Chapter Ten:
"Did you see Ginny dive for the snitch? That was bloody brilliant, Gin!" Ginny beamed from ear-to-ear at her brother's comment. "And Victoria is amazing! Best second year I'd ever seen. She's got a bright future as a beater ahead of her, that one does." Ron continued to talk excitedly about the game as he, Ginny, and Hermione climbed through the portrait of the Fat Lady. "Did you see the look on Hannah's face when- oh....." Ron had just understood why Hermione and Ginny were giving him strange looks. "Hi, Harry."
Harry sat in his favorite chair in the Common Room. Both arms rested against the arm rests, and his feet were planted firmly on the ground. He moved the chair so that it was facing the window. He was staring out of it, not blinking.
"Hi, " he said, "Nice save from Edwin."
"Thanks...listen, Harry. I understand why you didn't show. It must be really- wait...you were there!"
"I was," Harry said with no given tone that might suggest his mood. He continued to stare out the window at nothing in particular.
"Sorry, just didn't see you. Was he sitting with you, 'Mione?"
Hermione shook her head.
"I wasn't sitting with anybody," Harry said. Ron seemed to finally take a hint and told Harry he was going to go take a quick shower before Prefect duties.
"Harry?" Ginny stopped before turning into the Girls' Dormitory. When he did not answer or look away from the window she spoke up anyway. "Is there anything you want to talk about?"
Harry still said nothing, but gave a small shake of his head. Ginny left, and he was alone again.
He almost did it. He almost told his friends about the Prophesy, but as soon as he heard Ron's ecstatic voice echo into the Common Room, it became too hard to do. It would be heartless to bring the news down upon them so suddenly, especially when they were so happy.
Oh, well, he thought. Maybe some other time.
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
He tapped the "spare bit of parchment," and observed. Dumbledore paced his study. Filch and Mrs. Norris were prowling the fourth corridor. Tonks was asleep in her private quarters, and Luna Lovegood stood outside of the Fat Lady's portrait.
"Who's there?" The Fat Lady woke up suddenly as Luna pulled Harry underneath the invisibility cloak. They quietly walked down the corridor without a glance at each other. When They were a safe distance away from the portrait, they both sighed with relief.
"Thank you for letting me borrow the cloak, Harry. It proved to be quite useful when Profesor Mcgonagall nearly caught me exiting the Ravenclaw Common Room."
"No problem," Harry replied, "I knew I could trust you with it."
Luna smiled,"hopefully we shall get somewhere tonight."
Harry's face immediately turned pink, he could feel he could feel it. "Er..excuse me?."
"Harry!" she laughed, "you know what I meant!"
"Oh...er...yea." He was doing it again. Twisting Luna's words around so that they sounded-
"- perverted" Luna said.
"I...uh...sorry, didn't catch that," Harry stammered, still full of embarrassment at what had happened.
"I said boys can be so-" Harry clapped his hand over Luna's mouth. The look of confusion that overcame her was brief however.
A faint echo of footsteps drew near. Though the invisibility cloak was very useful, it could also be a burden when trying to move about. It was even more difficult now that there were two people under it. The only way they could avoid being confronted by Mcgonagall, who was now only feet away, was to have Luna press against Harry. When he had suddenly pulled her towards him, she gasped, causing Mcgonagall to look their way. Harry held his breath, and could feel Luna's against the side of his neck. His arms were wrapped around her. Harry stared into the blue orbs that were her eyes, and Luna looked into his with a serene expression upon her face.
For a moment, just for a short moment, it seemed as if time had halted all together. When Mcgonagall had walked past, it sped up again. The two friends had awkwardly pulled apart as much as the cloak would allow, and continued their walk.
They approached the restricted section of the library with caution. The Marauders Map showed that Filch's cat was lurking somewhere close by in the hall. Luna and Harry began their weekly raid on books. They were not sure what they planned to accomplish. Harry had hoped that somewhere amongst the dusted shelves would be a book containing anything, even just a short passage on something that might lead them to Remus. They were mainly focusing on Ron's brief and random visions, because that at the present moment was their only link to the werewolf.
When Harry caught Luna nodding off, he shut the book she was reading and told her it was time they headed back to their own dormitories. A small clock sitting upon one of the desks read 2:13.
"Come on, Luna." Harry put his own book away, and draped the cloak around both of them before checking the map. "Mrs. Norris moved to the dungeons. She's not too far from Snape. I think it's clear. Let's go."
"Sorry we did not find anything tonight," Luna said, stifling a yawn.
"It's ok We'll check back next Wednesday."
"Hmm...what about-" Luna paused to yawn. "What about tomorrow?"
"I think we need to sleep a little more."
Harry walked Luna to the Ravenclaw Common Room, and made sure she was safely inside of the entrance before bidding her a good night. Then he sleepily began the walk to his own bed. His eye lids were heavy and threatened to close with every step. Harry was so exhausted that he neglected to look down at the Marauders Map from time to time. If he had he might have noticed Professor Dumbledore standing in front of the Fat Lady's portrait.
"There you are, Mr. Potter. I must say, you did cause a bit of a stir when your bed was found empty." Harry looked down, ashamed. "Minerva, there is no need to search. Mr. Potter is here."
Professor Mcgonagall emerged from the other side of the hall with a sickly pale Ronald Weasley. Harry took off the cloak, and cleared the map. Dumbledore pretended to be oblivious to this, but Mcgonagall narrowed her eyes curiously at the object. Ron pulled away from the grasp Mcgonagall held on his shoulder. He stumbled over to Harry, who helped him regain his balance.
"Saw him," He gasped. "Saw him with Scabbers." Ron shook his head and corrected himself, "saw him with Wormtail. He's got him." Mcgonagall regained her grip on Ron's shoulder. Harry cringed at the acrid smell of Ron's breath. Ron obviously had not gotten away with having this vision without becoming sick. He was still intensely pale, and he trembled.
"What?" was all that Harry could manage to utter.
"If the both of you could please follow me. We are going to the Infirmary so that Mr. Weasley can be checked over by Madam Pomfrey. If she allows I would like to ask you a few questions. Do you object, Mr. Weasley."
Ron shivered slightly, but shook his head. Dumbledore turned to Harry.
"Harry, it isn't safe to lurk about the corridors late at night, whether it be in the company of another or not. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir. Sorry, sir."
Dumbledore never fails to see all.
As soon as the four had arrived at the Infirmary, Madam Pomfrey whisked Ron away to a bed.
"No, absolutely not!" she shrieked. "I am sorry, Headmaster, but this child is in no condition to sit up all night having a slumber party. He must sleep."
"Ah, but I believe you are forgetting what caused him to be ill in the first place."
Madam Pomfrey narrowed her eyes at Dumbledore. "Fine. Ten minutes, Headmaster. I shall give you ten minutes and none more! Is that clear?"
"Crystal," Dumbledore smirked at the nurse.
After Madam Pomfrey had left, Dumbledore performed a silencing charm on the room so that their conversation was ensured to be a private one. Mcgonagall tried to creep away as to not intrude, but the headmaster called her back.
"Minerva, I believe it is wise to inform you of these matters. However," he said, looking at Harry and Ron, "the few who know, the better. I expect Ms.Granger and Ms. Weasley to be told and...ah, perhaps Ms.Lovegood as well?" Harry blushed and nodded. Ron raised his eye brows at Harry.
Mcgonagall took at seat next to Harry beside Ron's bed. Then Dumbledore continued to speak.
"I have been doing a bit of research on the subject of these peculiar visions, Mr. Weasley. I am ashamed to say I have found nothing on the matter. Your father has been trying to look into Ministry records as often as he can risk. As far as his knowledge, I am told that the brains still reside in the same location they did in June. Mr. Potter, " Dumbledore now turned to Harry. " I am aware of your weekly visits to the library with Ms. Lovegood, and as wonderful as I think it is that you are willing to help others, I must ask you to stop this. The corridors are not safe at night. There are many who should not be trusted who prowl the halls of this school."
"Yea, I've figured," Harry said cooly.
"I am speaking of students, Harry." Dumbledore gave him a defining look. "Though it is wise to trust few, which I am positive you are already doing."
Ron gave a hacking cough, and took a sip from a glass of water before vomit could threaten to surface.
"Mr. Weasley, I would greatly appreciate it if you could tell us what you saw tonight."
Ron placed the half empty glass on the night stand beside him, and cleared his throat. "It was very clear tonight, Sir. Remus was in the cell, the same way I saw him the day Hogsmeade was attacked. This time I saw Wormtail. He was standing just outside of the cell, taunting him. He was holding a piece of moldy bread, waving it around. Then I woke up and I felt so sick. Professor, why did I get sick like that? It's a lot like what was happening to Harry last year, isn't it? But V-vol....he couldn't be entering my mind, could he?"
"It is very possible, Mr. Weasley."
"But, Sir...the thing is, Vol-" he took a deep breath, "Voldemort doesn't know that Wormtail is holding Remus captive."
Dumbledore gave Ron a curious look, "and how do you know this?"
"I..I can't explain it. I just sort of...know. You do believe me, right?"
"I do, Mr. Weasley. Which is why I regret to inform you that I would like you to take Occlumency lessons with Harry."
"I have to take those up again?" Harry groaned.
"Yes, I believe I told you this a few weeks ago during our talk after the starting feast?"
Harry nodded. "Professor Dumbledore, I know it's necessary, and I understand why. But is there any way we could have, you know, someone else to teach us? Someone other than Snape?"
"Professor Snape is very skilled in Occlumency and Legilmincy. He would be the ideal teacher or mentor to-" Dumbledore paused.
Both Ron and Harry snorted at the word mentor and Snape being used in the same sentence. When the boys had regained their composure, Dumbledore continued.
"He would be the best person to learn with. There are only three of us here at Hogwarts who know this area of magic, and that is Professor Snape, Professor Tonks, and myself."
Ron and Harry's eyes widened and they look at each other excitedly.
"However, while Professor Tonks is very skilled in Occlumency, her Legilmincy skills are not adequate enough to teach you two. No, I apologize, but I believe it is best if Professor Snape is the one to teach you."
Ron asked, "but what about yourself, could you-"
"Ah, Poppy, ten minutes already? Goodness, does the time fly. I am sorry boys but I believe Ronald here needs to rest. Harry, Professor Mcgonagall shall escort you to the Fat Lady. Mr. Weasley, if you are not up for lessons tomorrow it is understandable, and I will excuse you. Harry, I will allow you to miss your first lesson for your lack of sleep. Be warned however, routine midnight strolls will not excuse you next time. They only earn you a detention. Good night, all." Dumbledore spoke quickly and before one could say lemon drop, he was out of the Infirmary and on his way to his office.
"Come along then, Mr. Potter."
"Feel better, Ron. See you tomorrow."
"See you..." Ron's confused look turned to one of surprise and disgust when Madam Pomfrey shoved a bitter-tasting potion down his throat.