Chapter 17:

The next several days were very sorrowful indeed. Hermione kept it quiet about the recent tragedy in her family, whilst trying to act normally. Draco, on the other hand, seemed to be showing more regret about the deaths than Hermione herself, at least in front of others. Meanwhile, people seemed shocked still that Lenore and Harry had confirmed the newspaper's story- then, of course, there was the DA and new people interested in it, constantly approaching Harry and asking him questions. Hermione, who was always prepared, had a pile of the fake galleons that were nearly being tossed constantly into small mobs of newcomers.

This year the DA was opening up to everyone in the school, though the full list of people would be confidential, and if anyone wished to be in it and not have everyone know, Harry would work out an arrangement with them. It was moved back into the Room of Requirement, as last year had been terribly confusing, though the maps and invisibility suits would still remain but only to the knowledge of about fifteen people, the "elite" DA members. Those people were Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, Luna, Dean, Seamus, Lavender, Parvati, Ernie (though he was extremely irritating, everyone agreed that he did have good ideas), Susan, Justin, Padma, and Draco. Those were basically the most loyal and oldest group of DA members, and Harry would almost bet his life on the fact that none of them was a spy. Of course, he knew he had to be careful- being too trusting could be… fatal.

Neville's lessons were going all right- all of the first years, even Slytherins, seemed to think he was a very cool Professor. The fourth years up all forgot to call him 'Professor,' and finally Dumbledore had given him permission to allow the class to call him by his name, which Harry was glad of, as it was awkward after class.

A week before Halloween, Harry and Hermione were walking down to Potions together, deep in discussion about Halloween- past Halloweens. "So- do you ever miss trick-or-treating?" asked Hermione reminiscently.

"Never was allowed to go," said Harry sadly. Hermione gasped.

"Oh, that's awful! Could your cousin?"

"He always went- Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon just never knew," explained Harry. "He'd say he was sleeping at a friend's house and then go with them. I always wanted to go, though I suppose it was kind of pointless. Our teachers in school usually gave us some candy, and that was always good. Plus, I always had to hand out the candy when I wasn't locked up in my room. So I kept some for myself every year."

"Well, I'm sorry," said Hermione pityingly as a second year girl ran up to them.

"E-excuse me?" she asked.

"Yes?" asked Hermione kindly.

"When is the first DA meeting? Oh, and I'm Leah, by the way. I'm a Gryffindor, too."

"Nice to meet you, Leah," said Hermione, as Harry smiled quickly. "Here is something- it'll get really warm when it's changed," she said, fishing out a galleon, "and right here will be the date of the next meeting."

"All right. Thanks," said the girl, scurrying away. Harry rolled his eyes as he looked at Hermione.

"These stupid people won't stop bugging us! When did the DA become common knowledge?" he demanded. Hermione shrugged.

"Maybe the day Umbridge got chased off by the Centaurs?" Harry hated thinking about that day.

"Yeah," he said, suddenly solemn. Just then, Lenore, Draco, and Blaise caught up to them.

"G'day, Mates," said Lenore, squeezing between Harry and Hermione, arm over each shoulder.

"Uh, Lenore," said Hermione, grinning. "You have the wrong accent. Again. That was Australian- say it with me: Au-stral-ian." Lenore rolled her eyes.

"Fine. Top of the morning to ye, lads… and lasses…"

"Stop while you're behind," yawned Harry.

"I thought it was 'stop while you're ahead'," said Draco.

"It was," said Hermione darkly. "Until Lenore came into the world… Oh, Lenore, you know I'm kidding," she added as Lenore pursed her lips and crossed her arms.

They reached Potions a few minutes later, and sat down, bored. "So," said Snape, raising an eyebrow as they filed in. "If it isn't Sir I'm-Going-to-test-out-of-defense-because-I-believe-myself-above-such-petty-classes and his cousin and fellow Dream-Trio member…" Of course, he left out Blaise and Draco, like he always did, though none of the Gryffindors liked Blaise at all, and most could barely tolerate Draco.

Harry looked into Snape's eyes, trying to clear his mind, fearlessly. Of course, Snape hadn't dared to look into their minds since it was found that thinking of Acacia's room would put Snape in immense pain. Harry thoroughly enjoyed holding that over him, though he wasn't stupid enough to try to get into Snape's mind or something. "Sit down, Potter," hissed Snape. Harry sighed and sat down next to Lenore, glaring at Snape the whole time, as Draco and Hermione sat next to each other.

"Today we'll be creating a Potion to test the memory from our potion the other day," began Snape as the bell rang, without so much as a preface. "Does everyone remember the specific memory the Remembrance Potion made them think about?" The class nodded, bored. Snape then waved his wand so the instructions to the new potion were on the board. "You have forty-three minutes before you will all test your potions. Begin." Harry and Lenore began working very hard on their potion, and Harry had the unpleasant realization that Lenore was no good at Potions either. He had to stop her at least twice from adding the wrong ingredients. In front of them, Draco's and Hermione's potion was a turquoise, and was misting softly, as it should be doing. Harry and Lenore's potion was dark blue and was threatening to bubble over the edge. Then Snape began walking around. When he reached Harry, he sneered.

"What are you making, Potter?"

Harry sighed with frustration and looked towards the board. "The Significance Draught," he said, looking up at Snape pointedly.

"Well what, may I ask, is that?" asked Snape. Harry looked into the potion and suddenly heard Lenore's panicked voice.

"Oh-my gosh! A snake! Harry! A snake is coming out of our potion!" she squealed out loud. People began murmuring and circling around the cauldron in a mixture of fright and curiosity. Sure enough, a sapphire-colored, thin snake was writhing around the top of the bubbles. It slithered up the side of the cauldron and began to get out of it, lifting its head up and hissing softly. Several people, remembering the Basilisk of the chamber, covered their eyes in fright as the snake began to make eye contact.

"What are you?" asked Harry in fascination as Snape took out his wand and got the majority of the class to back up apprehensively. He forgot all about people being afraid since he was a Parsletongue.

"My name," hissed the snake, "Is Ivyyy. I bear a messsssage….. 'We can help… in the Chamber ressssides the light. But you mussstn't find it yet. The prophesized four mussst return for the mossst dangerous weapon of all.' That isss the message I bring from Mistresss. But they want your help in return, heir of Gryffindor."

Harry's heart quickened. No, not again. Not the founders again! He exchanged quick glances with Lenore, who was also a Parselmouth. She looked horrified as well. Harry glanced at Snape, who was staring at the exchange between Harry, Lenore, and the snake suspiciously. Hermione was looking alarmed, and Draco almost sickened. Harry knew the feeling.

"You mean," he said to the snake hurriedly before it would disappear or something, "that they can help us? Who? Gryffindor and them, or Amara and Llewellyn and everyone?"

"Yesss. They know how to help. Mistresss Amara ssent for you. Slytherin hasss left the school, and Acacia is planning a siege. If you will help, then she will give you what issss needed to defeat Voldemort…" Suddenly, the snake disappeared. Harry gulped as everyone in the room gasped.

"Settle down," said Snape harshly. "Bottom marks, Potter; Felkes. Take your seats." The class sat down, all excitedly whispering. "Now, we are going to test your Potions… Potter and Felkes, you might as well take some of Granger's and Draco's. Once you take it, a number of things could happen. If your memory is not significant, you will experience no change. If it is significant, you will hear a beep. The louder the beep inside your head, the more significant the memory in comparison to what else resides in your head. One teaspoon will be sufficient. Go." Harry and Lenore walked over to Hermione and Draco, who both looked at them urgently.

"What did it say?" whispered Hermione.

"Later," muttered Harry as he took a sip of the potion, which tasted almost like a soft drink. Suddenly he thought his head might erupt with sound. He covered his ears and looked around, bewildered. But everyone was looking clam and surprised at Harry's unusual behavior.

"WHAT IS THAT NOISE?" he screamed to Lenore to hear himself. Hermione opened her mouth but Harry couldn't hear her. "WHAT-" he began, but was stopped by Lenore.

"SHUT-UP, HARRY!" she screamed. Then the noise stopped abruptly. Everyone was staring at him.

"Did you just take your potion, Potter?" demanded Snape. Harry nodded. "Class dismissed," said Snape icily. "With the exception of Miss Felkes, Mr. Potter, and Mr. Malfoy."

"Professor," began Hermione as everyone shuffled from the room, baffled. "May I stay and-"

"No, Granger," said Snape in a venomous voice. Hermione looked at Harry, Lenore, and Draco before slipping from the room hurriedly. Harry, Lenore, and Draco walked up to Snape's desk apprehensively. Snape was seated and looked up at them expectantly.

"Explain, Potter," he said in an even voice.

"Er," began Harry, unaware of what to do. Should he tell what the snake said or not? "Do you think I can explain it to the Headmaster first?" Snape sighed and nodded.

"Come, right now. We're seeing the Headmaster." Harry picked up his bag and followed Snape nervously.

"Harry," whispered Lenore. Harry looked at her questioningly. She then pulled the sleeve of her robe up a bit to show the snake, Ivy, coiled around Lenore's arm. "What in the world?" he whispered.

"She appeared there right after she disappeared and whispered to me to please hide her until she could find us alone…" Harry nodded slowly.

"Has she said anything else?" Lenore shook her head. "What are we going to tell Dumbledore?" she whispered.

"I have no idea," whispered Harry. By this time they had reached the stone gargoyles.

"Sir!" gasped one of them to Professor Snape. "There's a bit of a havoc upstairs- we heard from a portrait- it just went looking for McGonagall… It's Dumbledore- he appears as if… as if he's…. dead! You must hurry!" The gargoyle swung itself open and allowed Snape, Harry, Lenore, and Draco entrance without the password.

Harry's heart was beating loudly. Dumbledore couldn't be- He shook those thoughts from his mind as he raced up the stairs. Dumbledore was laying down on the floor. There was a glass of hot chocolate laying on the floor beside him which had spilled. Dumbledore looked as if he were merely sleeping- Harry half expected him to jump up and say something to the effect of 'sorry, I must have lost track of time…' But that comment never came.

"Professor!" said Harry, kneeling at the floor beside him worriedly. Lenore knelt with Harry to look at him, but Draco remained standing. Snape bent down cautiously, feeling his wrist for a heartbeat.

Don't be dead… Please don't be dead. Don't be dead, thought Harry with all his strength. Snape then snatched something from his pocket, and Harry recognized it immediately. "Order Class One- groups one through three- alert! Drop whatever you are doing if at all possible and report to the Wentworth Manor for further instruction. Group one report to the Headmaster's office, now." Snape then turned to Harry, Lenore, and Draco, breathing heavily. "He's alive."

"He is?" asked Lenore.

"Thank Merlin," breathed Harry. "What's wrong with him-?" But at that split second, McGonagall, Hagrid, and Mad-Eye Moody all ran up the stairs urgently. Harry was left to wonder how on earth, even with magic, Moody could have gotten here so quickly.

"What is it Severus-" began McGonagall, but she stopped upon seeing the Headmaster's body. She covered her mouth. "Oh my-" she began.

Hagrid looked shocked, and even Moody didn't look as if he'd been expecting this. "He's not dead," said Snape shortly.

"But- he looks dead," said Hagrid hoarsely. "He isn't petrified, is he? What else could it be-?"

"Poison," growled Moody, stooping to examine the spilled hot chocolate.

"Nonsense, Mad-Eye," said McGonagall in a shaky voice, "Who here would be able to give him such a strong poison? Maybe he could've just passed out?"

"There's no such thing as just 'passing out,' lass," said Moody carefully. "Death Eaters. I'd bet anything they're still in the castle. I'd better call for back-up. At least we've got Potter right here."

"No, Moody; they aren't in the bloody castle!" spat Snape.

"Oh, that's right," said Moody, "You'd know, wouldn't you?" Snape glared at Moody, who plowed on. "You just happened to be here right when it happened?"

"I wasn't here when it happened, moron," muttered Snape.

"Break it up, there," said Hagrid angrily. "Somebody's attacked Dumbledore- we've gotta 'ave a way ter find out what did it and why. Let's think. Should we call in groups two and three?"

"Well, first off, we only know groups two and three. According to Dumbledore, we aren't allowed to know who's in what other groups. And as each groups take instruction from Dumbledore, we have no way of reaching them, as the pins are only for Class I, and Merlin knows how many more classes there are."

Everyone took in Snape's words for a moment. "It was Karkaroff," said Moody thoughtfully. "Had to be. He was the last in contact with Dumbledore."

"Be as that may," said Snape, "Karkaroff is currently in hiding from the Dark Lord and many Aurors throughout northern Europe. It would be unfathomable that he should poison Dumbledore, one of the only people who is willing to believe him…"

"This seems to be very thought out, Snape," said Moody angrily.

"He is right, Severus…" said McGonagall.

"From your own words... Crouch's words, rather… 'It's my job to think like a Dark person…'"

"Er… I suppose the school will go into lockdown for the time being. Mr. Potter; Miss Felkes; Mr. Malfoy- please go straight to your common rooms. Try to keep it quiet about Dumbledore until we announce it to the school."

A/N: Okay, please review! And thanks to Nightlit for my longest review! I am replying to important reviews at the next update, so keep them coming:-D Thanks,

Jinglez