Chapter 14:
"Harry!" yelled a familiar voice. He struggled as the room came into view. Then he remembered- the pain.
"Is he possessed or something?"
"Don't think so…"
"Neville- you're a Professor- what do we do?"
"I don't know! I'm not a Healer… Get McGonagall!"
Harry shuddered as the voices became less fuzzy. The dream- why was he on the floor? He tried desperately to remember what they talked about in the dream… but it was fading quickly. With all of his remaining strength, Harry grasped through his mind, because he knew that they said something very, very important. Suddenly, it came swirling back. He bolted upright and gasped for breath, realizing that he'd been screaming.
"Harry! Harry, listen, it's all right, mate… you're at Hogwarts- calm down!" Harry, panting, opened his eyes to see Ron, his best friend, looking at him with concern. Harry stood up suddenly. "What was it, Harry?" asked Ron quickly. "Sit down, mate… was it another attack? Or is You-Know-Who really angry? Or happy? What is it- the founders again?" At that moment, McGonagall rushed into the room.
"Potter- what is it? A vision? Are you ill?" She sounded very concerned, which Harry was grateful for.
"Professor-" he began, shaking terribly. "Voldemort and Lucius Malfoy were talking- Voldemort… detected me… they're going to kidnap someone as bait- it hurt so bad…" Suddenly, Hermione, Lavender, and a sixth year girl Harry didn't know rushed into the room.
"Professor!" gasped Hermione. "Lenore- is in some kind of trance…. She's screaming and shaking!"
"So is Ginny!" yelled the sixth year. "It's terrible… it's as if she's being killed, and she's white as a sheet!" she gasped. Ron tensed next to Harry.
"What's wrong with her?" he demanded. "She hasn't woken up-?"
"No!" yelled the girl. "Please, Professor- we're really scared- they're doing the same thing, and its woken up all of the Gryffindor Girls' dormitories!"
Harry stood up, shaking, and tried to follow McGonagall from the room. Boys were coming out of their respective rooms asking what the commotion was. McGonagall yelled to make herself heard. "QUIET!" she screamed. The noise came to a quick halt, everyone looking to their Head of house, puzzled. "Everyone back in your rooms! Creevey, please fetch the Headmaster!" Colin nodded and rushed down the stairs. "Mr. Thomas, Mr. Finnegan, and Miss Brown, please go to the Slytherin Common room-" Everyone gasped. "Oh, don't be silly—" She then whispered to them where it was and the password. "Once there, go to Professor Snape's lodgings or the seventh year boys' dormitory and ask if he and Mr. Malfoy would please come to the Gryffindor Common Room. Go!" The three hurried away, and by the looks on their faces it seemed as if they were being sentenced to death by hanging. "Now- Mr. Longbottom, please fetch Madame Pomfrey. Everyone else, bed! Potter, can you walk?" Harry nodded.
"I- I think so…"
"Well follow me into the common room. Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger also. Miss Wilson, please go to bed. I'm coming up right away. AND ANYONE WITH WEASLEY EAVESDROPPING PRODUCTS WILL BE SEVERELY PUNISHED!" she yelled before rushing to the girls' stairway.
Hermione and Ron each took one of Harry's arms, trying to help him down the stairs and into the common room, both looking positively alarmed. "Get off, guys, I didn't break an ankle- I can walk…" They both let go quickly, though they were still looking concerned.
"What happened, Harry?" asked Hermione quietly.
"I'd like to know that as well," said Ron hoarsely.
Harry sat down on his favorite armchair tensely. "Voldemort… and Lucius Malfoy were talking about taking someone as bait for both Draco and me. A girl. Then Voldemort said he detected me inside him… and—" Harry shuddered. "It hurt so badly…. Like when he possessed me in the Ministry of Magic…" Harry trailed off. Hermione and Ron exchanged wide-eyed glances.
"Do you think Ginny, Lenore, and Draco saw it too?" asked Ron. Harry shrugged.
"I doubt it," whispered Hermione. "I mean, Harry has the link to Voldemort. They have a link to Harry, really. That's how the visions last year worked with them all. Maybe they just felt whatever Voldemort did to Harry." Ron nodded silently.
"That's probably it." A moment later, McGonagall hurried down the stairs, followed by Lenore and Ginny, who both were shaking profusely. Ron rushed over and carried Ginny to the couch. Hermione helped Lenore. When all of them were seated, Dumbledore and Colin Creevey rushed into the room, followed immediately by Snape and Draco. Lavender, Seamus, and Dean trailed a little bit behind. Then came Madame Pomfrey and Neville.
"Mr. Longbottom, Mr. Finnegan, Miss Brown, Mr. Creevey, and Mr. Thomas, thank you very much for your assistance," said Dumbledore once everyone arrived. "You may go on to bed. Good-night."
"'Night," mumbled everyone in unison as they headed towards the two flights of stairs.
Dumbledore then turned to Harry, Lenore, Ginny, and Draco. "Who would like to explain what happened? If you wish, we may send everyone else to their rooms…"
"That's okay," said Harry, whose nerves were beginning to settle. He looked around. Draco looked severely shaken, and his gray eyes were darting around the room. Ginny was trembling and looked on the verge of tears, and Lenore just sat there blankly. Harry hoped she was remembering to breathe…
"Who would like to explain?"
Ginny took a deep breath. "I don't even know what happened… All of the sudden there was just this horrible, horrible pain… it was worse than Crucio- and- I can't even explain it."
"Same thing happened to me," whispered Draco.
"What about you, Lenore?" asked Ginny. "Lenore?" Harry looked over at his cousin. She had fainted in her chair.
"Bloody hell," whispered Harry. "Sorry, Professors… Lenore-"
"I think that's ten points from Gryffindor for language-" began Snape, but Dumbledore cut him off.
"This isn't the time, Severus," he said solemnly as Madame Pomfrey preformed an "Enervate" spell on Lenore, and then proceeding to give everyone a large chunk of chocolate. Lenore sat up slowly.
"Are you all right?" asked Harry. She nodded slowly. "Professor," began Harry, looking at Dumbledore, "I had a dream…. Voldemort and Lucius Malfoy were talking about a person to bait Draco and me. And then Voldemort realized I was in his head and he- laughed. And then there was that immense pain." Dumbledore nodded.
"I see. Is that all, Harry?" Harry nodded.
"Potter- why weren't you practicing Occlumency?" demanded Snape. "Actually, none of you were- or else you would have managed to sever your link with Potter and wouldn't have woken up screaming."
"I-" began Harry, racking his brain for an excuse.
"Believed yourself above such petty restrictions?" offered Snape. Harry scowled.
"No," he muttered.
"Harry," began Dumbledore austerely. "Draco; Lenore; Ginevra… I cannot stress to you the importance of your continuance with Occlumency. Once a week, Ms. Wentworth will still be coming to give you Defense lessons. I wish for you also to continue Occlumency and Legilimency with Professor Snape weekly." Everyone nodded.
"We won't be getting lessons from Tonks any longer?" asked Ginny after a moment.
"No, I'm afraid Miss Tonks has a bit much going on momentarily. I am sorry, though."
"Oh," said Ginny, sighing. "Professor?"
"Yes, Miss Weasley?" asked Dumbledore.
"I was just wondering… when may we join the Order? We've worked so hard for such a long time… and being in the Order would make me, at least, feel as if I had more cause and purpose. Don't get me wrong… I know we're doing what we are for a good reason. But I don't understand why we can't join the Order…"
"Miss Weasley, is this really the time to be talking about such things?" hissed McGonagall. "People could be listening."
"No, they couldn't, Professor," said Ron immediately. "Hermione's gone and Imperturbed the doors already…" he finished bitterly. Hermione reddened as Harry looked at her incredulously.
"Well, it was obviously a good idea…"
"But what was the point?" demanded Draco. "Honestly, Granger, I worry about you," he said, shaking his head. Dumbledore cleared his throat.
"To answer your question, Miss Weasley, we have, I assure you, talked this over many times through. And we've decided that you may join when you finish Hogwarts."
"What?" came six outraged voices, all at the same time.
"Alas… I am very sorry; I know that you badly want this information, but we are not going to put you all in danger. And I know you believe that you can handle it, and I believe you can. But the truth is, no matter how much you can do, you are still in school, and would not be able to do much for the Order here even if you did join," said Dumbledore quickly before anyone could say anything. Harry noticed how old and tired he looked.
"I can't do much for the Order?" asked Harry angrily. "Yeah, I suppose you're right, killing off Voldemort isn't going to help you at all, is it? IS IT?"
"Have you ever thought of the possibility that maybe you won't kill him?" asked Ginny in a hysterical outburst. "What if he kills you? How are you, a seventeen year old… seventh year, supposed to defeat one of the evilest wizards known to man? And how the hell does everyone expect Draco, Lenore, and me to watch? Because let me tell you something, I would kill myself before dying at the hands of V-Voldemort or before watching Voldemort kill people I love!" she shouted loudly. Ron glanced towards the staircases. Harry was a bit shocked. How could Ginny say that? Harry had finally forced himself to believe that he was the one that was going to prevail… but Ginny brought up a whole, new, frightening circumstance. Voldemort could, and probably would, kill Harry. He was going to die, and then Ginny and Draco and Lenore were going to die as well. Just like Harry's parents had died, and Mrs. Weasley's brothers had died, and Susan Bones' family had died, and Sirius and Kingsley and Cedric had died. Everyone was sitting in an awkward silence after Ginny's outburst. Hermione looked fairly frightened, Ron looked as if Ginny was mad, Lenore's expression was quite blank, and Draco's hadn't shifted. Snape looked capable of human emotion for a moment, and McGonagall's lips thinned. But Dumbledore smiled. This confirmed Harry's fears: his headmaster was mad.
"Come, now, Ginevera. We must keep our hopes up and stick together. We all are aware of what could happen- and are afraid of it. But we have to try to make the best of our situation, and hope that the best ending as is possible comes out of this war." Ginny nodded miserably, and Harry fought the urge to go wrap his arms around her. Suddenly it thundered loudly outside, causing everyone to jump slightly, besides Dumbledore. "Well, are you all to rights, then? If so, I believe we should all go back to bed and get some rest before lessons begin tomorrow."
"Albus," said Madame Pomfrey sternly, "I believe that some time in the Hospital Wing is warranted; these children have—"
"Madame Pomfrey!" protested Harry. "We're not even sick—"
"I'm not sick, and neither is Ginny or Lenore, but Scarh- er, Harry, had the dream- maybe he needs a few days," began Draco, smirking. Harry glared at him quickly.
"I don't need the Hospital Wing, I wasn't the one shaking and screaming-"
"You were screaming," said Ron. Harry shot him a glance. "But, er, not that loudly or anything," added Ron, trying to rectify his mistake.
"Unless one of the students objects," said Dumbledore, a glint in his eye, "then I see no viable reason to send them to the Hospital Wing. They all seem quite all right, and as long as they all practice their Occlumency, then they should be safe from any further attack." Madame Pomfrey tutted and muttered something about going back to sleep, and what was the point in calling her if she wasn't allowed to take care of her patients, as she left the Gryffindor Tower.
"We have a long day ahead of us," said Professor Snape immediately, though he didn't look at all tired. "Come along, Draco." He then swept from the Common Room, eyebrows raised as if the room was distasteful and uncomfortable.
"'Night," yawned Draco, following Snape.
"Morning," called Ginny as he left. Draco turned around and rolled his eyes.
"Well, off to bed, you lot," said Dumbledore tiredly. "Sleep well."
"Goodnight, Professors," said Hermione, as she, Lenore, and Ginny headed up their stairs.
"Night," called Harry and Ron. The moment Harry arrived in the dormitory, Seamus, Dean, and Neville all began talking. They were all sitting on their personal beds, and looked as if they had been speaking in low, conspiratorial voices just a moment earlier.
"Harry, are you all right, mate?" asked Dean.
"Yeah, what was up with that?" demanded Seamus.
"Is everyone else okay?" inquired Neville worriedly. His round face was etched with fear and concern.
"Yeah; they're all fine," said Harry, a gust of sleepiness hitting him full in the face. "But we- don't know what exactly happened. I just had a… nightmare. It must have been a coincidence."
"Was not," accused Dean. "How did McGonagall know that Malfoy was having a nightmare, too? You know, you, Ginny, Lenore, and Malfoy seemed to go missing a lot last year. Everyone just shrugged it off as both couples finding places to snog, but I'm beginning to have a problem with that theory. Neither of you are even still going out, right?"
"How did you know?" asked Ron. Dean shrugged.
"Word gets around quickly," said Seamus. "But really. What have you all been up to, and how do the teachers know?"
"Don't know what you're talking about, Seamus," said Harry. "But I'm going to bed- we have classes tomorrow, and I'm going to need sleep, so I'll see you in the morning." Harry then climbed into his bed and pulled the hangings around it. "Night, all…"
"See you in the morning," sighed Dean. "Oh, yeah, are we still doing the DA this year, Harry?"
"Of course," he said. The room then became quiet and Ron turned out the lights. Harry fell into a restless sleep, his recent pain fresh on his mind.
The next morning at breakfast, Hermione groaned loudly as she read the paper.
"What is it, 'Mione?" asked Hermione through a full mouth. Hermione shook her head wordlessly, and passed Harry and Ron the paper. Harry craned his neck to look at it. The headline was 'Goblins form New Rebel Group.' Ron looked just as confused as Harry. "Er… yeah, Hermione… that's absolutely horrid!"
"Not that, you guys…" said Hermione, sighing. "This," she said, pointing to a tiny article at the bottom of the paper.
Boy Who Lived- as Honorable as we Believe?
Ever since he rightfully told the world about You-Know-Who's return, people have speculated seventeen year-old Harry Potter as a hero once more. But how can we be sure that he truly is out to defeat his parents' murderer? In the past year, he has been seen, along with his friends, handling more than one dangerous creature, such as Griffins and Chimeras, which have somehow learned to yield to the boy.
Of course, Harry Potter has never been as sweet-tempered as we have thought in the past. Among his close friends are half-giant Ruebus Hagrid, the retired Mad-Eye Moody, werewolf Remus Lupin, ex- mass-murderer Sirius Black, son of a dangerous Death Eater Draco Malfoy, Hogwarts dropouts Fred and George Weasley, and many other dodgy witches and wizards. It is rumored that they are all in some kind of society together, headed by Albus Dumbledore, of course, but we may never know for sure. If you ask this reporter, that crowd would be perfect for You-Know-Who- what better than an army of dangerous creatures and the two people who may likely be the only ones with power enough to defeat him?
At times it sure seems like Harry Potter is perfect- but we cannot allow ourselves to blindly follow him. He is still young and choosing a path to follow. Let us just hope that he is with us, not against us, or there will be much to pay. I challenge the Wizarding World to try as hard as possible to get Harry Potter on our side before he is brainwashed by those he trusts to call his "friends" before it is too late to save our tragic hero.
-Rita Skeeter
"Wow," said Harry, after reading it. "I guess she doesn't care about going to Azkaban…"
"No, Harry," groaned Hermione. "The deal was for one year, and it's been two!"
"Send her to Azkaban anyway," said Ron angrily.
"I can't- the deal was magical. I'd need to catch her again and make her sign another contract, or she'll keep pouring out these horrible stories…"
"Well," said Harry in an attempt to lighten the mood, "At least it's not me that's the bad guy anymore- it's all my friends. I wonder if anyone's really going to try to 'save' me," he said wryly.
"Yeah-" said Ron, shaking his head. "I guess it's back to the tragic hero. Rita had better hope this doesn't make Fred and George lose business, or else she's going to have it coming."
"No, you guys don't understand!" exclaimed Hermione. "She was in the Order for a year! Think of how much she could have overheard!" Harry looked around uneasily.
"She couldn't have heard that much," said Harry. "I mean, they all know what she's like. And she pretty much owes them her life- they saved her, after all. What did she write about again to get her into that mess?"
"She didn't write it- Bagman did, remember?" asked Hermione.
"Oh… yeah, now that you mention it-" began Ron thoughtfully. Hermione sighed, exasperated.
"And she's more than a danger to herself," said Hermione darkly. "You know all the things she knows about us? If Death Eaters kidnap her… I don't think Bagman wanted to get at us, but at her when he wrote that article, but he made a big mistake. We need to track Bagman down."
"Hermione- isn't that taking things a bit far? I mean, it's too late to take what he said back; he already wrote it," argued Harry. Hermione shrugged.
"If you say so- but I am not about to allow that article and Rita Skeeter to destroy the Order or anybody's personal lives- including the people she just wrote about today!" said Hermione heatedly, standing up and hurrying to the library. Ron groaned.
"Now we're going to have a 'S.P.R.A'- Society for the Prevention of Rita Articles- though I wouldn't be terribly upset if it worked out. I still think we should've killed her instead of taking her to Headquarters. Shame the Chimera never found her…" he finished darkly. Harry nodded in agreement.
A/N: Okay, thanks for all the reviews. Sorry I took so long- I really, really debated about not continuing, because this story takes up a great deal of time- but I decided to stick with it. If I get ten reviews, then I will update tomorrow. Now, to answer some questions: there was a purpose in Harry and Ginny's break-up, and I personally believe they're soulmates. I also made a mistake last chapter- Harry and Hermione were both heads from the same house for the first time in 20 years, not 50. Or perhaps Hermione made a mistake? No, that doesn't happen. Any questions, comments, ideas, happiness, please put into a review!
Jinglez )