Chapter 15

Kelsey got up and followed the black-haired wizard through a door on the left side of the room.

They entered a bedroom, furnitured with a big bed with silk sheets on it. Right next to the window he recognized a wooden dresser with a big mirror on top. A table had been placed on the opposite side of the room, covered with books and parchment. There were pictures of Harry and his parents all over the wall, as well as pictures of Harry playing quidditch.

About fifty Harries were waving at him from all over the room. On top of the bed he saw a woman with long beautiful red hair which was spread over the pillow; although her eyes were closed he could imagine how they looked like --- vivid green --- just like Harry's. She slept deeply.

He stepped closer towards the bed when he recognized that Harry's mother looked very pale. Her breathing was shallow and her body seemed tense. He sat down on a wooden chair next to her and put her hand in his. Her soft hand was warm and shaking slightly. At this very moment he knew that they must find a way to wake her up. She had survived Voldemort's attack and just couldn't ... no she musn't ... die just because they were not fast enough. There had to be a way and he was determined to find it.

---

Kayla was just on her way out of her dorm to go down for breakfast when she heard something knocking on the window. She crossed the room and recognized immediately the big black owl. The girl opened the window and the owl landed right on her bed. Kayla grabbed the letter that was attached and opened it quickly.

Tell them everything, but make sure Harry is not around!
He mustn't find out!

She slid the piece of parchment into her pocket and hurried out of Gryffindor tower. The enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall was bright blue like the sky outside. Kayla sat down next to her friends on the Gryffindor table, her mind racing. How should she tell them without Harry noticing? She could tell Hermione, but what about Ron? And should she tell Zara at all? Kelsey had not said anything about her at all. So she decided she would tell Hermione first and then ask her what she thinks about it. She was smart and only had Harry's best interests at heart.

---

"Severus, are you sure?" Dumbledore asked deeply concerned.

"Yes headmaster. The Dark Lord has changed his plans. The whole time he made us believe, that he only wants to recruit followers right now. It made sense because nobody actually believed that he has returned. But some of the groups he addressed, like the vampires and a little group of wolfmen won't follow as long as they don't have proof that he has the powers he's pretending to have. The Dark Lord was furious when he received their response. He is planning a big attack to welcome the vampires and wolfmen amongst his followers." Snape explained.

"Where, Severus? Professor McGonagall whispered, her voice trembling.

"Hogwarts" Snape said firmly

"No he can't ... he just can't"

"Unfortunately he can and he will, Professor. If we can't stop him first." Snape answered.

"Severus I can assume, that you keep us updated." Dumbledore stated.

"Of course headmaster"

"You may return to your office Severus. Professor McGonagall and I will talk about the new situation and decide what improvements have to be made to insure the students' safety." The potion master nodded and left the office immediately.

---

"Hermione? Can I talk to you for a second?" Kayla whispered, motioning to the other girl to follow her further back into the library.

"What's wrong Kayla? Something happened to your brother?" Hermione asked slightly concerned.

"No Kelsey's feeling a lot better already and his vision is coming back too"

"So what is it then?"

"Sit down and listen please. And not a word until I'm finished. I don't want to draw unnecessary attention" Kayla whispered once more.

"But why?"

"Just listen please" Kayla scanned the area around them carefully, but there were no students sitting close to them. She leaned across the table and told Hermione in the same whispering voice everything Kelsey had told her

Hermione's jaw hit the table when she listened to what her fellow Gryffindor had to tell her. "Are you sure Kelsey wasn't just pulling your leg?"

"I'm absolutely sure." Kayla said firmly "I know my brother very well, maybe better then he knows himself. He would never be joking about something as serious as that! Believe me. Do you have an idea how we can tell Ron about it without Harry finding out about it. The two of them are inseparable."

"Harry is tutoring one of the third-years in DADA this evening. This would be the best chance." Hermione suggested.

"Ok let's do it then. We need to go back to the others before they get suspicious" Hermione followed her friend back to the table where Harry and Ron were doing their potions essay. Right after dinner Kayla was sitting next to the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room again, buried in books about herbs, minerals and other potion ingredients and where to find them. She was determined to find out about these special ingredients even if it would be the last thing she would do in her life. She kept shooting glances at Hermione waiting for a good opportunity to inform Ron.

Then she sighed deeply and opened another book when Harry suddenly got up and grabbed his bag. "It's time for me to go. I have to help this little one with his boggart." Harry said looking around for his student. "I'll be back in an hour"

He spotted his student at a table right next to the portrait hole and waved at him, motioning to follow him. As soon as Harry had left Hermione jumped up and grabbed Ron by his wrist.

"What's going on?" Ron called, but Hermione didn't answer and pulled him up and towards the stairs to the boys' dorm.

"What are you doing? Ron yelled furiously trying to free his arm from Hermione's tight grip

"Just follow and be quiet" Hermione hissed when she dragged him up the stairs closely followed by Kayla.

"HERMIONE GET OFF ME NOW!" Ron yelled still struggling against Hermione. The girl let his wrist go and told him to sit down and listen. Ron kept yelling at Hermione; what was she thinking she was doing? Have the girls gone mad?

"What is it" Ron growled and dropped on his four-poster bed. Kayla started to explain and his reaction was similar as Hermione's a few hours earlier.

"WHAT" he screamed. "You've gone mad...definitely...mad ...mad" he spat and started walking towards the door.

"NO....YOU...STAY...RIGHT...HERE" Kayla panted. Both girls had jumped forward, seized the tall red-haired boy on his arms and pulled him back towards the beds while he was struggling to move forward.

"I know this sounds weird and it's extremely hard to believe, but you have to remain quiet about what we have told you. Harry mustn't find out about it or nobody will be safe anymore." Kayla glared at Ron her eyes glittering furiously. Ron decided that it would be the best just to leave it like this. The girls obviously had a serious problem. Maybe he should send them to Madam Pomfrey? He wouldn't tell Harry anyway because it was just cruel to raise hopes and if Harry wouldn't believe it anyway. At least one of his friends was still right in his mind.

"Ok I won't tell Harry anything, because I don't want to hurt him. His parents died 14 years ago and everybody knows this. You-know-who killed them and this is a fact" Ron said simply and walked back down to the common room leaving the two girls behind.