Chapter 8



Disclaimer: Everything except Wendy and Madylin are JK Rowling's, oh and i used this line form Moulin Rouge the movie... so see if you can spot it (it's quite obvious if you've seen the movie)

A/n:
~I owe a TREMENDOUS thanks to Madeleine. MUCHAS GRACIAS MAD!!
~Did you like the cliffhanger? Ok, ok here's a quick recap.

Ron! What are you doing? Harry shouted. Ron was watching someone, but who was it? Harry ran up to Ron and saw. Madylin? What are you doing? She had Ron tied up in a chair, and she had her wand pointed at him.

Hold up, Little Miss America, Wendy ran in, huffing and puffing. Madylin lifted her wand and pointed it at Wendy and Harry.

She looked deep in to Harry's eyes, and he was entranced. She said in a deep hypnotizing voice, I want some information...

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Harry looked skeptical. What kind of information would she want? "Go on..."

"Harry!" Wendy screamed. "We don't have much information yet." She gave Harry a big wink and one of those looks when one can tell they are being sarcastic.

Harry ignored her. "What do you want to know?"

Madylin glanced around the room nervously. "I need to know who the heir of Gryffindor is."

Harry and Wendy looked at each other. "Or your friend here won't make it to his next class."

Harry slowly walked up to Ron and looked him in the face. He was unconscious. "What if we don't know who it is?"

A smug smile grew on Madylin's face. "Then I'll get to enjoy watching you die." She raised her wand again. "Ready?"

"Expelliarmus!" Wendy shouted. Madylin flew across the Great Hall, her wand landing far across the other side. Dumbledore came running into the room.

"Wendy: orb Ron and Harry out of here. I'll take care of Madylin," Dumbledore said. Dumbledore ran over to Madylin as Professor McGonagall ran into the Great Hall.

"Harry, come on," Wendy said. Harry jogged over to Wendy and she grabbed his hand. She put her other hand on Ron's shoulder. Suddenly, white lights surrounded them and Harry's felt a little sick to his stomach. Soon, they were in the same white room that Harry had been in before. Wendy held out her hand over Ron, and white light emerged from it. Suddenly, Ron's head perked up.

"Wow, Wendy that was amazing," Harry said.

"No, don't talk about that now, Harry," Wendy said.

"What happened?" Ron asked. "I was walking to your Quidditch game, Harry, and then, I was grabbed form behind!"
"Who grabbed you?" Harry asked. "Was it Madylin?"

"No, it was–"

"Snape?" Wendy added.

"No. It wasn't anyone at Hogwarts. Guys, I think it was Peter Petigrew."

Harry and Wendy stood in awe. Many moments of silence went on. Harry was finally the first to speak. "Then, what is Snape up to?"

"What are you talking about?" Ron was confused. Wendy and Harry went on to tell him about their recent late night encounter.

"By the way, Wendy," Harry started, "what was that thing that you saw?"

"Well, I saw this old dead rotting person, but I don't know if Snape saw it in that same light. So I did some research and I have come to believe that I have absolutely no idea what it was."

"Great. That helps a lot. You can see invisible things, but what good is it if you don't know what they are!?!" Harry exclaimed. "And dead people scare you that much?"

"Well he was really gross!" Harry and Ron looked at her in disbelief. "He gave me this creepy vibe of guilt, I can't really explain it. It was almost as if he was making me feel responsible for him dying or something."

"Ok, but we still don't know what Snape's up to," Ron said.

"Don't worry. We'll find out..." Wendy began to smile evilly, and then she started to laugh evilly too, so Harry and Ron had to try to get her to shutup.

After about a half hour of Wendy screaming 'I am the evil maharaja!' at the top of her lungs every 30 seconds, Wendy hollered, "Whoa, hold on, I'm being called to Hogwarts. Let's go!"

Harry and Ron jumped up and grabbed her hand. White lights swirled all around them, and Ron was ready to barf. They soon landed in Dumbledore's office. He was pacing back and forth.

"What's up?" Wendy asked.

"Madylin wasn't an exchange student from the United States," Dumbledore replied.

"Then..."

"She was sent by Voldemort."

Everyone stood in silence. Harry didn't know what to say, Ron looked disappointed, and Wendy was shocked.


"Wow, I knew I didn't like her, but, wow," Wendy said.

"What did you do after we left?" Harry asked.

Dumbledore sighed. "Well, Professor McGonagall came in just as you were leaving, and I had grabbed her wand before she got up. Minerva bound her legs and took her to the Ministry. Minorca shortly contacted me, and told me about Madylin. She is a very dangerous creature."

"What is she, exactly?" Ron asked.

"She is not human, and she is not a witch. I am not quite sure, but she held great power."

******

Harry and Ron returned to the Common Room, but first snuck into the kitchen for some snacks. They had missed lunch, and were therefore extremely hungry. Hermione greeted them.

"Harry! What were you thinking?" She shouted.

"Well, where did you disappear off to when I was saving Ron?" Harry replied.

"To Dumbledore!" Hermione said as if it were obvious.

"Oh," Ron simply said.

Wendy entered the Common Room and said, "I think I've got a plan for Snape..."

"What plan?" Hermione asked. Everyone began at once to talk about Harry and Wendy's encounter with Snape and his mysterious creature.

"Wait, wait just a minute." Hermione looked at Wendy. "You were afraid of a dead guy?"

"He was creepy!" Hermione continued to stare. "What? you would have been scared too!"

"Well you said something about this plan of yours a few hours ago?" Harry said.

"Oh, well, it involves two twitchy nuns, some lemons, and the mask from Hannibal."

"Ok, ok, we don't want to hear the rest," Hermione pleaded.

"That's why I always have a plan B!"

"And it is...?" Ron asked.

"I don't have one yet, but I'm going to get one. And it's going to be good."

Harry had an idea. "Why don't you, um, well, get "close to him" and see if he tells you anything."
Everyone looked at Harry as if he lost his mind. "Or not..."

"Ooh! I got one," Hermione began. "Why don't you put veritaserum in his drink at dinner and then talk to him later?"

"That's bloody brilliant!" Ron shouted. (*now where have we heard that before???*)

"And I can ask him before dinner if he can tell me anything about, let's say, what he suggests I should teach my first years or something ––" Wendy was interrupted.

"Before dinner?" Harry asked.

"No, no. I ask him before dinner, but all too quickly. He has no time to answer because Dumbledore is about to begin. I say, 'Just talk to me later,' and we eat, he drinks the veritaserum, and battabing battaboom! We have our solution."

"I don't know, it sounds kinda risky," Harry said.

"How so?" Hermione asked.

"Do you really think Snape's gonna fall for this teaching the first years thing?"

"Yes. I do."

"I must be the only person with no faith in Snape."

"Nope!" Harry turned around and saw that Fred and George had just entered the Common Room. "We haven't had any faith in Snape since we told him that Madame Pomfrey had a thing for him."

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Wendy was going to put her plan into action at the Halloween feast, so that no one might notice that Wendy was trying to take Snape away to discuss his evil doings. But the first thing that was happening that day was the most important Quidditch game of this year: Gryffindor vs. Slithering. Both teams were undefeated, but Slithering lacked something that Gryffindor had. Gryffindor had a talented seeker complete with the fastest broom yet.

...breakfast that morning...

"Hedwig!" Harry shouted. "What have you brought me? Oh, it's a letter from Oliver Wood."

"Read it," Ron said with his mouth full of biscuit.

" Dear Harry,
Congratulations on making Quidditch Captain, I knew you had it in you! I hear that you have picked Ginny Weasley to fill my shoes, and I also hear that she's really good. I want to see you all play in the Slithering match so I will come on Halloween, and stay for the feast. I can introduce you to my girlfriend, Brittany. You may not remember her. She was my year but in Ravenclaw.
Talk to you soon,
Oliver."
George leaned in. "Did I hear you say that Wood is coming back for the match?" Harry nodded. "Wicked!"

"What, George?" Fred asked.

"Wood's coming to the Slithering game!"

"That is wicked. Hey Alicia..." Fred ran off.

Hermione suddenly sat down across from Harry, carrying a pile of heavy books.

"Hermione," Ron asked, "what are you doing?"

"I'm the one whose trying to conjure up this veritaserum," Hermione said, exhausted.

"Have you been up all night?"

"Yes. Some of this stuff is really tricky, so Wendy's going to get some stuff from Snape's office."

"How?" Harry asked.

"When he's teaching she'll orb into his office, take the stuff, and orb out. She says that she wants us to distract him in class so she can do it." Hermione continued. "Now, you better be off to your quidditch game."

Harry shoved a last bit of toast into his mouth and said, "Wa hu be her oon."

"What?"

"I said Wood should be here soon."

Harry walked out to the Quidditch locker room to get changed. He grabbed the Shry 2007, and made his way to they rest of the team. Harry had a little speech prepared.

"Ok, um. I don't have much to say, except that we are going to kick their butts!" The team went up in roars, all screaming and yelling together. Suddenly someone appeared around the corner.

"Well, Harry. Your speeches seem more motivational than mine..."

"Wood!" Everyone shouted.

"You guys need to get out on the field. You can all talk to me later."

Everyone said their goodbyes and laters and moved out onto the field.

Professor Sprout was the referee for the game today, so Harry and the rest of the team felt that the game would be called very fairly. Everyone got into position, and Professor Sprout released the Quarrel.

"Gryffindor takes control immediately!" Lee Jordan began his commentary. Katie Bell glided through the air, dodging Slytherins left and right. She passed the Quarrel to her right over to Angelina. Angelina shot, and, "SCORE! 10 POINTS FOR GRYFFINDOR!"
Harry began to lap around the field at an easy pace. He was just scanning the field for a tiny glint of gold. He saw Malfoy staring at him, and he decided to stare back. Malfoy started to "evil eye" him, and Harry just laughed. Wow, he really sucks at that, Harry thought to himself.

Soon, the Chasers and the Keepers were at a mad rampage of scoring and saving. Within the next ten minutes, the score was 70-80, Slithering. Just then Harry got bored. I never did get to try out that Wronski Feint, did I? Harry thought, smiling evilly. Suddenly Harry sprang forward into action, and began to speed up. Malfoy followed him, just as Harry had hoped. Harry slowed down slightly so that Malfoy would be right next to him. Harry made a sudden dive for the ground and Malfoy followed.

"They must have seen the Snitch," Lee Jordan said.

At the last second, just before Harry was about to hit the ground, he jerked his broom away.

SMACK! Malfoy went slamming into the ground. Roars of laughter went up around the fields from Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff students. Harry turned around to see what had happened to Malfoy, and he was messed in a tangle with his broom. Harry couldn't help but chuckle.

"WAY TO GO, HARRY!" Lee shouted. "HAHAHAHA! Do it again! Do it again!"

"Mr. Jordan!" Professor McGonagall yelled. "We do not tolerate this kind of behavior!"Harry looked up towards the scoreboard. Slithering still had the lead, 70-80. He glanced over at Ginny, and saw the Snitch lingering around the left goal post. Harry zoomed towards the tiny golden ball. The Snitch began to do loop-de-loops through each goal post, and Harry followed. He reached out his hand and––

"HE'S GOT IT! HARRY'S GOT IT! GRYFFINDOR WINS! 220-80, GRYFFINDOR IS THE CHAMPION!" Lee shouted with joy.

Harry landed and was surrounded by all the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs that he knew and didn't know. Gryffindor had won, and now Harry had to take his mind to other things (cough cough Snape)

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Later in the Common Room, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred, George, Wendy, Oliver, and his girlfriend sat talking. Oliver's girlfriend was named Brittany. She had chocolate brown hair, and sparkly blue eyes. Her smile was radiant and she and Oliver made the perfect couple.

"So what have you guys been up to lately?" Harry asked.

Oliver and Brittany looked at each other. "Well, Brittany has started her job at the Ministry, and I have been busy there too. We both work for the same department–– the Department of International Alliances."

Hermione was intrigued. "Wow, what sort of stuff do you do?"

"We organize all sorts of meetings and conferences with other Ministries," Brittany said. Her voice was sugary. "We also are kind of like the American Muggle CIA. We have a magical crime lab for the Aurors."

"So, do you work with another Ministry for, like, searching for Voldemort?" Harry asked. Everyone shuddered at you-know-who's name.

"Yes. That's it exactly. We can use some magical tracking devises for finding him. The trouble is, they never work, so, Oliver's job is trying to make a better one."

Conversation went on like this for several hours, until Harry and everyone else had one class before dinner. Harry, Hermione, and Ron all headed for the dungeon for Potions, and were discussing the plans in whispers. When they got to the classroom, the seated themselves as they had planned: Harry and Hermione in the front of the room, and Ron next to Neville, with Draco Malfoy directly behind them.

"Sit down everyone! Hurry! I want this class started..." Snape growled. "And I expect that everyone will behave because this is Halloween, and you never know what to expect." (evil grin)

Today they were making special plant fertilizer for Professor Sprout to help grow the Gaminous plant. The potion was semi-harmful to the skin if in contact too long, which didn't give them much time. The plan was just this: Ron was going to 'winguardium leviosa' the pot of potion onto Neville, causing Snape to have to rush him to the Hospital Wing, and possibly blame Malfoy for spilling it. (Hey, they could dream...) Harry was in the front so that no one could blame him unless they saw him. But, they of course wouldn't see him because he didn't do it.

Ron whispered,"Winguardium leviosa." The pot rose and spilled all over Neville.

"Mr. Longbottom! Please come on now I have to take you to the Hospital Wing..." Snape said that, and then mumbled something about irresponsible Gryffindors.

Harry and Hermione looked at each other and winked. So, Harry," began Malfoy," working with your girlfriend?"

"She isn't my girlfriend. Oh, and by the way, what happened to yours?" Harry replied.

Malfoy grew smug. "Oh, she's still around. You'll see, you'll see."

Harry didn't know what he meant by that. He turned back to his potion, and he and Hermione talked about how well the plan was going. When Snape returned, they were
sure that Wendy was long gone.

"Ok, class dismissed!" Snape shouted.

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Harry, Ron and Hermione all sat down in the Great Hall. It was decorated with tons of candles, and pumpkins, and other festive things. They all looked up at Wendy, who gave them the thumbs up sign.

They all relaxed slightly, and Dumbledore Stood up, gave his little speech, and began the feast. People began leaving, but the three stayed behind. They saw Wendy and Snape rise to go talk somewhere, and they got up and followed.

Wendy and Snape entered an empty classroom, and everyone sat down. "So, Severus," Wendy started, "Can you remember a few nights ago when you were in the halls with a dead person?"

"Yes," Snape replied.

"Who was that person?"

Snape snarled. "He is my brother. My half brother." (Everyone gasps) "My mother remarried after my father died, but she remarried a muggle. And they had a son. A muggle son. My stepfather hated magic, and he hated me. My mother was willing to give it up, of course, but I was still at Hogwarts."

Everyone listened intently as Snape told his story. Harry was amazed that he had a family. No one loved him, that explains enough, Harry thought. Snape continued, "One day, when he wasn't feeling well, mother told me to take him for a walk to get some fresh air. I took him to the train tracks, because I knew he hated trains. We were walking on the tracks, and his foot got stuck. I couldn't pull him out, and then we heard it: the train whistle. There was nothing I could do. He kept yelling at me to help him, but I couldn't. The train was getting closer and closer, and then, he died."

Wendy's mouth hung open. "Th-th-then what is he doing at Hogwarts?"

"He haunts me. He wants me to pay for what happened."

"Then why was he giving you a piece of paper?" Harry asked, confused.

"That paper was an impostor! It has no importance whatsoever."

"An impostor of what?" Wendy added. Snape's face started to change. "The potion's wearing off. Hide everyone!" Harry and the others hid under the tables

"What am I doing here? Oh. Professor Halliwell, you wanted to talk to me about your first years."


Wow that was long! My fingers...are...tired...of...typing... Ok, so tell me what you think- please review!!!
~Mad- thanks again- you helped me SO much (and you'll be back later)