily conjured up chair and leaned his elbows on Harry's desk.

'Harry, there are some aspects of yesterday's attack that puzzle me.' he said, looking at Harry over the top of his glasses.

Harry braced himself for the questions he knew were coming. 'Yes, Professor?' he quavered.

Dumbledore smiled slightly at the uncertainty in Harry's voice. 'There is no need to worry, Harry. I just wished to know why you chose to chase after Professor McGonagall, instead of being in the Great Hall tucking into a well earned dinner?'

Harry relaxed slightly. 'Ah! – well! – that would be because I saw two Professor McGonagalls leave the castle, Professor, and the first one had been with Professor Snape.'

Dumbledore smiled more obviously, this time. 'Yes. I can see that would arouse your suspicions. It seems Nymphadora was slightly careless, there.'

'Perhaps you'd like to read my report, Professor,' suggested Harry. 'It's not very good, I'm afraid, but I think it's all there. I've started a slightly less detailed version for the other members of the Order.'

The Headmaster raised an eyebrow, but he took the sheet of parchment and began to read. As he worked his way through the report, Harry became more and more edgy.

At last, Dumbledore lowered the parchment and regarded Harry thoughtfully.

'Indeed, Harry, I can see that you have one or two tricks up your sleeve which are worth hiding, but I feel that these are attributes that the Order can know about, without diluting their effectiveness.'

'Including Professor Snape?' asked Harry, ingenuously.

The Headmaster was silent for a long time, before turning the tables.

'Why not Professor Snape, Harry? He asked.

It was Harry's turn to be silent for a long time. He knew that criticising Snape was risky, but he just couldn't get it out of his mind. Finally, he managed to form his thoughts into words.

'Professor, I once told you that Professor Snape could make my scar hurt by looking at me.' The headmaster inclined his head in agreement. 'Well, when he tried to use the Legilimens spell on me a week or so ago, my scar hurt again. It hasn't done that for some time, for any reason.'

The Headmaster was looking attentively at him. 'Go on.' he said.

'It's the first time it hurt since you frightened Lord Voldemort off, in the Ministry of Magic, Professor.' Harry was beginning to realise that the Headmaster was more than just mildly interested. That didn't stop him from putting Harry on the spot.

'So, Harry,' he asked, 'Have you formulated a theory?'

'Erm – well – sort of.' he mumbled.

Dumbledore continued to look on expectantly. so Harry took it at a rush.

'Only Lord Voldemort and Professor Snape make my scar hurt, and Professor Snape was a Death Eater, one of Lord Voldemort's trusted lieutenants.'

Dumbledore remained silent.

'I just keep wondering; is there some sort of link between them? I know Professor Snape is a member of the Order, and is helping us, but – well – is Voldemort reading him, whilst he reads others?'

Dumbledore stood and walked to the window. He stared out at the quidditch pitch, where Slytherin were practising. He was silent for so long that Harry wondered whether he was going to get any answer at all.

At last, the Headmaster spoke, 'The thought had crossed my mind, Harry. It had also crossed Professor McGonagall's mind; and yet there is no evidence of duplicity in his thoughts, or his actions.'

'Except that he hates me.'

The Headmaster turned to face Harry. 'That is not because of his previous allegiance to Lord Voldemort.'

Harry started, with the realisation that the Headmaster did in fact know the truth of Snape's hatred. The Headmaster, however, continued to talk. 'That is now three people who have the same opinion; too many to ignore. Very well Harry, continue with your modified report. I will leave mine here, for your comparison.' He started to walk over to the classroom door. 'I will just have to deal with the questions when they arise at the meeting.

'Meeting? Professor?'

Dumbledore turned at the doorway and smiled grimly. 'Yes, Harry. I intend to perform the priori incantatem spell on Bellatrix's wand, and I want as many people as possible to hear this spell which the Death Eaters are using. My office at two o'clock sharp. You had better bring Ginny Weasley. I would ask her not to attend, but I fear her Bat-Bogey Hexes more than the fact that she may be questioned about her link to you.' He hesitated for a further second, 'I will also endeavour to obtain the latest progress report from St Mungo's.'

Harry was left quaking with relief. The headmaster hadn't blasted him for criticising Snape; and he'd treated Harry's suspicions as being as important as his own!

- o -

Just before lunch, Ron and Hermione arrived in Classroom fourteen. Harry had finished the second report and was trying to think of explanations that didn't include magic maps and mind links. Tiredness wasn't helping and he just seemed to go round and round the same old arguments again and again. His two friends approached almost timidly, as if expecting a roasting for interrupting him.

Hermione was first to speak. 'Have you heard any more from St. Mungo's Harry?'

Harry shook his head. 'The Headmaster's going to check this lunchtime, before the meeting.'

'What meeting's that?' queried Ron.

'Just a meeting to discuss the attack, I thought there'd be one, remember? and he wants to try the Priori incantatem spell on Bellatrix blacks wand.. He wanted Ginny there as well; you haven't seen her have you?'

'She was in the common room, with Katie, last time I saw her. Katie'll go critical if you both miss practice.'

Harry sighed. 'Can't be helped, mate. If you see Ginny can you let her know?'

Ron nodded then turned to Hermione, who had noticed the reports, and started to read. 'Here, Herm, those reports are for Dumbledore!'

'It's alright Ron, you can read them too,' chuckled Harry. 'Just don't breath a word to anyone else.' He sat back to watch, as Hermione devoured both reports, questions appearing in her eyes as she realised the differences between them.

'What's going on, Harry?' was all she asked.

The temptation to tell Hermione and Ron about Snape was strong, but Harry resisted. 'There's some things I don't want everyone to know about.' he replied.

'Yes, I can see that, but how're you going to explain how Ginny got there, and why you followed Tonks?'

'Dumbledore just said he'd wing it, if anyone asked.'

Ron looked amazed. 'Dumbledore? Wing it? Bloody hell, that'll be worth hearing.'

'But we can't, can we Harry?' murmured Hermione.

'Sorry – No. - At least, - not unless the Headmaster changes his mind - '

'and that's not too likely.' she finished for him. 'Are you coming back to the common room before lunch?'

Harry shook his head.

'Alright. We'll tell Ginny to be at Dumbledore's office at - ?'

'Two o'clock.'

'Are you going to miss lunch then Harry?' asked Ron, as he and Hermione turned to go.

Harry hesitated. He wanted to stay in the background as much as possible, but he was hungry, and he couldn't let Ginny face down Katie Bell alone. 'No, I'll see you down there.'

They both smiled at him, and left him to ponder the afternoon's possibilities. He needed to get the reports to Dumbledore before lunch as well.

- o -

As Ron predicted, Katie Bell was furious that Harry and Ginny would miss quidditch practice.

'Sorry Katie, Dumbledore's orders.' muttered Harry.

'Well, if you're going to keep missing practices, Gryffindor haven't a hope of winning the cup!' she raged.

'Keep missing practices? We haven't missed any practices at all yet!' What's got into you Katie?'

Katie seemed to suddenly deflate. 'I'm sorry Harry,' she said, resignedly. 'This is my one chance to captain a team and I just don't want to fail!'

Harry couldn't help but feel slightly sorry for Katie. The last two captains had both won the cup for Gryffindor and he could see she was under pressure. Trouble was, she was the one producing the pressure.

'Katie,' he said, 'I've played quidditch for five years now. Missing the odd practice session won't hurt.'

Katie was unconvinced. 'But you might have to play chaser, Harry. You know you're not so good at that.'

'Is Jack still available for the first game?'

Katie nodded.

'Well, there you are then! I can play seeker with my eyes shut.'

'Har – Har!' laughed Ron.

Katie finally subsided, muttering to herself, and started on her pudding. Harry knew he wasn't going to be allowed to forget this. Ginny had detached herself from Dean, Neville and the visiting Luna and sat down beside Harry.

'Ron reckons you're going to try to keep the Marauders' Map and our mind link thing a secret, Harry.' she murmured to him.

Harry murmured back. 'Yeah. Dumbledore said he was going to think of something, if anyone questions the details.'

Ginny's eyebrows rose. 'That sounds positively disastrous, Harry. Any idea what he has in mind?'

'Nary a thing. Keep your brain in gear this afternoon.'

Ginny nodded dubiously, 'Why does he want me there?'

'Well, you helped to beat off the Death Eaters.'

'So did Dean.'

Harry laughed. 'He also reckoned he was afraid of you Bat Bogie Hexing him, if he didn't invite you!'

'What! As if I'd ever! He never said that, Harry!'

Harry adopted a suitably solemn pose. 'I swear on the book of quidditch rules that he said exactly that!'

Ginny snorted with laughter before shaking her head in disbelief and returning to Dean and the others.