Author's Notes - I hope you enjoy this chapter! For it the last time, I am
going to be able post for awhile.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
-Chapter Nine-
The Aftermath
"What did you do with them?" He asked off handedly.
"When we were sure we have extracted all the information from them that he could we disposed them."
The room was fading; Snape's Dungeon was coming into clearer focus. Harry was kneeling on the stone floor with a cloth in his hand. His scar was stinging.
"Harry, are you alright?" Hermione's voice sounded far off.
Bellatrix's voice was still ringing in his ears. He shock his head to clear it.
"Get up Potter." Snape snarled from somewhere above him.
Harry got to his feet gingerly; he was shacking slightly from anger as much as from the aftermath of the vision. He had to steady himself against the table, to prevent falling to the floor.
"I need to go to the hospital wing, Professor." Harry managed to say. Still leading heavily against the table. Snape surveyed him for a moment before permitting him to go. Harry stuffed his things in to his bag and particle ran from the room, or he would have if his legs had been working properly. In a few minutes he was knocking on Dumbledore's office door. The door swung open of its own accord, reviling Dumbledore sitting behind his desk and Lupin and Professor McGonagall sitting in front of him. They were all looking at the door.
"Harry," said Lupin leaping to his feet. "Did you have another dream?"
Before Harry could answer, Dumbledore gestured him into a seat. "What is it, Harry?" Dumbledore asked calmly.
"Err, I was in potions, and I err." Harry struggled to find words to describe what had taken place. He looked up at Dumbledore.
"You fell asleep?" Dumbledore prompted.
"No, I wasn't asleep," Harry, said. "I had just bent down to clean up something on the floor. Then I wasn't there, it was like one of my dreams only I could still see were I was and I wasn't asleep." Harry told them everything he had heard, seen and felt.
McGonagall gasped when she heard of Bellatrix's enjoyment. When he had finished he looked around; McGonagall was very pale, she had her hand to her mouth as if she where going to be sick. Lupin was shacking slightly, Dumbledore was sitting quite still there was an absence of the usual twinkle in his blue eyes.
"Did they mention their name?" Dumbledore said a soon as he had finished speaking.
"No," Harry said angrily. "They never said the name. But I did miss the beginning."
Three more people had died because of him. Which brought the total up to seven, eight if he include Mr Crouch, nine with Bertha Jorkins and ten with that old man. The silence in the room was complete and uncomfortable, even the portraits were still.
"Who has a daughter?" Lupin said suddenly looking up, he eyes on Dumbledore. "Who, in the Order, has a daughter, who isn't at Hogwarts?"
"Several members." Dumbledore said slowly. He got to his feet quickly taking them and by surprise. "We need to get in contact with them, Reamus can you go to the Jones' and the Diggles'. Minerva can you go to the Doges' and Phipps'. They're the only once who I can think of who have a daughter."
Lupin was already putting on his cloak, as he headed out of the room, Professor McGonagall followed him. Harry felt empty now that he had told Dumbledore what he had seen
What was the use of having these dreams, or visions or what ever they are if he couldn't prevent bad stuff from happening to people? If he just had to watch what happened to people and not help them, then he didn't know how he'd bear it. When he had, had the vision with the snake and Mr Weasley he had felt that he was really helped. But the vision he had, had at the end of last year had just made matters worse. But this, this was the worse; he could do nothing what so ever. He could not do a thing about, it was too late, they were already died. Who ever they were!
Harry jumped, as a Dumbledore put his hand on his shoulder.
"It's not your fault Harry. There was nothing you or anyone could have done." Dumbledore said solemnly.
Harry nodded, not feeling any better. Dumbledore sat down again behind his desk and started writing something. When he had finished he rolled it up and took it across to Fawkes, who was sleeping peacefully, his head under his wing. Dumbledore stoked him gently, the bird lifted his head, Dumbledore gave him the rolled up parchment speaking quietly to him, and Fawkes sang one beautiful note before disappearing in a flash of flame.
"Now all we can do is wait," Dumbledore said.
The silence was uncomfortable; Harry could see the people in their portraits moving around in their frames. Dumbledore was pacing up and down the room like an expectant father. The state of affairs seemed to last for hours. At long last Professor McGonagall reappeared out of the fire. Dumbledore moved towards her.
"They're all fine," she said, "is Remeus back?"
"No, not yet," Dumbledore said heavily.
Silence returned to the room, only this time it was worse. Harry knew Lupin would be back any moment with the identity of the murdered persons. A clock, which Harry had never noticed before, was ticking loudly.
The grate boast into flame, Lupin stepped out, dusting the suit from his robes. On his appearance both McGonagall and Dumbledore stiffened. Lupin sigh, looking at each of them in turn. His young face was looked old and tried. Harry hold his breathe wait for him to speak.
"It was the Diggles," Lupin said at last, "their home is still standing. I found them in the sitting room, they had all - they had all been tortured before they were killed." Lupin voice was barely more then a whisper.
McGonagall was sobbing into her hands. "I was sharp with him; he could never handle Bellatrix even at school. He should never have got involved."
"Sit down Lupin you look dead on your feet," said Dumbledore there was a gilt of anger in his blue eyes. "I must notify the Ministry." He crossed the room and took a dark blue cloak from a hook on the wall. "Harry I think it would be better if you were not here." He paused as if considering his words. "Incase someone from the Ministry could happen to come here, we don't want them to know how we get some of our information. Go down and get some lunch. I'll speak to you later."
Harry sighed, great! Just what he wanted food. He left however. He spotted Ron and Hermione at the Gryffindor table as he entered the Great Hall. They both looked round at him as he sat down. Hermione has clearly told Ron what had happened in Potions.
"Where did you go?" Hermione asked at once.
"To see Dumbledore." Harry said
"What did you see," asked Ron
Harry started to tell them about his vision but Ron cut him off.
"You fell asleep in potions?" He asked sounding incredulous.
"Why does everyone think I fell asleep?" Harry said trying to control his anger. "No, I wasn't asleep, I just went into a daze or something ." he told them what he had seen, but not what he had felt.
"That's awful." Hermione said sounding horrified, sensing that Harry did not want to talk about it she changed the subject. "You missed a very interesting Care of Magical Creatures lesson."
"Interesting by whose standards?" Harry asked trying to sound interested.
"Ours," said Ron smilingly, "Well no," he said went he saw the look on Harry's face. "It was a bit creepy, if you ask me. He showed us Churels."
Harry looked blankly at this, so Hermione explained, "They're creatures from India, their women really, but they suck blood and well there a bit disturbing.
*
Harry was so lost in his thoughts that he barely heard what Professor Flitwick was telling them what telekinesis until he became awhile that everyone was getting to their feet. He followed suit. Flitwick moved all the desks and chairs to the sides of the room with a wave of his wand, leaving a large area in the middle of the room clear. Harry elbowed Hermione.
"What are we meant to do?"
"Nothing yet." She whispered back.
"All wizards can use this form of magic," Flitwick said in his squeaky voice. "At times of great emotion; a few can learn to do it at will. That is way we use wands, they are easier to control, but it is possible. You all have at some point in your life. Two or three in a class normally manage it, by fluctuating their emotions. Once in awhile someone manages it easily. Now remember to consecrate hard on your chosen emotion, and then direct it at the cushion." He point to a cushion on the floor in the middle of the room. "Mr Weasley, you first."
Ron step forward nervously, he stared hard at the cushion; a frown creasing his forehead. Nothing happened. Harry could see his ears going red. After about two minutes of Ron staring blankly at the cushion, Flitwick called Dean forward. Dean too just stood and stared. Flitwick continued to call people forward, quite unperturbedly. But nobody made the slightest different to their cushion.
"Mr Longbottom, you next" said Flitwick squeakily.
Neville stepped forward, trembling slightly, just like the rest. He stood there for about a minute before anything happened. The cushion rose in to the air, it hovered about two inches above the ground. The class broke into applause. Neville suddenly came a where of what was going on and jump. The cushion fell to the floor with a soft plop.
When Harry's turn came no one other than Neville had managed to make anything happen. He stepped into the middle of the room, feeling very foulest. He tried to keep his mind on what he was doing, but thoughts of what had happened kept floating in to his mind. Bellatrix Lestrange's voice started to ring in his ears. ".we turned the Cruciatus Curse on his wife."
Harry could fell the anger building up inside him; his eyes suddenly became red hot, he felt something streak out of them. He could not see. He covered his eyes with his hand. The class gasped and applauded again.
"Well done Mr Potter, not quite the result I was looking for but never mind." Flitwick said happily.
Harry looked in bewilderment around the room, looking for what he had done to get such a reaction. Then he saw it. His cushion was on fire.
Harry rejoined Ron and Hermione by the wall.
"How did you do that?" Ron demanded, gesturing at Harry's smoking cushion, which Professor Flitwick had just put out.
"I donno," said Harry in thoughtful confession. How is the world was he might to know why he could do it?
"Why, what were you thinking about?" Hermione asked curiously.
Harry was prevented from answering, by Professor Flitwick who had just called him and Neville forward again and asked them what they had been thinking about when it was their turn.
Neville looked very embarrass, "my parents," he said as quietly as he could. Flitwick then asked Neville to go again, the same thing happened. The cushions rose into the air, hanging there for a few seconds before singing to the floor.
Professor Flitwick then asked Harry the same thing.
He too answered as quietly as he could, "Bellatrix Lestrange."
"Maybe, you should try and think about something else this time." Flitwick suggest.
Harry cast his mind around for something he could think about, he landed on Sirius. Sirius filled his mind. He watched, as if in slow motion, Sirius following through the veil. Grief filled his heart. Harry felt something cold shoot out of his eyes, blocking his vision. The class broke into applause again. When he could see again Harry looked around for the cushion. He spotted it under one of the desks, it was quivering.
"Excellent Mr Potter, excellent," Professor Flitwick said happily. "20 points to Gryffindor."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Thanks to kneh13, HarryGryffinGirl, rhinemjr, radarPLO, TuxedoMac, Bubblelicous*Bubblegum, Candor, Cestrel, Tropic, MHPP, Lisa and girlwholived for reviewing.
Kira-Leigh - oh yes I can, hehe! No sorry I ran out of time, but I thought it was quite a good place to leave off.
prospero - I'm dyslexic, I'm sorry but I can't spell to save my life! I'm afraid you are just going to have to get used to that.
Narcissa-Malfoy-22 - I'll have a look at it!
HipMoonGuru - No, Kreacher is not dead, he did not killed himself. The last we hear of him is when Dumbledore is explaining and he says that Kreacher was laughing about Sirius going to the ministry. And I can't see Dumbledore killing him. I think you need to read the end of the fifth book again!
PrincessSkywalkerOrgana - Ask no secrets and I'll tell no lies!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
-Chapter Nine-
The Aftermath
"What did you do with them?" He asked off handedly.
"When we were sure we have extracted all the information from them that he could we disposed them."
The room was fading; Snape's Dungeon was coming into clearer focus. Harry was kneeling on the stone floor with a cloth in his hand. His scar was stinging.
"Harry, are you alright?" Hermione's voice sounded far off.
Bellatrix's voice was still ringing in his ears. He shock his head to clear it.
"Get up Potter." Snape snarled from somewhere above him.
Harry got to his feet gingerly; he was shacking slightly from anger as much as from the aftermath of the vision. He had to steady himself against the table, to prevent falling to the floor.
"I need to go to the hospital wing, Professor." Harry managed to say. Still leading heavily against the table. Snape surveyed him for a moment before permitting him to go. Harry stuffed his things in to his bag and particle ran from the room, or he would have if his legs had been working properly. In a few minutes he was knocking on Dumbledore's office door. The door swung open of its own accord, reviling Dumbledore sitting behind his desk and Lupin and Professor McGonagall sitting in front of him. They were all looking at the door.
"Harry," said Lupin leaping to his feet. "Did you have another dream?"
Before Harry could answer, Dumbledore gestured him into a seat. "What is it, Harry?" Dumbledore asked calmly.
"Err, I was in potions, and I err." Harry struggled to find words to describe what had taken place. He looked up at Dumbledore.
"You fell asleep?" Dumbledore prompted.
"No, I wasn't asleep," Harry, said. "I had just bent down to clean up something on the floor. Then I wasn't there, it was like one of my dreams only I could still see were I was and I wasn't asleep." Harry told them everything he had heard, seen and felt.
McGonagall gasped when she heard of Bellatrix's enjoyment. When he had finished he looked around; McGonagall was very pale, she had her hand to her mouth as if she where going to be sick. Lupin was shacking slightly, Dumbledore was sitting quite still there was an absence of the usual twinkle in his blue eyes.
"Did they mention their name?" Dumbledore said a soon as he had finished speaking.
"No," Harry said angrily. "They never said the name. But I did miss the beginning."
Three more people had died because of him. Which brought the total up to seven, eight if he include Mr Crouch, nine with Bertha Jorkins and ten with that old man. The silence in the room was complete and uncomfortable, even the portraits were still.
"Who has a daughter?" Lupin said suddenly looking up, he eyes on Dumbledore. "Who, in the Order, has a daughter, who isn't at Hogwarts?"
"Several members." Dumbledore said slowly. He got to his feet quickly taking them and by surprise. "We need to get in contact with them, Reamus can you go to the Jones' and the Diggles'. Minerva can you go to the Doges' and Phipps'. They're the only once who I can think of who have a daughter."
Lupin was already putting on his cloak, as he headed out of the room, Professor McGonagall followed him. Harry felt empty now that he had told Dumbledore what he had seen
What was the use of having these dreams, or visions or what ever they are if he couldn't prevent bad stuff from happening to people? If he just had to watch what happened to people and not help them, then he didn't know how he'd bear it. When he had, had the vision with the snake and Mr Weasley he had felt that he was really helped. But the vision he had, had at the end of last year had just made matters worse. But this, this was the worse; he could do nothing what so ever. He could not do a thing about, it was too late, they were already died. Who ever they were!
Harry jumped, as a Dumbledore put his hand on his shoulder.
"It's not your fault Harry. There was nothing you or anyone could have done." Dumbledore said solemnly.
Harry nodded, not feeling any better. Dumbledore sat down again behind his desk and started writing something. When he had finished he rolled it up and took it across to Fawkes, who was sleeping peacefully, his head under his wing. Dumbledore stoked him gently, the bird lifted his head, Dumbledore gave him the rolled up parchment speaking quietly to him, and Fawkes sang one beautiful note before disappearing in a flash of flame.
"Now all we can do is wait," Dumbledore said.
The silence was uncomfortable; Harry could see the people in their portraits moving around in their frames. Dumbledore was pacing up and down the room like an expectant father. The state of affairs seemed to last for hours. At long last Professor McGonagall reappeared out of the fire. Dumbledore moved towards her.
"They're all fine," she said, "is Remeus back?"
"No, not yet," Dumbledore said heavily.
Silence returned to the room, only this time it was worse. Harry knew Lupin would be back any moment with the identity of the murdered persons. A clock, which Harry had never noticed before, was ticking loudly.
The grate boast into flame, Lupin stepped out, dusting the suit from his robes. On his appearance both McGonagall and Dumbledore stiffened. Lupin sigh, looking at each of them in turn. His young face was looked old and tried. Harry hold his breathe wait for him to speak.
"It was the Diggles," Lupin said at last, "their home is still standing. I found them in the sitting room, they had all - they had all been tortured before they were killed." Lupin voice was barely more then a whisper.
McGonagall was sobbing into her hands. "I was sharp with him; he could never handle Bellatrix even at school. He should never have got involved."
"Sit down Lupin you look dead on your feet," said Dumbledore there was a gilt of anger in his blue eyes. "I must notify the Ministry." He crossed the room and took a dark blue cloak from a hook on the wall. "Harry I think it would be better if you were not here." He paused as if considering his words. "Incase someone from the Ministry could happen to come here, we don't want them to know how we get some of our information. Go down and get some lunch. I'll speak to you later."
Harry sighed, great! Just what he wanted food. He left however. He spotted Ron and Hermione at the Gryffindor table as he entered the Great Hall. They both looked round at him as he sat down. Hermione has clearly told Ron what had happened in Potions.
"Where did you go?" Hermione asked at once.
"To see Dumbledore." Harry said
"What did you see," asked Ron
Harry started to tell them about his vision but Ron cut him off.
"You fell asleep in potions?" He asked sounding incredulous.
"Why does everyone think I fell asleep?" Harry said trying to control his anger. "No, I wasn't asleep, I just went into a daze or something ." he told them what he had seen, but not what he had felt.
"That's awful." Hermione said sounding horrified, sensing that Harry did not want to talk about it she changed the subject. "You missed a very interesting Care of Magical Creatures lesson."
"Interesting by whose standards?" Harry asked trying to sound interested.
"Ours," said Ron smilingly, "Well no," he said went he saw the look on Harry's face. "It was a bit creepy, if you ask me. He showed us Churels."
Harry looked blankly at this, so Hermione explained, "They're creatures from India, their women really, but they suck blood and well there a bit disturbing.
*
Harry was so lost in his thoughts that he barely heard what Professor Flitwick was telling them what telekinesis until he became awhile that everyone was getting to their feet. He followed suit. Flitwick moved all the desks and chairs to the sides of the room with a wave of his wand, leaving a large area in the middle of the room clear. Harry elbowed Hermione.
"What are we meant to do?"
"Nothing yet." She whispered back.
"All wizards can use this form of magic," Flitwick said in his squeaky voice. "At times of great emotion; a few can learn to do it at will. That is way we use wands, they are easier to control, but it is possible. You all have at some point in your life. Two or three in a class normally manage it, by fluctuating their emotions. Once in awhile someone manages it easily. Now remember to consecrate hard on your chosen emotion, and then direct it at the cushion." He point to a cushion on the floor in the middle of the room. "Mr Weasley, you first."
Ron step forward nervously, he stared hard at the cushion; a frown creasing his forehead. Nothing happened. Harry could see his ears going red. After about two minutes of Ron staring blankly at the cushion, Flitwick called Dean forward. Dean too just stood and stared. Flitwick continued to call people forward, quite unperturbedly. But nobody made the slightest different to their cushion.
"Mr Longbottom, you next" said Flitwick squeakily.
Neville stepped forward, trembling slightly, just like the rest. He stood there for about a minute before anything happened. The cushion rose in to the air, it hovered about two inches above the ground. The class broke into applause. Neville suddenly came a where of what was going on and jump. The cushion fell to the floor with a soft plop.
When Harry's turn came no one other than Neville had managed to make anything happen. He stepped into the middle of the room, feeling very foulest. He tried to keep his mind on what he was doing, but thoughts of what had happened kept floating in to his mind. Bellatrix Lestrange's voice started to ring in his ears. ".we turned the Cruciatus Curse on his wife."
Harry could fell the anger building up inside him; his eyes suddenly became red hot, he felt something streak out of them. He could not see. He covered his eyes with his hand. The class gasped and applauded again.
"Well done Mr Potter, not quite the result I was looking for but never mind." Flitwick said happily.
Harry looked in bewilderment around the room, looking for what he had done to get such a reaction. Then he saw it. His cushion was on fire.
Harry rejoined Ron and Hermione by the wall.
"How did you do that?" Ron demanded, gesturing at Harry's smoking cushion, which Professor Flitwick had just put out.
"I donno," said Harry in thoughtful confession. How is the world was he might to know why he could do it?
"Why, what were you thinking about?" Hermione asked curiously.
Harry was prevented from answering, by Professor Flitwick who had just called him and Neville forward again and asked them what they had been thinking about when it was their turn.
Neville looked very embarrass, "my parents," he said as quietly as he could. Flitwick then asked Neville to go again, the same thing happened. The cushions rose into the air, hanging there for a few seconds before singing to the floor.
Professor Flitwick then asked Harry the same thing.
He too answered as quietly as he could, "Bellatrix Lestrange."
"Maybe, you should try and think about something else this time." Flitwick suggest.
Harry cast his mind around for something he could think about, he landed on Sirius. Sirius filled his mind. He watched, as if in slow motion, Sirius following through the veil. Grief filled his heart. Harry felt something cold shoot out of his eyes, blocking his vision. The class broke into applause again. When he could see again Harry looked around for the cushion. He spotted it under one of the desks, it was quivering.
"Excellent Mr Potter, excellent," Professor Flitwick said happily. "20 points to Gryffindor."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Thanks to kneh13, HarryGryffinGirl, rhinemjr, radarPLO, TuxedoMac, Bubblelicous*Bubblegum, Candor, Cestrel, Tropic, MHPP, Lisa and girlwholived for reviewing.
Kira-Leigh - oh yes I can, hehe! No sorry I ran out of time, but I thought it was quite a good place to leave off.
prospero - I'm dyslexic, I'm sorry but I can't spell to save my life! I'm afraid you are just going to have to get used to that.
Narcissa-Malfoy-22 - I'll have a look at it!
HipMoonGuru - No, Kreacher is not dead, he did not killed himself. The last we hear of him is when Dumbledore is explaining and he says that Kreacher was laughing about Sirius going to the ministry. And I can't see Dumbledore killing him. I think you need to read the end of the fifth book again!
PrincessSkywalkerOrgana - Ask no secrets and I'll tell no lies!