Ch 26:- Deceptions

The flow of Gryffindor students off the bridge became a torrent, as those not caught in the thrall of the Dementors fled for the safety of the school. Almost bowled off his feet, Harry struggled to the side of the road and ran back towards the knot of paralysed students on the bridge itself. He didn't waste time on any spells, he was going to need all his breath and concentration to raise his patronus. The only other thought going through his brain concerned the whereabouts of McGonagall, Snape, the much vaunted aurors, and the members of the Order. As far as he knew, none of the other Gryffindors could take on a dementor; not even Hermione.

On the bridge, Parvati Patil, Lavender Brown and Seamus Finnigan were staring transfixed at the two dementors floating towards them. A group of third years seemed almost as badly affected, standing on the downslope of the other side of the bridge.

Harry summoned all the power he could muster and launched Prongs towards the towering apparitions. The silver stag rapidly covered the distance to the dementors then started to force them away from the centre of the bridge. Harry followed his patronus, feeling the coldness seep into his bones as he struggled to maintain the spell in the face of the mounting horrors emerging in his mind.

It was at that moment that Harry distinctly heard the words of the Immobilus curse echo through his brain. He desperately applied the Protego charm, and the first curse bounced harmlessly away. Another Immobilus curse was cast by someone else, overlapping the first – and this time Harry wasn't quick enough. His other protection spell threw him sideways against the bridge parapet in a not quite successful attempt to avoid the curse. Half stunned, Harry lost his concentration and Prongs dissipated into silver mist.

The freezing cold grew in Harry's mind as the sound of his mother's voice howled round his skull. He knew in his heart that this was it, none of the students he could see had any chance; the first dementor was bending over him –

And then it wasn't.

A silver form leapt over Harry to charge down the dementor. The cloaked form gave a frustrated shriek and backed off over the parapet. The second dementor stopped and watched the patronus as it galloped backwards and forwards, leaping over Harry's prone form. Sensing the reluctance of the patronus to advance, the dementor sidled away towards the group of third years standing on the Hogsmeade side of the railway.

Harry was gaining some movement in his legs now, so, hanging onto the parapet with both hands, he hauled himself to his feet and staggered towards Parvati Patil and the other sixth years. They were still standing transfixed, in the middle of the bridge.

'Move, Parvati!' he screamed at her, but she didn't seem to hear him. Neither did Lavender Brown or Seamus. Harry felt like he was in the middle of one of those dreams where nobody can hear you for all your screaming and yelling, and you feel as if you're wading through treacle.

It seemed to take an age to reach Parvati and when he finally stood face to face with her, the look on her face said that her mind was far, far away, in the grip of horrors he could only guess at. Shaking her didn't have any effect whatsoever.

In absolute desperation, Harry finally resorted to violence. He gave Parvati a resounding slap and, as life reappeared in her eyes, he pushed her towards the school. Two more slaps had the other two sixth years moving so Harry could concentrate on the group of third years, or at least concentrate as much as possible with the screams of his mother ringing in his ears.

Both dementors were now menacing the group of third years, which included Dennis Creavey , Natalie Macdonald - and Alison Linney. Harry had been quite stunned when he had first realised that the patronus, that had saved him and was still wavering in front of the Dementors, was a hind. As he watched, the silvery shape began to dissipate as the horror finally overcame Alison's mind and froze her will.

Harry reached for his wand, only to find it missing; probably dropped on the bridge when he fell against the parapet. Forlornly, he gathered up his memories of Dora, took the classic arm outstretched pose, and spoke the words to form his own patronus. Prongs appeared, but he was a shadow of his former self; Harry nonetheless hurled him towards the dementors once more. Both turned, but sensing his weakness, they immediately advanced on Harry – and Prongs didn't seem to be strong enough to withstand them.

Harry was once more beginning to think that this would be his swansong. The screams were growing in his mind and the cold was penetrating the last bastions of his will. He almost panicked as another white shape leaped past him and attacked the dementors, far more ferociously than Alison's hind.

The new patronus leaped into the air and took the fight to the enemy, high above the railway tracks, snapping and tearing at the Dementors with tooth and claw. Even in the rain and mist, faint stripes were visible on its sides and Harry's joy at realising Ginny had managed to raise her patronus as well gave heart to Prongs, who gathered substance and leaped off the parapet to attack the dementors with his antlers.

The fight was won from that moment. The Dementors turned and glided away southwards over the railway tracks, wailing loudly. Prongs and Ginny's patronus chased them past the station buildings before returning side by side to stand on the parapet of the bridge.

At last Harry relaxed, and Prongs melted away. Ginny's tigress looked round haughtily and followed Prongs into the ether. Harry stood leaning on the parapet, trying to catch his breath and finally banish the cold from his mind.

Shouts from the Castle side of the bridge sounded like Ron and Hermione. As he turned to face them, Harry caught a glimpse of three figures leave the shelter of the station building and flee for the safety of the trees. The names Malfoy , Crabbe and Goyle leaped to attention in Harry's brain, and the source of the curses that had hit him was suddenly all too obvious.

Ginny was the first to reach Harry however, and she wordlessly hugged him fiercely. He could feel her shaking with reaction as he held her in his arms. As they broke apart, Harry could see tears on her eyelashes, so he just hugged her again, rather than embarrass her by mentioning them. Over her shoulder, he could see the group of third years beginning to recover, though the look on Alison's face suggested that an infinite sadness still permeated her mind. She too looked as if she was about to burst into tears. Dennis Creevey and Natalie MacDonald were supporting her as if the effort of withstanding the dementors had taken every last ounce of strength she possessed.

Beyond the third years, Professor McGonagall was hurrying up the road, with Snape and the pony-tailed auror! Harry tried to shout a warning that the auror was suspect, but Hermione and Ron arrived and started to pound him on the back. They gently disengaged Ginny and Hermione took her place.

'Harry! - Harry! Are you all right!' cried Hermione, hugging him, but any chance for Harry to answer was forestalled by McGonagall and Snape's arrival.

'Potter!' snarled Snape. 'Never mind the congratulations, get yourselves back to the school immediately. There may be more and there may be Death Eaters. Get on with it!'

'There won't be any more!' Harry hissed. 'They weren't controlled by the Death Eaters, it was Malfoy and his friends, I saw them - and that auror over there!' Harry pointed at the pony tailed auror standing behind Snape.

'I doubt it, Potter,' sneered Snape, 'You see Draco Malfoy in every misfortune that befalls you. Your paranoia is becoming tiresome - and perhaps you should take a closer look at this auror.'

Harry peered at the pony-tailed auror. He blinked away the rain and looked more closely, but there was no hint of anything unusual about the man, - until he spoke.

'Harry? Are you alright?'

The voice was that of Remus Lupin, and he was holding Harry's wand.

Harry gasped, 'Remus, how?' - but he got no further than taking his wand and putting it in his pocket, before Professor McGonagall's voice cut through his confusion.

'Everyone - get back to the school, - now!' she commanded. ' Weasley, Granger, get Potter moving if you have to drag him by the hair! Sloper, Bell, - get those third years on their way too. Severus, Remus, - look round, carefully, including under this bridge! And get some help, - you know where from. Now GO!'

The whole group were suddenly moving raggedly up the road to the school. Ahead Harry could see the rest of the students, strung out up the drive. Parvati Patil, Lavender and Seamus were being helped along by Dean, Neville, and Colin Creevey. Hermione and Ron were either side of Harry, though he was beginning to feel stronger as the memories began to fade and the cold slowly left his bones.

Professor McGonagall had given all those affected by the dementors a mouthful of chocolate from her handbag, for which Harry was exceptionally grateful. He looked about for Ginny, realising she wasn't with Dean, but she didn't seem to be anywhere ahead. He turned to look behind and saw the last few groups of students being shepherded along by the Professor, the two seventh years, a couple of aurors and one or two people he didn't recognise, though given his mistake with Remus Lupin, they could have been Amelia Bones and Kingsley Shacklebolt as far as he knew.

Ginny was walking with her arm round Alison Linney, slightly in front of the main group, and they both seemed to be in tears.

Harry stopped immediately, forcing Ron and Hermione to a halt.

'Harry, come on! Don't linger!' urged Hermione, but Harry wouldn't be budged.

'Get off Hermione,' he grumbled, 'I'm fine now, - and there's something I need to do - right now! Just get on back to the Castle, I'll be alright.'

Ron and Hermione looked at one another, then back to Harry.

'Okay Harry, don't hang about too long.' muttered Ron. He and Hermione started walking again, leaving Harry behind.

Harry stood in the middle of the road and waited as the next group came up to him. Ginny and Alison were trudging along the road with their heads bowed. Neither saw him until they almost walked into him. They stopped, and both looked up into his eyes through their bedraggled fringes. Ginny was the first to speak.

'Harry?' she whispered. Her voice was almost lost in the sound of the rain and the wind in the trees.

'Ha- Mr Potter?' Alison was desperately trying to be correct, even now.

Harry found he could hardly speak. 'T-Thank- Thank you very much - both of you! - I - well - just - - Thank you.'

He stood helplessly before them, waiting for their reply.

They both smiled, hesitantly.

'Your welcome.' murmured Ginny, and the beginnings of a smile appeared in her eyes, before she suddenly hugged him once more, and just as quickly let him go.

'Your welcome, - Mr. Potter' added Alison. She made as if to hug him, but stopped shyly and began to turn away. Harry put a hand on her shoulder and gently turned her to face him.

'That's Harry, from now on.' he said, 'Remember!' Then he hugged her quickly and fiercely, before putting an arm round both girls and walking between them up the road to the castle.

Harry could feel the curious, and in some cases hostile, looks from all quarters, but for once he didn't care.

Between them they'd won, and, - there and then, - that was all that mattered.

- o -

The scene inside the entrance hall of the castle was far more chaotic than that at the start of the Hogshead visit. Warmth and damp permeated the atmosphere from the soggy students from the other houses who had already returned.

The students of the other houses had been some way ahead of the Gryffindors, and few had first hand information of the attack; even a large proportion of the Gryffindors were unaware of the exact nature of the emergency. However, a few from each house had remained in the entrance hall upon returning from Hogshead, and it was these students who had rushed to their common rooms to spread the word that 'something had happened'. Now the corridors leading to the three houses in the main body of the castle were thronged with faces, and the house prefects were struggling to send them back. The doorway to the Slytherin dungeon was suspiciously empty however. Only a few students were venturing into sight, to be turned back by the wrath of Pansy Parkinson.

Albus Dumbledore stood in the centre of the hallway, an island of order amidst the chaos. As Harry stumbled slightly over the doorstep, Dumbledore stepped forward to help support him.

'Harry!' was the only word he spoke, as he deftly detached Ginny and Alison from Harry's embrace, sending them up the stairs in the safe hands of Madam Pomfrey and Katie Bell. Ginny looked back, but Dumbledore waved her away.

'Harry will be fine, Miss. Weasley. You and Miss Linney are to go straight to the hospital wing, and I will brook no argument.' Ginny looked at Alison and gave her a nod of encouragement. The younger girl was looking strained and white, but she gave Harry a small smile before Madam Pomfrey turned her round and ushered her away.

Harry would have liked to have thanked them both again, but they were already oblivious to him beneath the ministrations of Madam Pomfrey. Dean Thomas stared balefully at Harry from the top of the staircase for several seconds, but turned and followed the two girls towards the hospital wing at a respectful distance.

Harry glanced round again. He could see no sign of Parvati, Lavender and Seamus, though that wasn't totally surprising; they had had a good head start.

'Miss Patil and her friends are already on their way to the hospital wing, Harry,' said the Professor. 'I sent Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger with them. Now, I must talk to you immediately,' the Headmaster looked over Harry's shoulder at Professors McGonagall and Snape, 'and I must request your presences as well.'

'We have yet to settle our respective houses, Albus,' warned McGonagall. Snape glowered beside her.

'Very well, please be as quick as you possibly can, then,' said Dumbledore. 'I have a few questions for Harry alone, so I may as well complete those first. Please ensure that Kingsley and Remus make themselves available as well.'

Harry wondered which had been Kingsley Shacklebolt

The Professor turned peremptorily away from Harry and swept up the stairway towards his study. Harry had no option but to follow in the Headmaster's footsteps, leaving the rest of the Gryffindors to the tender mercies of a thoroughly irate Minerva McGonagall.

By the time Harry reached the entrance to the study, the stone eagle was already in motion, so he followed the Professor into his study and, as instructed, sat on the chair in front of the desk. The Headmaster picked up one of his intricate instruments and placed it in the middle of his desk, then sat down with a flourish of his gown. He passed his hands over the instrument and seemed to concentrate. A faint blue glow began to issue from the top of the instrument, painting complex patterns on the vaulted ceiling of the study. The patterns changed in a bewildering series of loops and whorls, never settling into one pattern or shape.

The Headmaster studied the instrument carefully for several minutes, but in the end just sighed and passed his hands over it once more. The light dimmed and went out, leaving Dumbledore staring at the machine and looking more perplexed than ever.

'So,' murmured the Headmaster. 'The Dark Lord does not seem to be the instigator, or even the inspiration for this attack; for that at least, we must be thankful.' He turned to Harry; 'There is one final test, Harry. Did your scar hurt at all during the attack by the dementors?

'No, Professor.' admitted Harry. 'Not even slightly.

'You are absolutely sure?'

'I am absolutely sure, Professor' said Harry emphatically. The shock was beginning to wear off, and his narrow escape was beginning to sink in. The Headmaster had been wrong again, it seemed.

Dumbledore was obviously as well aware of his failure as Harry.

'And so you have survived once more, Harry,' he said quietly. 'I realise that you were not keen for this visit to go ahead, and it seems you were right - although I believe you have strong views on who is responsible?'

Harry remained silent. He was uncomfortably aware that, in fact, the Headmaster had been right about the absence of death eaters, or any indication of Lord Voldemort's involvement.

He himself had been wrong too. On reflection, it seemed unlikely that Malfoy could have been in control the Dementors; which meant others had been present. Harry still owed Malfoy several for the immobilus curses though; about those he was certain. The Headmaster was looking closely at him.

'Professor McGonagall was in contact with me as soon as she heard the screaming start.' explained Dumbledore 'She just saw the flicker of your patronus in the distance, and she has kept me informed since, Harry - including relaying your exchange with Professor Snape. There are several gaps in her narrative, however those can be filled in when she arrives. For now, I would very much like to know why you blamed Draco Malfoy for this attack.'

Harry thought back to the figures running from the station building. They'd looked like Malfoy and his friends - sort of. He hadn't seen their faces, though.

'I thought I saw Malfoy running from the station buildings, Professor, after the attack. Someone, in fact two people, fired Immobilus curses at me - and one curse partly got through.'

Dumbledore stroked his beard and looked thoughtful. 'Two curses you say? You are certain?'

Harry nodded and scowled at the Professor's doubting demeanour.

'And you thought you saw Draco Malfoy running from the station?'

Harry nodded again. This time he didn't scowl though. 'Yes, Professor, I thought so.'

'But you are having doubts?'

'I didn't see their faces, though they were wearing Slytherin colours.' and they made their flight too obvious, Harry thought to himself.

Dumbledore regarded Harry thoughtfully. 'So it would surprise you to know that I saw Mr Malfoy enter the school almost ten minutes before the attack began?'

Harry looked down at the desk. He'd jumped to conclusions too many times before to stand his ground on such flimsy evidence.

'No, Professor' he mumbled.

Dumbledore stared hard at Harry for several more seconds. 'So, Harry, who would benefit from making the school think that Draco Malfoy was controlling the Death Eaters?'

Harry sat with a slightly stunned expression on his face. As usual the Headmaster had asked a question that he, Harry, hadn't even dreamed of.

Professor McGonagall poked her head round the door. 'Albus, I've rounded them up, do you want to see us all now?'

The Headmaster turned to the door. 'Indeed, Minerva, please show them in….Harry and I have been having a very illuminating chat.'

Severus Snape gave Harry the usual glare as he followed Professor McGonagall into the study. Professor's Flitwick and Sprout were next, with Kingsley Shacklebolt, Remus Lupin, still wearing the scarlet cloak and dragonhide boots, and Mad-eye Moody bringing up the rear.

Once settled in various chairs around the room, the various Professors and aurors glanced furtively at each other then united in staring at Harry and the Headmaster.

'Well, Headmaster, What happened to your predictions about Lord Voldemort?' asked Snape silkily. He was still staring at Harry in the same way that a wolf looks at a lost lamb.

'Well, Severus,' chuckled Dumbledore. 'According to my instruments - and Harry's scar – my predictions were correct.'

Snape started and stared at the Headmaster. Harry watched the other occupants of the study glance from Snape to Dumbledore and back, wondering, no doubt, just how long Severus Snape could hold himself in check.

Not long, as it turned out.

'Are you telling us that you believe this boy's ridiculous story about Draco Malfoy controlling those dementors?' Snape looked round at the others.

'Draco Malfoy would have trouble controlling his own bowels, in the presence of two dementors,' growled Moody. 'Who says he was controlling them?'

'Mr. Potter, of course!' snarled Snape. 'Who else!'

Moody stared at Harry and raised what was left of an eyebrow.

'I thought I saw them' muttered Harry, 'I was wrong, - but I saw someone – three someones, in Slyt – in what looked like Slytherin uniform.'

Snape sneered as Harry answered Moody. 'Changing your story now, Potter?' he smirked. 'Do you still believe there were no Death Eaters present? Who was controlling those dementors then?'

'And how did they avoid our warning spells?' asked Flitwick worriedly.

'We do know that, now.' rumbled Kingsley Shacklebolt.

'Irrelevant! Completely irrelevant,' hissed Snape

'That will do Severus!' warned Dumbledore. 'I have spoken to Harry and I believe his statement that three people were present at the station, dressed in Slytherin colours. I believe that these three people controlled the dementors and also fired two Immobilus spells at Harry – '

McGonagall's gaze flicked to Harry. 'Are you sure, Potter?'

Harry just nodded.

'I am also certain that these people did not have any link to Lord Voldemort. That, of course prompts the question of who they were, and what they hoped to achieve.'

'You have no idea, Professor?' asked Professor Sprout.

'I have an idea, but I do not have sufficient evidence to accuse anyone outright.'

'You have some evidence then, Professor.'

'Most certainly, Remus. All that evidence points to the one group that would welcome an opportunity to put this school on a full war footing – and take direct control of the entire castle'

'The Ministry?'

Dumbledore was silent.

'Some members of the Ministry then?'

The Headmaster inclined his head. 'Perhaps, Remus, perhaps. What do you think, Kingsley?'

Kingsley Shacklebolt glanced round the room; his eyes were hard. 'Almost certainly, Albus.'

'Who then?' enquired Professor Flitwick, nervously.

'Dolores Umbridge! Who else!' growled Moody. 'Stop beating about the bush. You all remember what she was like last year! I doubt any of us are going to run to the Ministry to tell tales.' He immediately gave a lie to his words by glaring at Snape.

'Are there many more?' asked Professor Sprout.

Kinglsey turned to her. 'Several, including the auror who Remus here was impersonating with the polyjuice. Getting one of his hairs was the trick.'

Harry suddenly understood at least one of the puzzles that had been wearing holes in his thought processes. 'So you were hoping to trick Malfoy into confiding in you, Remus?'

Remus Lupin nodded.

'Well, you certainly fooled him up by the Hogs Head.' added Harry.

It was Remus Lupin's turn to look puzzled. 'I didn't go near the Hogs Head, Harry.' he muttered.

'But I saw you - ' Harry stopped.

'Both of them were there?' murmured Kingsley.

'Aren't you just lucky they didn't meet then' sneered Snape.

'That auror was supposed to be on duty in the Ministry!'

'Seemingly he wasn't. Another lucky escape,' said the Headmaster calmly. 'Though not quite as lucky as Harry's escape. Perhaps you could tell us, in detail, exactly what happened, Harry?'

- o -

Harry did his best to explain what had happened, but wasn't easy. Professor Snape was openly hostile, Professors Flitwick and Sprout were doubtful, McGonagall was judgemental and Alastor Moody was his taciturn self, neither praising nor condemning.

By the time Harry had described the attack twice, from his feeling cold on the bridge, to his and Ginny's patronuses chasing the dementors away, his temper was becoming severely strained.

'So you were saved by two girls using their patronuses for the first time?' purred Snape.

'Yes!'

'How fortunate for you - Mister Potter - and you taught them, I understand!'

'Yes!' Harry's irritation at the contempt shown by Snape for Harry and the Gryffindors finally boiled over. 'I bet you couldn't have taught them! But then, they're Gryffindors, so you wouldn't want to, would you!'

'Thank you, Harry,' murmured the Headmaster, glancing at Snape's furious visage. 'I think we have heard enough, for now.' He turned to Kingsley Shacklebolt. 'You said we now know how the dementor's evaded our precautions, Kingsley?'

The auror looked round the study, 'The rails.' he said shortly.

'I think we need a little more than that, Kingsley,' said McGonagall astringently.

'Whoever - controlled - those dementors had used the old steel rails of the railway line. They used the rails to conduct a concealing spell that allowed the dementors to be brought through the old railway tunnel and hidden under the bridge.'

'When did that happen?' queried McGonagall.

'Whilst the students were in the village.'

Harry remembered feeling of cold as he crossed the bridge on the way back from the village. Bridges were usually associated with Trolls, not dementors, though. He wondered how long it would be before the sight of a bridge stopped giving him palpitations.

'Whoever came up with that idea ought to be working to defeat Voldemort, not playing power games in the Ministry,' growled Moody.

You think this is about power games?' asked Professor Flitwick.

The Headmaster held up a hand.

'Whilst I agree that the Ministry is somewhat – prone – to infighting, this attack was not staged purely to weaken the aurors under Kingsley and the Minister. I become more and more convinced that this was also intended to pave the way for one of the factions to take over the running of the school, in the event of that faction gaining control of the Ministry.'

'My goodness me' exclaimed Flitwick, 'do you really believe it will come to that, Albus?' he whimpered.

'Oh get a grip, man.' snorted Professor Sprout.

'I do believe so,' answered the Headmaster calmly.

Harry sat dumbly by wondering at the Headmaster's calmness in the face of the danger to his position. He hadn't forgotten Umbridge's personal hatred of himself and Dumbledore.

'The coup has not yet happened, however,' Dumbledore continued 'and it still may not, depending on whether sufficient information can be provided to the Minister.'

'Such as?' sneered Snape.

'The fact that three Slytherin students, who were Dolores Umbridge's trusted assistants when she was here, were inveigled into providing hair samples for three renegade aurors to use in Polyjuice potion?' suggested Remus Lupin.

'You have no proof of that!' hissed Snape.

'Malfoy and his rottweillers were in the Hogs Head for some reason!' added Harry loudly. 'Parvati Patil saw them near there, and I saw three people who definitely looked like them leaving the pub, just before we gathered for the walk back here!'

'And it looks like whoever persuaded them to give up the hair samples was setting them up to take the blame for the attack, and to link the attack to Lord Voldemort through Malfoy's father.' rumbled Kingsley. 'If the Headmaster hadn't seen them come in before the attack, who would have believed them?'

'No one believes Slytherins nowadays.' murmured Remus Lupin.

Snape leaped to his feet and was drawing his wand before anyone reacted. In fact it was Harry's cry of 'Immobilus!' that stopped Snape, leaving everyone else gaping at Harry's reactions - and the fact that he hadn't used his wand.

The Headmaster's study resembled a tableau of frozen figures for several seconds. It was Dumbledore himself who nullified Harry's spell. Snape lurched forward, but caught himself and stood almost as still as before. His breathing slowed noticeably as he glared round the room; finally he stared at Harry.

'Very good, Potter,' he hissed. 'I should thank you for giving me time to realise I was acting over hastily - though I have no wish to increase the size of your swelled head any further.'

Snape addressed the room in general.

'Perhaps I should withdraw so that you may continue to slander the reputation of both my house and my self?' He hesitated. 'No? - You are sure? - No matter, I have many things to attend to, so - by your leave, Headmaster?'

Dumbledore inclined his head majestically. 'Very well Severus, although I believe you should be concentrating your 'abilities' on one or two of your students?'

Snape nodded once, curtly.

'I want results, Severus. Do not forget that I shall be visiting the Ministry again; probably within little more than a week. You have just so long.'

Snape swept from the room, and would have slammed the door, but for a warning glance from the Headmaster. Silence descended, as the occupants looked at each other. Several were trying not to smile, though Harry was not one of those. He knew very well that not all Slytherins were contemptible.

Professor Sprout was the first to speak. 'What was all that about using his abilities?' she asked.

The Headmaster hesitated before replying. 'A minor question of asking Malfoy about his actions today. Nothing of vital importance, Pomona.' he murmured dismissively. Professor Sprout gave the Headmaster a look of rank disbelief, but chose to say nothing, and Dumbledore looked round the room as if to challenge any one else to say anything.

'I think we should perhaps reconvene after dinner?' he suggested. 'A good meal always allows me to think more clearly– and perhaps Alastor and Kingsley can ascertain whether any further information has been discovered.'

As they all trooped out of the room, Harry found himself beside Minerva McGonagall. For the first time he saw a smile on her face.

'Your reactions were most impressive, Harry,' she murmured. 'although I am not sure that cursing Professor Snape is the easiest way to ensure a long life,'

'Compared to facing dementors, you mean?' countered Harry.

'I see your point,' conceded McGonagall, 'but I fear the school cannot afford to provide you with a full time food taster.'

Harry recalled another occasion, not so long ago, when Severus Snape had come within a hairs breadth of cursing him to death. Maybe caution was not such a bad idea after all.

'I'll try to remember, Professor,' murmured Harry. 'Believe me, I'll try to remember.'