I wouldn't mind if you took me in my sleep tonight
I wouldn't even put up a fight
I wouldn't care if you took it all away today
I'm sure I wouldn't even miss the pain
September 12th 1AM Monday
The room was dark. Faint candlelight cast twisting shadows across the wall. I didn't recognize the room. I tried to reach out and touch the chair in front of me but my arms refused to cooperate. Instead I turned to walk down a long hallway into another room. It was a huge bedroom and empty picture frames of various sizes were scattered about the floor.
As I walked toward the bed I could see that there were no sheets or blankets. A painting was lying directly on the mattress and I began to pry it from its frame. In my mind I gasped in surprise but in the dream I seemed to have no reaction. It was a painting of a small boy being attacked by wolves. I recognized it immediately as one of the paintings I had seen when I snuck into my father's workroom.
My hands were not my own. Instead my palms were wide and my fingers were long and pale. I pried the painting out of the frame and flipped it over to look at the back.
The back of the canvas was completely blank. I sighed in frustration and threw the painting into the closet, depositing the empty frame on the floor beside me. It clattered loudly as it fell onto the other discarded frames.
My eyes shot open and I sat up quickly. A dull ache settled behind my eyes and I gently rubbed my forehead in an attempt to relieve the pain. The pain did not go away though, so I laid back and stared up at the ceiling.
September 12th 7AM Monday
"We need to leave immediately," Severus snapped angrily as I said my goodbyes to Officer Wilkes and Khalida.
"I'm coming, I'm coming," I snapped back in return.
I glared at him angrily as he stepped into the fireplace and disappeared. Draco sent me a sympathetic look as he followed a moment later. I tried to smile in return but my mood wouldn't allow it. I had only gotten a few hours of sleep the night before so I was rather cranky.
"I wish I could go with you," Khalida whined.
"I know," I said sadly, "but Officer Wilkes can't go with us and he needs someone to protect him."
"Yes, yes," she sighed, "always the bridesmaid…never the bride."
"Isn't that a muggle saying?" I asked in surprise and she chuckled in amusement.
"Of course," she stated, "like I've said before…"
"You've lived for thousands of years and know everything," I finished for her and she playfully smacked the back of my head.
"Enough cheek," she laughed, "now get going before Severus has a fit."
I gave her one last hug and wave before throwing the floo powder into the flames. "Severus Snape's office!" I yelled loudly and stepped into the fireplace as the flames turned green. After a few minutes of vomit-inducing spinning I fell out of the fireplace in Severus' office and directly into Draco's arms.
"I don't know if it's safe for you to use the floo network," Draco said sardonically, "You could end up killing yourself…or someone else."
"Ha ha ha," I replied, "Just wait until I get you on a roller coaster someday and then we'll see who has the last laugh." Draco rolled his eyes and laughed haughtily.
"I've ridden on dragons before," he stated pompously, "and you think a muggle amusement park ride is going to scare me."
"Would you two stop bickering?" Severus snapped, "I would like to make it to the Great Hall for breakfast before it is time for lunch."
"We can let the Headmaster know that we've brought Jenny with us as well," Draco added and I shook my head.
"You two go ahead," I said while grinning wickedly, "and don't you dare tell Dumbledore that I'm here yet." Draco appeared to be confused by my request while Severus gave me a look that told me he suspected I was up to no good.
"Don't worry Sev," I chuckled, "I just want to make the proper entrance."
"I forgot," he sneered, "a Potter always has to make a grand entrance."
"And it will be one like you've never seen before," I stated with a nod, "Now go you two, I have some…preparations to take care of."
Severus dragged Draco out of his office while both of them glanced back at me with matching expressions of worry and dread. I gave them a happy wave and smile which turned into a smirk as soon as the door closed behind them.
My father may have been the prince at shocking an audience but what I had planned would make me the queen and perhaps even give the old man a coronary in the process. Besides, it wouldn't all be for show. As the daughter of Harry Potter I need all of the protection I can get.
September 12th 7:45AM Monday
The doors to the Great Hall opened with a bang and all noise died immediately. Everyone's attention turned toward me as I strode down the middle of the hall with nineteen Brotherhood members trailing behind me, each one wearing their usual cloak and mask. Severus dropped his utensils in surprise and they fell onto his plate with a loud ping. Pumpkin juice ran down Draco's chin onto his shirt as his jaw fell open in shock and Nymphadora looked on with barely contained jealousy from her place at the staff table.
Quiet whispering broke out among the students as I neared the staff table and I couldn't help but smirk in amusement. I knew that there were going to be a lot of owls carrying letters off later in the day. Dumbledore's expression seemed to be shifting between fear, anger and curiosity as he rose up from his chair.
"Where is my father's body?" I growled as I stood across from him.
"There are better places to discuss this," he replied in a lighthearted tone.
"Where is he?" I asked once again and Dumbledore made a move to walk away from the table.
"Stop right there!" I called out loudly and within seconds Dumbledore had nine wands, four swords, three daggers, two axes and a crossbow trained on him.
The entire student body present in the hall gasped in unison and almost immediately the rest of the staff table was at Dumbledore's side, wands trained directly at the group behind me. Draco and Severus gave me a pleading look while Nymphadora was glancing back and forth between Dumbledore and me looking as if she was at a complete loss as to what to do. She made a move to jump over the table to stand with me but I stopped her with a slight shake of my head. She nodded in reply and stayed where she was, her hand shaking slightly as she pointed her wand at me.
"What do you plan to do Jenny?" Dumbledore asked curiously. "You have never been trained in magic and even with your friends protecting you I doubt you will escape unscathed."
"I don't wish to fight you," I stated while shaking my head, "I just want to know where you are keeping my father." Dumbledore shook his head in reply. "TELL ME WHERE YOU ARE KEEPING HARRY POTTER AS HIS DAUGHTER I HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW!" I yelled loudly and another round of whispering swept through the hall, even the teachers standing beside Dumbledore appeared uncertain for a moment.
"I cannot tell you that," Dumbledore replied. I slowly reached into the robe I was wearing and pulled out my father's wand. He watched my actions with mild curiosity. "I will ask again what you plan to do, as I said before, you have never been trained to use magic."
"I don't know," I said with a shrug as I lifted the wand, "but I'm sure I can think of something."
"Stop this madness," Severus snapped angrily and Draco nodded his head furiously.
"This is complete insanity Jenny," Draco growled, "Harry could be anywhere in Hogwarts, it would take you forever to find him. Do you have any idea how many rooms there are here?"
There was silence as I considered Draco's question. I knew he was right. If Dumbledore wouldn't tell me where he took my father then I'd probably never find him. I couldn't back down now though, no matter how much I dreaded the thought of starting a fight. Harry Potter is my father and there was no way I was going to let him be used once again.
"Just tell me where you put him Dumbledore," I snarled and Dumbledore shook his head once again. "What is wrong with you old man?" I exclaimed, "I just want to know what room…" My voice trailed off as a memory suddenly passed through my mind.
"The castle told me to bring him back and place him in the Room of Requirement. I followed its direction and laid him on the floor. Then Hogwarts told me to leave him and return in two hours. Each time Harry died I did this, and each time when I retrieved him from the Room of Requirement after the two hours was up he was breathing once again and acted as if nothing had ever happened."
"The Room of Requirement," I gasped and Dumbledore's eyes widened in surprise. "Tell me where it is," I stated loudly.
"I cannot and I will not," Dumbledore stated, "nor will any of the members of the staff." The teachers nodded their heads in agreement, although Draco did so with a slight hesitation.
"I can show you!" a voice exclaimed loudly. I glanced around in an attempt to find who had spoken.
"Who said that?" I called out and one of the Brotherhood members ran up to me quickly. I looked up at their mask and knew immediately that it was one of the female members of the Brotherhood, number Three.
"I did," she replied confidently as she stepped towards me. Her wand remained raised and directed at Dumbledore as she walked up to stand next to me.
"Three right?" I asked and she nodded. "Well," I said with a grin, "lead the way."
The Brotherhood parted to allow us to pass as she led me out of the Great Hall. The rest of the group began to follow me but I stopped them with a raise of my hand and then motioned Sirius toward me.
"Your orders?" he asked quietly.
"My orders are to remain here and keep them busy," I replied as I motioned toward the staff table. "Hold them as long as you can but do not start anything," I commanded, "and no killing." He nodded in reply and rushed back to join the Brotherhood once again.
"Follow me," number Three whispered quickly.
We ran down the hallways and up and down staircases until finally coming to a stop in an unfamiliar corridor. She stared at one wall and I followed her gaze. I could see no door or any other kind of opening. That's when I remembered that the Room of Requirement would only appear when you required something.
"Think of finding Harry," she stated softly, "and then walk back and forth about three or four times, then the door should appear." I nodded in understanding and began to pace.
Thoughts of my father drifted through my mind as I willed the door to appear. I thought about how much I wanted to see my father again. I asked the castle to show me where he was and to bring him back to me. On the fifth pass a simple, brown wooden door appeared. I went to open it but turned around for a moment to look at the woman who led me there.
"Take off your mask," I commanded. She hesitated for a moment before removing the mask slowly.
The first thing I noticed was her red hair. It was trademark red hair that I would always recognize and it was cut to her chin.
"Ginny Weasley," I stated as I raised an eyebrow. She nodded her head proudly and went to put her mask back on. "Why?" I asked curiously. Ginny paused for a moment and our eyes met.
"You can't understand right now," she stated ominously, "but you will." I nodded in reply and turned back to stare at the door with anxious excitement.
My hand rested on the doorknob but before turning it I glanced back to look at Ginny. She was looking from one side of the corridor to the other with her wand drawn and ready. I shook my head sadly as I turned the knob and stepped through the doorway. I was taken aback by what I found on the other side and I was so immersed with my surroundings that I started in surprise as the door slammed shut behind me.
A beautiful forest stretched out in front of me, complete with trees, flowers and even a few small woodland creatures. The sun was shining brightly and I looked up to see white, fluffy clouds passing by. I glanced around and took a few steps into the trees.
Suddenly a woman slowly emerged from behind a gigantic weeping willow standing to my right and I jumped in astonishment. Long, black hair hung all the way to the bottom of her ankle length simple black dress, her cheeks were rosy and her skin was lightly tanned. She towered over at me at a height that I estimated around six foot and there was a warm smile on her lips as she looked down at me with interest. I looked up at her and our eyes met, my pale green to her twinkling emerald.
"Who are you?" I asked in an awed tone. She laughed lightly and it sounded like music.
"I am home my sweet child," she replied and my awed expression changed to one of complete confusion.
"What do you mean you are home? Is this your home?"
"No," she stated as she shook her head. She glanced up at the blue sky before kneeling down to stare into my eyes intently.
"Then who are you?" I asked once again. She reached out and grabbed both of my hands. For some reason I felt no need to pull away. A moment later she pulled me into a warm hug and rocked me slowly in her arms.
"O my dear child, I am your home," she answered softly.
"But…" I began to ask her again for a name but she interrupted me.
"I am Hogwarts."
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AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story is slowly drawing to a close and then it will be time to begin the sequel where more questions will be answered as well as asked.
NEXT CHAPTER: How does Harry come back from the dead? Why are Hogwarts and Harry connected so closely? These questions are answered as well as a few others. But what will Jenny do now and how is the Ministry going to react to her little Great Hall stunt? Jenny's list of allies and friends is definitely getting shorter...