Chapter Thirty-Six: A Spy Among Them

The journey back to Hogwarts was the longest in Harry's memory, as well as the most uncomfortable. The Knight Bus was full to capacity and made numerous stops, letting passengers off only to bring new ones aboard.

Ron and Hermione were both on edge; Ron was frustrated over his inability to remember all the details of his dream; Hermione had done little more than alternately cry, brood, and cry again, since saying good-bye to her parents that morning.

Harry grimaced as he recalled the scene: all three Grangers crying; Hermione begging her parents to be careful; Dr. Granger asking Ron to look after 'his little girl'; Mrs. Granger's forced assurances that they wouldn't be gone long, that they would see each other again soon. And yet the desperation with which they spoke made it clear that they were terrified that their good-byes would be permanent. Harry didn't know who to feel sorrier for.

Ron had told Lupin all the details of his dream that he remembered; a few more of them had come to him, this very morning, including the scene of his brothers' store exploding. This had greatly upset Ron, who had begged his brothers not to go into work; Fred and George joked at first but then looked concerned at Ron's obvious fear; Ginny surreptitiously calmed Ron down while Lupin Flooed Kingsley Shacklebolt. Kingsley immediately sent four Aurors to Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes to sweep the shop for explosive devices. The process, Kingsley had said, could take hours; when Harry and the others left Grimmauld Place, the Aurors were still at it. Ron could not be assured of any news until this evening, at the earliest. For the moment, he was left to brood on the jostling, crowded Knight Bus.

Harry and his friends spent almost the entire trip in silence; Harry flattened his fringe over his scar to prevent anyone from recognizing him, and all four of them kept their school books out, pretending to read so that no one would disturb them. Hermione leaned against Ron, looking exhausted, and when the Knight Bus at last pulled into Hogsmeade, the four of them agreed that they would never again travel that way, if they could help it.

The castle was thankfully quiet when they entered; most of the students were not yet back from the holiday. Harry and the others left their things in the foyer, to be fetched by house elves later. It was a testament to Hermione's mental state that she said not a word about house elves having to carry her things.

She and Ron then parted ways with Harry and headed toward the Head Boy and Girl rooms; Harry heard Hermione remind Ron about the prefect meeting they were to lead that very night, which led Ron to mutter 'Bugger'.

'You think they'll be okay?' Ginny asked, taking Harry's hand.

'I hope so,' said Harry, feeling heavy-hearted.

'Potter. Miss Weasley.'

The familiar voice startled them, and they looked up to see Professor Snape glowering at them.

'Hello, Professor,' said Harry coolly.

'Professor,' said Ginny, nodding.

'Potter, you're to come with me,' said Snape shortly.

'Why, sir?' Harry asked warily, as Ginny clutched his hand.

'You'll find out in due course,' said Snape, with a flash of irritation. 'Now, come along.'

Harry swallowed; whatever Snape was going on about did not sound good, but the look on the Potions' Master's face left no room for argument.

'I'll see you back in the common room, Gin,' Harry said, squeezing her hand. She smiled and squeezed back.

'Let's go, Potter,' said Snape. Harry gave Ginny a quick smile before turning and following the sweep of Snape's black robes.

They stopped in front of the entrance to Dumbeldore's office. Harry swallowed a sudden lump in his throat.

Here? Of all places Snape brings me here? What are we doing here?

'Sir, this is--' Harry began.

'Ear wax,' said Snape, in a clear, loud voice. Harry was just about to ask what on earth the professor was talking about when the door to Dumbledore's office creaked open, and the stairs beneath the statue of the phoenix began to move.

'Well, go on,' Snape said sharply, and Harry stepped onto the moving stairs, Snape right behind him. They ascended; Harry's head was buzzing with questions, but they all died on his lips as they went inside the office. In their place, another rush of emotion filled his throat.

The office had been cleaned out. None of Dumbledore's hundreds of books, or his sculptures or trinkets or any of the other clutter that had made this space his office were to be seen. Even the walls were bare of paintings. All that was left of Dumbledore's possessions was his massive old desk, his chair, and a large perch, upon which rested...

'Fawkes,' Harry whispered.

The phoenix looked at Harry and gave a mournful trill. Clearly, Fawkes was getting close to a burning day; his normally brilliant scarlet plumage was thin and rough and falling out in places, and his eyes looked tired and sad.

'He's yours, Potter,' said Snape.

Harry blinked.

'Er...excuse me?'

'The bird now belongs to you,' said Snape, in a tone of one who is speaking to a slow child. 'Dumbledore left it to you in his will.'

Harry was blindsided. It was not the news that Dumbledore had a will; of course he would have, it only made sense. It was that he never expected to be in this space, a place he had come to alternately love and hate, a place he hadn't wanted to come back to since Dumbledore had died. And now here he was, with a person he found nothing short of detestable, and with the only living reminder in the room chirping softly and looking rather ready to give up the ghost himself.

'Fawkes is...mine?' Harry said dumbly. 'But why?'

'As Professor Dumbledore is sadly no longer with us I cannot possibly answer your question,' said Snape coldly. 'Suffice it to say Dumbledore left you this creature. We would have passed him along sooner but there were more important things to deal with after Dumbledore...left us.'

Harry caught the slight tremor in Snape's voice and swallowed. The Potions Master covered well, but Harry knew Snape missed Dumbledore badly. And why not? Harry couldn't be sure, but he was fairly certain that Dumbledore was the only person who showed Snape any real kindness, not that Snape ever went out of his way to inspire kindness.

'Okay,' said Harry. 'Er...I guess...I'm supposed to keep him...in my room?'

'Yes, yes,' said Snape, and he pulled a small roll of parchment from his robes and shoved it at Harry, who took it.

'These are feeding and care instructions, left by Dumbledore,' Snape said imperiously. 'Fawkes is not to be kept in the owlery at any time; his habit of spontaneously combusting would be too upsetting for the owls, and the larger species would be tempted to eat him in his infant form. As an adult he's able to obtain his own food provided he has access to the outdoors, but do try to keep him separated from your owl if you can. Professor Sprout can supply you with insects for him when he's in his infant stage. If this doesn't work I'm sure one of your friends can keep him for you.'

'Right,' said Harry, looking over at Fawkes, who chirped again. Indeed, the bird almost seemed to be smiling. 'Er...is that all, sir?' Harry added, glancing at Snape.

'Yes, that is all--' Snape started to say, but just then there was a loud crash from the next room, and an angry shout.

At once, Snape and Harry had their wands out, aiming at the entrance to the next room, when an old man with a long grey beard came stumbling out, looking irritable. Harry raised his wand, but Snape groaned and pushed Harry's hand down.

'Bloody contraptions,' the old man huffed, as he pulled a strange looking device from his beard. 'I dunno why he kept all this junk--'

'How on earth did you get in here?' said Snape in an annoyed voice, addressing the old man.

The old man looked up, and Harry was struck dumb.

It was the bartender from the Hog's Head pub.

'I let myself in, of course,' said the old man. 'How the hell d'ye think I got in?'

'Aberforth, how many times must we make it clear that if you wish to further inventory your brother's things, you must first alert Headmistress McGonagall or myself--'

'Rubbish,' said the old man. 'I'm his brother, I can come here whenever I want.'

Harry stared at the old man.

This was Albus Dumbledore's brother? This disheveled, grouchy, shabbily dressed old man with bad teeth and a tangled grey beard?

'Oi, what are you lookin' at?' said Aberforth, and then his eyes narrowed. 'Wait a minute. I know you. You're Harry Potter.'

'Yes, yes, this is Harry Potter,' said Snape, rolling his eyes. 'Aberforth, the reason you are not allowed to enter the castle whenever it suits your fancy is that every time you come in and undo the wards we have to redo them.'

'Then make better wards, why don't ye?' Aberforth retorted. 'I can't help it if security in this place is lax.'

'Security is not lax,' said Snape, through gritted teeth. 'Unfortunately, when your brother passed on the strength of the wards went with him, and it will be some time before we can get them back up as strong as they once were, as I'm sure I don't need to remind you.'

'Yeah, yeah,' said Aberforth, combing his beard with his fingers, which were covered with dust. 'No need to get your knickers in a twist. This is the last time I'll be comin' here, anyway.'

'I take it you've completed your inventory, then,' said Snape.

'Nothin' left in that room but a lot of junk,' said Aberforth. 'Now, if I could take this'n here...' He looked longingly at Fawkes, who gave a kind of nervous, disdainful chirp.

'As I've told you many times, the bird is Potter's property,' said Snape.

'Yeah, I know,' said Aberforth grumpily. 'Figures my older brother would leave the one good thing he has to this kid. Shame, that. Bird would have brightened up the pub a bit. 'Specially when he burns up the way he does.'

'Oh, I think there's plenty of colorful things to be found in the Hog's Head,' said Snape snidely.

Aberforth seemed to choose to ignore Snape's sarcasm, and instead stumped briskly toward Dumbledore's office door.

'Right, then,' he announced. 'I'm off. Oh, yeah, and Severus, you might be interested to know that one of your students came in the pub a few nights ago and had a meeting with someone. Kid by the name of Nott, I believe. I've seen him around the village before, hanging about with those two gorgons he calls mates. Couldn't see who the other bloke was, or even if it was a bloke. Nott looked rather serious and smug about something or other.'

'A few nights ago?' said Snape. 'And you're only telling me this now?'

'I've been busy,' said Aberforth, sniffing.

'Is this the only suspicious activity you've observed?' Snape asked sharply.

'Yeah, it is,' said Aberforth, 'unless you count that chap Ludo Bagman coming in pissed out of his mind and talkin' 'bout how the goblins are all chasin' him in his sleep.'

'What happened in this meeting with Nott and the stranger?' Snape asked, clearly struggling now not to lose his temper.

'Nothing,' said Aberforth. 'I eavesdropped pretty good--those Extendable Ears are quite the product, I must say--but all Nott and his friend seemed to be talking about was the weather.'

At this, Snape let out an audible groan and put his head in his hands. After a moment, he looked up.

'I don't suppose it occurred to you, Aberforth, that Nott might have been using some sort of coded speech with his companion?' he said.

''Course I did,' said Aberforth. 'I'm no fool, Severus.'

'And?' said Snape. 'What did Nott and his friend say?'

'Don't remember,' said Aberforth, shrugging. 'I'd had a few glasses of Ogden's by then and I was right tired. Although...wait, I do remember Nott saying something about how he was working on obtaining something. Said he was close to getting it, too. What was it? What was it? Something about soil...no...toil, coil...foil. Yes, I'm sure it was a foil. No, wait...a clingfoil.'

'A clingfoil?' Harry repeated.

Good lord, this old man's barmy. Dumbledore was eccentric, I'll admit, but nothing like this.

'Are you sure you heard Nott correctly, Aberforth?' said Snape dubiously.

'I'm not deaf!' Aberforth huffed. 'I heard what I heard, and I heard the kid say he wanted a bloody clingfoil. As to what such a thing is, I don't know. You're the genius, you figure it out. Kid said he was hoping to get a hold of a foil soon but that...what was it? Oh, right...he didn't quite have enough funds to purchase it.' He paused.

'Thank you, Aberforth,' said Snape, his voice positively dripping with sarcasm. 'You've been very helpful. Now if you don't mind, you really must be going so I can secure this office.'

Aberforth got the hint.

'All right, then,' he said gruffly, and he started out of the office. 'By the way, Potter, Albus was always talkin' about you. Couldn't get him to shut up. Never had kids, did Albus, but he always said if he'd had, he'd have wanted a son like you. Said you were special, a good kid, were destined for great things, blah blah blah. Told me to tell ye, so I am.'

Harry swallowed yet another lump in his throat. 'Thanks,' he managed.

Aberforth gave a kind of snort. 'If you change your mind about that bird, Potter, just let me know.'

And with that, Aberforth left the office; Snape hurried after him for a moment, and Harry was sure he heard Snape distantly order an Auror to escort Aberforth from the castle.

Harry, for his part, stood frozen in place, half in shock. Between meeting Dumbledore's brother, being bequeathed Fawkes, and learning about Nott...

'Well, Potter,' said Snape, as he swept back into the office, 'if you'll just collect the bird and be on your way...'

'What about Nott?' Harry blurted. 'Can he be expelled?'

'For what?' said Snape. 'Having a meeting with an unknown person to discuss obtaining a clingfoil?'

'But he could be spying...on me, or...or on you...' said Harry, weakly.

'Obviously I have long considered this to be likely,' said Snape. 'Unfortunately we can't expel students based on the hearsay evidence of a pub owner, even if that pub owner is the brother of Albus Dumbledore. Nott is no fool, Potter--he'll never say anything too incriminating. Furthermore, you might do well to consider that acting too quickly where Nott is concerned will only cause him to change tactics, if indeed he is working on the Dark Lord's behalf. And if he is expelled outright, we could hardly keep an eye on him, now could we?'

Harry hadn't thought of that.

'No, sir,' he said.

'Well then,' said Snape, 'I suggest you let me worry about Theodore Nott. You worry about dealing with the Dark Lord. No doubt your friends will help you with that.'

Harry glared at Snape, but nodded and said, 'Yes, sir.'

'Good,' said Snape. 'Now, if you'll just take this bird with you...'

Harry nodded; the perch was far too large and heavy to carry, so Harry levitated it with his wand. Fawkes gave a squawk of protest.

'Sorry, Fawkes,' said Harry apologetically. 'We...we have to move.'

The bird gave a chirp, as though he understood, but stayed on the perch. He simply looked too exhausted to fly. Harry grimaced--he hoped he could at least get Fawkes back to his room before he exploded into flames and was reborn.

Snape opened the door to Dumbledore's office and Harry started out, but then he stopped.

'I can't believe that was Professor Dumbledore's brother,' he said, his mind still reeling somewhat from what he'd witnessed.

'Yes, you're not the only one,' said Snape wryly.

'What happened...I mean, he's just so...different from Dumbledore,' said Harry.

'That's putting it kindly,' said Snape.

'Strange,' said Harry, 'that he's a barkeep. I mean, Dumbledore was so famous--'

'Ah, well,' said Snape, 'Aberforth has...a unique history. He got in trouble with the Ministry once. There was an incident involving goats.'

Harry's eyes widened again; he vaguely remembered Dumbledore mentioning this. 'Yeah?'

'Trust me, Potter, you really don't want to know. Now, go on.'

Harry's progress back to Gryffindor Tower was fairly slow, owing to levitating Fawkes and his perch. The bird trilled sadly here and there, and Harry wondered how he must be feeling, without his former master there anymore. Fawkes gave another mournful chirp and Harry looked up at him.

'I miss him, too,' Harry said softly, reaching up to stroke the thinning red plumage.

Fawkes gave a little gurgle, and chose that moment to burst into flame.

Harry yelped as his hand was singed, and sprang backwards, forgetting his Levitation Charm as he fell painfully onto his backside. The perch clattered to the floor, and the Auror who was trailing Harry hurried to his side.

'You okay?' the young wizard said, helping Harry back up off the floor.

'Fine,' said Harry, waving his scalded hand.

'What was that?' said the Auror, who couldn't be more than just a few years older than Harry.

At that moment, Harry heard the treble warble of a newly born baby phoenix, sticking his head out from a pile of ashes on the floor.

'A phoenix,' said Harry, bending down to carefully pick the baby Fawkes up in his hands.

The Auror gazed at Fawkes in wonder. 'I've heard of them but I never really believed they were real,' he said. 'Oh, I'm James Marchbanks, by the way.'

'Harry Potter,' said Harry, shaking James's hand with his right as he held onto the baby Fawkes in his left.

'Yeah, I know,' said James.

'My dad's name was James,' said Harry.

'I know that, too,' said James. 'My gran talked about your dad a few times.'

'Your gran--'

'Madam Marchbanks,' said James. 'Oversees fifth year exams.'

'I remember,' said Harry, as they continued toward Gryffindor Tower; James levitated Fawkes's perch after Vanishing the pile of ashes on the floor.

'Anyway, she said your dad was really talented, but that he was a bit of a hell-raiser,' said James.

'That sounds about right,' said Harry, grinning.

They reached the corridor leading toward Gryffindor Tower.

'I've got to head back,' said James. 'Most of us aren't back from holiday yet so I have a bigger section to patrol. You'll be okay from here on in?'

'I'll be fine,' said Harry, and he carefully extracted his wand and took over levitating Fawkes's perch.

'See you around,' said James, smiling at Harry, and then the young Auror turned in a sweep of robes and headed away, down the corridor and back toward the main entrance.

The baby Fawkes gave a little chirp.

'Almost there,' said Harry, walking carefully round the corner to the stairs leading to Gryffindor Tower.

It was then that the sound of voices stopped him. One male, one female. And very familiar. Harry paused and listened. He knew if he barged in on the scene in a protective rage, if he interfered, Ginny would be furious. Instead, he set down the baby Fawkes carefully in the large circular pan right beneath the perch and waited.

'Please, Ginny...can't you just give me a few minutes?' Draco pleaded.

'No,' said Ginny firmly. 'Dammit, Draco, you promised--'

'I know, but I need your help now,' said Draco. 'I can't wait until our next bloody session together--'

'Well, you're going to have to!' said Ginny sharply, her voice shaking with anger. 'As it is I should report you to Mrs. Tonks.'

'Ginny, don't--'

'Go away now, Draco,' said Ginny. 'And don't bother me again. I mean it. Unless you want Harry--'

'I'm not scared of Potter,' Draco spat.

'Of course you're not,' said Ginny, sounding sarcastic. 'I have to go, Malfoy.'

'Don't walk away from me,' Draco said, his voice half pleading, half growling. 'Please, I'm all alone now!'

'What are you talking about?' Ginny hissed.

'Ginny,' Draco begged, and his voice changed. 'I need you...'

'Draco, don't--'

Okay, now I can interfere.

'Hey!' Harry's voice didn't even sound like his as he stormed around the corner, wand raised, and raced up the stairs two and a time.

Draco, who had been gripping Ginny's arm, immediately let her go and backed away; he looked about ready to draw his own wand, but appeared to decide against it.

'I wasn't hurting your girlfriend, Potter,' he said contemptuously.

'He wasn't,' said Ginny.

'Just checking,' said Harry, glowering at Draco. 'Ginny, do you think you could help me with something?'

Ginny looked at him for a moment, confusion written all over her face; Harry could sense that she was wondering if he was being serious, or simply using a diversion to get Draco out of the way. But their eyes met and she nodded.

'Sure,' she said. 'Draco, go on.'

Draco's eyes, which had been full of loathing and jealousy and fixed on Harry, moved to Ginny, and at once became longing.

'I'm sorry,' he said, his voice sounding almost pathetic, and Harry saw the way the other boy's jaw worked, as though he despised himself for looking so desperate, and yet seemingly unable to help himself.

'It's okay,' said Ginny warily. 'Don't do it again, Draco. I mean it. I'll see you later this week.'

At this, Draco's icy grey eyes filled with hope. Harry felt slightly nauseated.

'Okay,' said Draco, nodding, and he headed off, taking another staircase down toward the direction of the Slytherin dungeon.

For a moment, Harry and Ginny watched him go.

'You okay?' said Harry, looking up at Ginny.

She let out a breath. 'I'm fine,' she said. 'Well, mostly. You're right, Harry. He's...he's getting a bit undone, isn't he?'

They started down the stairs, heading to where Harry had left Fawkes and the perch.

'Are you sure you still have to keep this up?' Harry asked softly. 'Meeting with him?'

'I'm sure,' said Ginny. 'I just...' Her voice trailed off.

'What?'

'Nothing,' she said, but Harry knew it wasn't nothing; he could feel the waves of emotion pouring off her, could see the lines of worry etched in her freckled forehead.

But he didn't press her, because the look in her eyes told him that she wasn't quite ready to talk about it, or if she was, discussing it in a public corridor was hardly the place.

They picked up Fawkes instead, and carried him and levitated his perch back to the tower, into the common room and up to his room. They didn't speak until they reached the dormitory, which was empty save for them, and Hedwig's cage, which was open and empty. She was out hunting. Harry only hoped she didn't get jealous or upset at the presence of his new pet. Or worse, try to eat him.

'I can't believe Dumbledore left him to you,' said Ginny, cradling the baby Fawkes in her hand. She was smiling.

It was then that Harry remembered meeting Aberforth Dumbledore. He told Ginny all of it.

'A clingfoil?' said Ginny. 'What is that?'

'I have no idea,' said Harry, shaking his head. 'The old man really did seem a bit cracked, if you ask me, and he said he'd had a few drinks by the time Nott went in. Aberforth could have heard it wrong. Anyway, Nott's clever enough to know to use coded language if he's meeting a Death Eater in a pub.'

'So Nott is almost certainly working for them,' said Ginny, sounding tired as she set Fawkes down gently in a new pile of ashes she had conjured. The little bird burrowed contentedly into the ashes and fell asleep at once.

'Looks that way,' said Harry. 'I mean, Aberforth couldn't say if the other person was a Death Eater or not, but who else could it be? Nott knew something about what happened to Charlie, Nott's dad is a Death Eater...and the Hog's Head is, like, a haven for sketchy types.'

'Could Nott be the spy, then?' said Ginny.

'I hope so,' said Harry fervently.

'You hope so?'

'If Nott's the spy, Ginny, you don't have to meet with Malfoy anymore,' he said.

Ginny bit her lip.

'What?' Harry asked, taking her hands. She was definitely worried. He felt a knot in the pit of his stomach, and wondered if it was coming from her.

'I can't stop meeting with him,' she said slowly.

Harry let out a breath. 'Why?'

'Harry, I'm scared,' she admitted. 'I mean...you told me Draco was acting really messed up before the holiday but I didn't really believe you. I mean, I knew he was already but I figured it couldn't be as bad as all that only...tonight...'

Harry stiffened. 'You're sure he didn't hurt you?' he said. 'I didn't hear everything he said to you--'

'So you were eavesdropping,' said Ginny, looking at him archly.

'Yes,' said Harry, unabashed.

Ginny smiled weakly. 'It's fine, I'm glad you were and I'm glad you came when you did. It's not that I thought he would hurt me, mind, I just...I think he's starting to come a bit...unglued.'

Harry gave a little snort and sat down on his bed.

'That's an understatement,' he said.

'The thing is, Harry,' said Ginny, 'what if I stop the sessions with him and he gets worse? What if my sessions with him are the only thing keeping him from...from hurting other people?'

'You don't think he's the spy, do you?'

Ginny shook her head. 'I'm willing to consider it as a possibility, but...my gut tells me no, he's not. But he's weak, and he's confused. He's...fragile. He could be manipulated into doing something dangerous.'

Harry regarded her for a moment, and then remembered a detail of Ron's vision, and something Ginny had said only a few days earlier. 'What about Pansy? Could she be--'

Again, Ginny shook her head. 'I doubt it,' she said firmly. 'For one thing, Draco knows what she's about. He knows she plays games. I think where Pansy's concerned, Draco's fully aware. And anyway, I'm not saying he's being manipulated now, by anyone. I'm just saying, he could be, if his mental state gets any worse. Pansy can only get so far with him, but someone else, someone cleverer, someone who is trying to help get to him. If I can stop that from happening...I have to.'

Harry sighed. 'I hate this,' he said.

'Me, too,' said Ginny.

Harry considered. 'Well, based on what I saw between those two, I think Draco probably has the power in that relationship.' He shuddered as he recalled the scene of Draco and Pansy in the empty classroom. 'She's not completely hopeless but...Draco's definitely pulling her strings.'

Harry shuddered again. Something was tickling him at the back of his brain. Something that was right there, on the edge of his consciousness, trying to push itself forward. It was an answer, or a question. Something that he knew was important, something that told him he was wrong about something. But he couldn't fathom what it could be. He went over everything he knew so far; the details in Ron's dream; what Aberforth had said; all that Hermione had written in her huge list; the codes...all of it was running together...pointing to something.

'What?' Ginny asked.

'Nothing,' said Harry, and then he shook his head. 'No, not nothing. Something's...off, but I can't figure out what it is.'

'Maybe we should find Ron and Hermione and tell them about this,' said Ginny. 'Ron might have remembered something else from his dream, and Hermione...she's good at this stuff.'

An hour later, Harry, Ginny Ron and Hermione sat in the Great Hall at supper. Professor McGonagall had returned, along with all the professors--including Hopkirk, who was talking with Snape--and most of the students, but at once, Harry noticed something.

'Where's Pansy?' he whispered, leaning over to Ginny. Ron and Hermione both looked at him quickly, with wide eyes. They all looked over at the Slytherin table and indeed, Pansy Parkinson was not there. At that moment, Blaise Zabini and Daphne Greengrass both looked at them; the look on Zabini's face was grave, and Harry knew at once that the two of them knew something.

'We'll find out later,' said Hermione softly, as Neville sat down across from them.

'Hey,' he said, nodding at everyone. Seamus and Dean sat down next to him, and everyone greeted each other.

'Good holiday?' Seamus asked lightly, spooning himself some roasted potatoes.

Ron and Hermione exchanged glances.

'Fine,' she said shortly.

'Good,' said Ron.

Seamus and Dean exchanged looks--clearly they knew something was wrong--but they didn't comment.

'How was your holiday?' said Ginny, a bit too cheerfully, as Lavender and Parvati slid onto the bench next to her.

'Great,' said Dean, smiling. 'Went to Barbados to visit a few distant relatives. Nice to get away from this bloody cold weather. Seamus came along.'

Lavender gave a disdainful sniff and reached for a platter of green beans.

Seamus leaned over to Harry. 'Lavender's sore I didn't spend Christmas with her,' he whispered. 'But come on, would ye rather do Christmas in freezing bloody London or go to Barbados where it's warm and the girls wear almost nothin'?'

Harry pursed his lips. 'No comment,' he joked, and Ginny punched him playfully in the arm.

'How was your holiday, Neville?' Harry asked.

Neville flushed. 'Okay,' he said. 'Spent part of it with Luna, but then they went to Sweden again. They asked me if I wanted to go but...I stayed with...well, Gran wanted me to stay here.'

Harry and Neville exchanged looks; Neville's eyes were very sad, and Harry didn't need to guess why. Again Harry wondered what it must be like, to have parents who were alive but didn't know you. Whatever progress Neville might be making on his memory potion--which Harry still hadn't told anyone about--clearly, it wasn't helping his parents at all. And yet Harry noticed that Neville's eyes weren't merely sad, but wistful.

He said nothing else, and Neville nodded, indicating to Harry that they could talk about this later.

The moment the meal ended, Blaise Zabini and Daphne Greengrass walked over to the Gryffindor table; they got dirty looks from Gryffindors and Slytherins alike, but neither of them seemed to care.

Instead, Blaise and Daphne pulled Ron and Hermione aside and spoke in low voices. Harry didn't bother trying to listen in; Ron and Hermione would tell him and Ginny later. Instead Harry waited for Blaise and Daphne to finish. Harry watched them walk away; Daphne gave him a soft, friendly sort of smile before following Blaise out of the Great Hall.

Ron and Hermione immediately approached Harry.

'My room, in an hour,' said Ron. 'We've got this prefect meeting we've got to deal with.'

'Okay,' said Harry. 'We've got stuff to tell you, too.'

Back in the dormitory, Harry finished unpacking. He took off his robes and changed into a heavier jumper; the castle was very cold at the moment. Seamus was with Lavender at the moment, no doubt trying to appease her for neglecting her over the holiday. Dean and Parvati had gone to the library, both of them complaining about being behind on one of Snape's essays (for once, Harry was not in the same boat). Neville entered just as Harry was fastening his jeans.

'Hey,' he said, nodding at Neville.

'Hey,' said Neville. 'I didn't want to mention it in front of anyone but...well...my potion, it works. At least, I'm pretty sure it works. I gave some samples to Augustus Pye--you know, the Healer--over the holiday and he tested them. Well, not on people, he did some kind of brain cell test, I'm not sure what it was about. But it works, he said that the potion helped fix the damaged cells, or something.'

Harry stared at Neville in wonder. 'Wow, Neville, that's fantastic.'

'Yeah,' said Neville, blushing. 'I mean, it still has to be tested on people and...well, it looks like it won't help...Mum and Dad, because they've been...like that for too long.'

'I'm sorry,' said Harry.

Neville shook his head, but he wouldn't look at Harry for a moment. 'It's okay. Really. I'm okay with it. I mean, if it can help other people. Augustus is going to keep in touch with me. Or try to, anyway. It's really hard these days, everyone's scared about letters going astray and stuff, and Augustus and I have kind of sworn not to tell anyone about it. He's not even supposed to be doing those tests, he's taking a big risk.'

'It's for a good cause,' said Harry. 'Congratulations, Neville. Really.'

'Thanks,' said Neville. 'I'm just glad I was able to do something useful. I mean...I know I'm not great at much--'

'Don't say that,' said Harry.

'It's true,' said Neville insistently. 'It's okay, I'm fine with it. Really. I'm just glad I could do something. And thanks, too, Harry. For your help. I know I'm asking a lot of you, keeping it to yourself and all...'

'Forget it,' said Harry, waving a hand. 'It's no trouble.' He paused, and thought of something. 'Neville, when do you think...I mean, when do you plan on telling people? It has to come out sometime, right?'

'Augustus wants to run some more tests,' said Neville. 'He keeps saying he wants to test it on a person but...that would really be cutting it fine. I mean, he can't test it on someone without their consent, only...an insane person can't give consent so he'd have to ask a relative...so it's probably going to be a while before the potion can be tested properly. We're only keeping it a secret so...so the formula doesn't, well, fall into the wrong hands. After what happened with Luna's old book and all...you know...'

'Yeah, I know,' said Harry, remembering the previous year all too well. 'Listen, Neville, I won't say anything about your potion. Until you say it's okay.'

'Thanks,' said Neville. 'I'm going to turn in early, I think. Long day tomorrow.'

Harry watched Neville gather his toothpaste and soap and head to the bathroom, and shook his head.

A memory retrieving potion. Of course there were other potions like this in existence, but it sounded like Neville had indeed made a breakthrough. If the potion worked, Neville would be a hero to the wizarding world.

Harry couldn't help but smile as he left the dormitory to head to Ron's room.

Harry rapped softly on Ron's door, which was glowing faintly blue.

'Who is it?' came Ron's muffled voice.

'It's us,' said Harry, clutching Ginny's hand. He heard the door click and swing open, and he and Ginny hurried into Ron's room; the door quickly shut and locked behind them.

'Hey,' said Ron, who was standing by the bed, pacing. Hermione was sitting on the bed, leaning up against the wall, her back against several pillows.

'Are you two okay?' said Harry, as he took his usual position in Ron's desk chair; Ginny joined Hermione on the bed.

'Anthony Goldstein's gone,' said Hermione fretfully; she was worrying her hands so much they looked raw.

'What do you mean, gone?' Ginny asked.

'He's missing,' said Ron heavily. 'He disappeared yesterday morning.'

Harry swallowed.

'Anthony's--'

'Muggle-born,' said Ron. 'Yeah.'

'Shit,' said Harry. 'And his parents?'

'Nothing happened to them,' said Hermione. 'They were at work. Anthony told them he was meeting some friends in Diagon Alley. He never came home.'

'Maybe...maybe...' Harry's voice trailed off and he groaned. There wasn't even any point in trying to come up with an alternative explanation for Anthony's disappearance.

'Michael Corner's the seventh year prefect for Ravenclaw,' said Ron. 'Until Anthony comes back. Which nobody believes he will.'

'I spoke to Hopkirk after the meeting,' said Hermione. 'Remember what we talked about, a while ago, Harry? About how your blood is slowly poisoning him?'

Ginny gave a small gasp.

'Voldemort wants Anthony's blood, doesn't he?' said Harry, screwing up his face in horror.

'I don't see what else it could be,' said Hermione tightly. 'The non-human blood must not be working for him anymore. That must mean he's weaker. And...and now we know why Death Eaters came after me, and my parents.'

'Jesus,' Harry murmured. 'They wanted your blood, too.'

Ron made an ugly noise in his throat and sat down next to Hermione, taking her hand.

'And Ron's,' she said. 'Torturing my parents was just...icing on the cake.'

Harry swallowed. 'I'm so sorry, Hermione.'

'It's not your fault, Harry,' she said. 'I've been thinking. Voldemort must be in worse shape than we thought.'

'What makes you say that?' said Harry.

'The fact that he went for us first,' said Hermione. 'And so quickly. Why did they attack so fast? They could have waited a day, my parents would have gone to work, just like Anthony's. Ron and I would have left the house, gone into Muggle London. Even if we had half a dozen Aurors watching us, it would have easier to snatch us off the street than penetrating all the wards around my parents house and breaking in. The Death Eaters could have created some kind of...mass confusion and snatched us without anyone even knowing until it was too late. Instead they go after us in a protected space that they don't know all that well.'

'And the attack itself,' said Ron. 'It was sloppy. Apparating inside? How obvious is that? Any witch or wizard knows what that sounds like. And the fact that I didn't see it...well, okay, that was my fault because I didn't meditate but then again, maybe I could have meditated and I still wouldn't have seen it, because the attack was so last minute. Like it was thrown together.'

'There's another thing,' said Hermione. 'There was a fifth Auror there. Ron broke his leg, but he got out. If he Apparated, he couldn't have gone very far, and there's no way Helene Rosier or Rodolphus Lestrange could help him.'

'So?' said Harry.

'There was no Plan B,' said Ron. 'I've seen this Rosier woman operate, and Lestrange. They do things neatly. This was messy. It's not like them.'

'Ergo, this was a last minute plan,' said Hermione. 'Voldemort gets the news from his spy that Ron and I are going to a Muggle area. He goes after us for two reasons: to get our blood, and to draw you out. He uses our blood in a potion or a spell or something, to give himself enough strength to fight you. He kills us, and you go after him in a fit of grief or rage and...'

'...he kills me,' said Harry. 'Or I let myself be killed because I'm so miserable that my friends are dead.'

'That's basically it,' said Ron.

'It didn't work, obviously,' said Hermione.

Harry suddenly remembered something. 'My scar,' he said. 'I've always felt something in the past, when he's angry. But this time...nothing.'

'There you go,' said Hermione. 'Voldemort is weak. So...he decides to come up with Plan B. Going after you at Christmas was a...a crime of opportunity. None of us were in the safety of Hogwarts and he took a chance. It didn't work. Now we're back at Hogwarts. He's weaker, but he figures he's got some time before you two meet up again, so he go about a safer, more conservative plan.'

'And he started by having Anthony taken,' said Ginny. 'He'll pick off Muggles and Muggle-borns one by one.'

'It's not just Muggle-borns,' said Ron.

'What do you mean?' Harry asked.

'Pansy's missing, too,' said Hermione.

At this, Harry's jaw dropped.

'What?' he and Ginny said together.

'She went missing yesterday, too,' said Ron. 'She left home yesterday morning, according to her parents, and never came back. Blaise's family and hers are neighbors. That's how he knew.'

'Dear god,' said Ginny. 'Draco...that's what he meant when he said he was all alone now.'

'You talked to Malfoy?' said Ron.

'Yes, earlier,' said Ginny. 'And no, he didn't try anything. But...that explains a lot. He's really bad off, Ron. This has to be why.'

'For all we know Draco could be behind Pansy's disappearance,' said Ron scornfully.

'I told Ron, Malfoy can't lie to me,' said Ginny. 'I would have known if he'd done something like that.'

'But, wait,' said Harry, 'I thought Malfoy went to spend the holidays with Pansy. So how is it she's missing and he's here?'

'Unless he left the Parkinson house early for some reason,' said Hermione.

'There's only one way to find out,' said Ginny.

'What, now?' said Harry.

'Now,' she said.

'This is mad,' said Ron. 'We're out after curfew--'

'Like that ever stopped you before,' said Ginny.

'--and we don't even know where he'd go,' said Ron grumpily.

The four of them had donned school robes. Ron and Hermione made sure to prominently display their Head Boy and Girl badges and gave the pretext of patrolling and escorting Harry and Ginny around. Most of the Aurors still weren't back from holiday, and wouldn't be back until tomorrow.

'I know where he'd go,' said Ginny confidently, and she led them up a familiar corridor, and up several flights of stairs and a few ladders.

'Bloody hell,' Ron grunted, as they reached the top of the North Tower. 'The old Divination classroom?'

'Shh,' Ginny hissed, as they stopped outside the door to the old, familiar classroom. Harry was certain he could still detect the faint hint of incense wafting from beneath the door.

Ginny extracted her wand and whispered, 'Alohomora,' and the door clicked open.

At once, a familiar blond figure whirled round in a swirl of fine black robes.

'What the hell?' Draco Malfoy muttered, as Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny all pushed their way into the room.

'Good evening, Draco,' said Ginny evenly. 'We have to ask you a few questions.'

Draco scowled. 'I'm not talking to any of you.'

Ron advanced at once. 'You can talk to us standing up, and of your own free will, or I swear I'll force Veritaserum down your throat.'

Draco sneered at Ron, but his eyes were nervous, and his Adam's apple bobbed in his throat. He realized he was greatly outnumbered, and stepped back.

'Fine,' he said, defeated. 'What do you want?'

'Where's Pansy?' Harry asked.

Draco looked at him incredulously. 'What do you mean, where's Pansy?'

'She's gone missing,' said Hermione. 'Do you know where she is?'

'Of course I don't know where she is!' Draco snarled.

'Bollocks,' said Harry, 'you were with her over the Christmas holiday.'

'Yeah, for part of it,' said Draco defensively.

'And what about the rest?' said Ron, towering over him. 'Did you spend a little time with some of your old Death Eater mates, maybe?'

'You're full of shit, Weasley,' said Draco. 'I don't run with that crowd anymore, remember? They sort of tried to kill me a couple of times and I'm a bit soured on their company.'

'It's a little convenient, though, isn't it,' said Hermione, 'that you spend the holiday with Pansy and she winds up missing and you don't.'

'What's it to you, Mudblood?' Draco snapped.

Ron raised his wand and pointed it at Draco's throat.

'Say that one more time and I swear--'

'Ron, ease off,' said Harry. 'Draco, answer the question. Where's Pansy?'

'I don't bloody know where Pansy is!' Draco screamed, and he shoved Ron's wand hand away. 'Okay? For your information, I left her house two days after Christmas, and I came back here, and I've been here ever since. If you don't believe me you can ask Snape, and Filch, and Peeves and the Bloody fucking Baron--'

'Why'd you leave?' Ginny interrupted. 'And keep your voice down.'

Draco stared at her for a long moment, with a mixture of hatred and yearning.

'Sorry,' he said, his voice sounding chastened.

Harry swallowed his revulsion; it looked, indeed, as if Ginny was the only person Draco could or would respond to in any productive manner.

'It's okay,' said Ginny, fighting to keep her voice even. The tension was flowing off her skin; Harry knew she was trying not to show any sign that she was unnerved by Draco's attention to her. 'Just tell us what happened,' she added.

'We had a fight,' Draco said, his voice a bit shaky. 'A really bad one. I left.'

'That's it?' said Ginny.

'I'm not going to tell you what we said,' said Draco, some of his old arrogance creeping back into his voice.

'I wasn't asking you to,' said Ginny. 'That was the last time you saw her?'

'Yes,' said Draco, but then he looked away.

'You're not telling us everything,' said Ginny, her voice gentle; Harry, Ron and Hermione had moved behind her, watching as she carefully dealt with Draco.

'I was supposed to meet her yesterday,' he said. 'She wrote to me. She said she was sorry and...and could we meet in Diagon Alley and talk it over.'

'She wrote to you?' said Ginny.

'Yes,' said Draco, and then his pale face actually look stricken. 'Shit...her letter.'

'You wrote back to her?' said Ginny. 'You said you'd meet her?'

'That's just it,' said Draco. 'I wrote back and told her I wouldn't. I was so...pissed off at her for everything. I didn't want to see her. But she went to Diagon Alley anyway.'

Ginny scrutinized him for a moment, and Draco seemed to shrink, just slightly.

'He's telling the truth,' she said.

Hermione let out a sigh. 'Pansy's letter must have been intercepted before it got to you, Malfoy. Whoever took her knew she planned to meet you.'

'You think so?' said Draco sarcastically. Hermione ignored him and continued.

'And your letter never reached her at all,' she said. 'At least, it looks that way. So she went to Diagon Alley expecting to meet you and...she disappeared.'

'Why?' said Harry. 'Why would anyone take Pansy?'

'To get back at me, I'm sure,' said Draco savagely. 'And to force her parents to join up, probably. She warned me I shouldn't go to her parents' house. They're on the wrong side, she said. It wouldn't do to have me in the house. Just in case one of them showed up for tea.'

'Death Eaters came to the Parkinsons' house?' said Hermione.

'No,' said Draco. 'But they could have. That's what it's like for pure-blood families who don't join the cause.'

'Funny, but the Death Eaters haven't stopped by my parent's house for tea,' said Ron.

'You know what I mean, Weasley,' said Draco contemptuously. 'I'm talking about pure-blood families who don't take sides. Or try not to. Your family obviously doesn't qualify. But her family does. They don't care what happens to Mud--to Muggle-borns, but they don't feel like worshipping the Dark Lord, either. It's all about keeping up appearances.'

Draco kicked at a pillow on the floor and ran a hand through his hair, which was as messy and stringy as Harry had ever seen it.

'It's my fault,' he muttered. 'I shouldn't have gone home with her, I pressured her into it...'

'I'm sure she'll be okay,' said Hermione gently, but this apparently was the wrong thing to say, because Draco looked up at her with such naked hatred, it made Harry's blood go cold.

'What the fuck do you care, Granger?' he hissed. 'You've always hated her. Now you're going to pretend to be all concerned because she's probably lying in an alley somewhere, dead? As if it matters to you. As if she matters to you!'

'She's a human being, Malfoy, of course she matters,' Hermione protested.

'Aren't we all?' Draco snarled, and he stormed right up to Hermione. Ron tried to intervene but Draco gave him a brutal shove that he wasn't expecting; Ron stumbled back slightly and Draco took out his wand.

'You're all a lot of hypocrites,' he hissed. 'The only reason you give a shit about Pansy right now is because of how it might affect your precious Harry Potter. Potter's got to save the world, who cares about some Slytherin girl you lot never liked.'

'Give it a rest, Malfoy--' Ron began.

'No, you give it a rest!' Draco bellowed. 'You don't know even half of what it means to live with him hanging over you! Oh, sure, big bad Voldemort's out to get Potter, poor bloody Potter, the sad orphan Boy Who Lived! At least you had a choice!'

Harry stared at Draco in horror as tears began to run down the blond boy's face.

'You have the luxury of choosing sides, of knowing where you stand! You have the luxury of having families who won't sell you out to score suck-up points to their lord and master. You have the luxury of being self-righteous and pure! I don't, I've never had that! And you act like you know everything? Like you care about what happens to people like me? To people like Pansy? Fuck all of you! She's gone, do you understand? I have nothing and nobody! You have everything and I have nothing, and fuck all of you for pretending to give a shit!'

He shoved his way through the four of them and ran from the room; Harry heard his retreating footsteps and angry sobs fading in the distance.

'Jesus,' Ron muttered.

Ginny looked stricken.

'He's not lying, is he?' said Harry.

'No, he's not,' said Ginny sadly.

'Don't tell me you feel sorry for him,' said Ron.

'Of course I feel sorry for him,' said Ginny. 'And so do you, if you'd only admit it.'

'I don't,' said Ron, sounding disgusted. A moment passed, and then he shrugged and scowled. 'Okay, I do. A little. But don't tell anyone.'

'Harry?'

'Yeah,' said Harry reluctantly. 'I feel sorry for him. Even if he's always making it all about him. Did you notice that? He's more upset about how this affects him than what it means for Pansy.'

'That's how he is,' said Ginny, letting out a breath.

'I suppose this means Pansy isn't the spy,' said Hermione. 'Not that I ever believed she was, but...'

'Do you think Voldemort would...would use her...for her blood?' said Harry, shuddering for what seemed like the hundredth time that day.

'Why not?' said Hermione darkly. 'I can't imagine they'd take her simply to get back at Draco and her parents.'

'He's right,' said Ginny. 'Draco, I mean. We don't know what it's like, being like them. The pureblood families caught in the middle.'

'They wouldn't be caught in the middle if they'd choose the right side,' Ron pointed out.

'Sometimes it's not that simple,' said Hermione, but she didn't sound that convinced.

'It is that simple,' said Harry. 'Your parents didn't choose to get involved, Hermione, but...they fought back, didn't they?'

Hermione looked at him sadly. 'Yes, they did.'

'I'm sorry,' said Harry, 'I shouldn't have said that.'

'It's okay,' she whispered. 'You're right. Both of you are right.' She looked at Ron and smiled at him weakly. And suddenly she put her arms round Ron, and then Harry, and finally Ginny, and before Harry knew it, the four of them were in an awkward embrace.

Harry's first instinct was to run; a part of him was still uncomfortable with this kind of thing, this sheer physical act of affection. But suddenly all of them felt Ginny's emotions move through them like a gentle but insistent current, and Harry realized he didn't want to move. This, he realized, was the true safe place. It wasn't a room or a building. It was his friends.

They stayed that way for a long time.

A/N: Confused yet?