Chapter 3

Ministry Hearing


The next morning, Harry stumbled out of his bed, answering to the wake up call by Ron for breakfast. He glared over to Mark's bed and found it empty. Grumbling to himself, he went down stairs to the kitchen to get something to eat. He quietly sat down in the nearest chair by the door and found Molly making breakfast and sending it over to the table. Next to Harry sat Mark, and on the other side of him was Remus, who was reading the Daily Prophet. Harry leaned forward a little, feeling a headache coming on.

"You alright, Harry?" Mark asked, concerned for his only living distant relative. Though, Harry mumbled something about 'fine', Remus automatically set the goblet of some potion in front of Harry. The green-eyed boy looked at Remus suspiciously.

"I knew that you would get more headaches like that, so it's best to give you some potion for it. Though don't get too dependent on it."

"Thanks," Harry rose the cup to his lips, drank, and instantly his headache disappeared. "Ah.. now I could use some food."

"Really?" Mark asked.

"Yeah, I see no point to not trust them anymore after.. after, eh, you know, last night."

"Oh, yeah, okay," Mark responded slowly.

"Yeah, now all I need is something to trigger my memories of the last year of my life," joked Harry. At this, Ron, Hermione, Remus, Mrs. Weasley, Sirius and Tonks looked up at him warily. "What? Is the last year of my life that bad? Or are you not all trustworthy anymore?" He asked with a hint of sarcasm, and bit of suspicion.

"No, not that we aren't trustworthy anymore, but it's, well, you could say you've had the worst year yet."

"Oh, if that's true, then I won't bother. I had a feeling somehow, that I don't want to remember my last year at Hogwarts. I-I just do," Harry picked at the eggs, not eating his breakfast yet.

"Well, I think we all can understand that. Though it would help if you knew when you get back to Hogwarts," Remus said, eating his bacon.

"The rumors about you will go like wildfire, Harry," said Hermione.

"Oh… well, that sucks," muttered Harry, pushing his plateful of food away from him. Molly Weasley huffed, but didn't say anything about Harry not eating. Harry got up from his chair and left the dining room.

'Nothing in my life ever agrees with me,' Harry thought darkly, angry at the world. 'I suppose they are right, after all, I'm famous. Screw that… If sixth year is going to be bad, I'm going to bloody go into hiding by Christmas time. Damn you, Voldemort!' Suddenly his scar seared with pain. "Waugh!" his knees buckled, keeling over and curling up into a ball. He tried to will his pain away, but failed. He couldn't see anything but red and orange from the fireplace.

The pain felt so intense, he just wanted to die. Then images flickered before his eyes. He stood before a semi-circle of dark cloaks with white masks. One was kneeling on the floor two meters away from him, and two meters away from the semi-circle.

"How dare you give me false information!" he hissed at the person in front of him. "Don't you tell me that Harry Potter has amnesia! How do I know you're telling the truth?"

"My lord, I can show you in my pensieve, I am indeed, telling the truth. However, his memory recovering is progressing quickly."

"Mmm, Fudge! Go get him a Pensieve!" He saw the porky man trying not to do what he says. "Fudge, Fudge, do you want to die today?"

"No, my lord!" Answered ex-Minister Cornelius Fudge.

"Then, get him one!" Harry barked at him, and then saw him scrambling off to find one. Ten seconds later, he came back with the Pensieve. "Good, now give that to our dear Severus Snape. I would perform the Legillmency, but he's far too skilled. Not that I'm complaining," he crackled. Then Harry saw Snape drawing out a specific memory into the bowl in front of him. He then prodded at the surface and drew out the figure into the air.

It showed himself, Harry Potter, the first impression when they tried to retrieve Harry from Surrey. The way he had acted in front of the three people he supposedly knew so well. Then Snape drew out another figure, Remus Lupin, talking about the possibility of Harry having amnesia. Then the figure went back into the bowl, with Snape retrieving his memory back into his head.

"Mm, indeed, you are telling the truth, I'm proud of having you as our spy for the Order," he crackled again, and rose his wand and pointed at Fudge who froze with fear. "Crucio!" Then the pain in his head seared again and hearing the laughter ringing in his ears, felt a hand shaking his shoulder to wake him up.

"Harry, wake up!"

"Ah, I'm up, stop!" Harry doubled over, pressing against his painful scar with his right hand.

"Sorry mate, but, what happened? Is it Voldemort, or did you remember something else?" Ron asked worriedly.

"Vo-Voldemort, wait, where's Remus? Sirius, there's something I need to tell th-wait, why am I going to them anyhow!?"

"Because that's what you usually do," Ron said slowly. "They're coming here soon with a potion."

"Ah bloody hell, I don't need something for my head! I don't have a hea-" Remus and Sirius came into the room, holding a cup of potion. "I don't need it Remus, I don't have a headache. I saw Voldemort," Harry hesitated. "There's something you should know about Snape! He's a spy!"

"We know Harry, he's a triple agent, but he's for the light side, don't worry Harry," assured Remus.

"How do you really know? He's told Voldemort that I have this, you know, this amnesia!"

"Of course he did, we have to sacrifice some of our knowledge to the Dark Side. But nothing too valuable, if you understand," Sirius explained.

"Oh, I suppose so," he said quietly, thinking about the meeting. "And who's Fudge? Wait, you don't mean--! THE Minister of Magic? Well, ex-Minister."

"Oh, he died a few weeks ago Harry," Remus said.

"But he's not dead! He's still alive, I saw him at the meeting," said Harry. "That must mean that Snape's really not on our side!"

"Now really?" Remus asked, surprised. "That's… a twist, I can certainly see him as a Death Eater. Sad to know though, But that doesn't make any sense with Severus."

"We'll let him give his report about his meeting and see if he mentions Fudge being alive, then we'll know that he only found out today. If not, well, we'll bring it to his attention. If he's found guilty," Sirius made a gesture of slitting his throat.

"I suppose, this would really be a test of his true position, wouldn't it?" Harry asked, and the other three nodded. "So, when's our meeting?"

"Tonight but-" Remus replied, but got cut off by Sirius.

"Moony, he WILL join us," he glared softly at Lupin, who sighed.

"But Molly won't be happy-"

"What am I not going to be happy about?" barged in Mrs. Weasley with a stern look on her face.

"Deciding whether or not to let Harry in on the meetings," Sirius replied and looked back to Remus. "He's handled much more than any of us, he's got every right to attend!"

"I disagree, he shouldn't be in the meetings!"

"Fine, if this is going to cause so much trouble, I won't come at all. In fact, that way Snape won't have to hesitate in front of me," Harry said, tired of the bickerings. "And it's only after breakfast? Why does each day keep getting longer and longer? Mrs. Weasley, can I at least go shopping for supplies today?"

"Oh, I don't see why not, though you need to have at least three guards with you to Diagon Alley," Harry groaned. "It's for your own good Harry! Now get ready to go in an hour," she left the room and silence fell on the group.

"Well," Harry spoke up after a moment. "I guess I should get ready to go to Diagon Alley," with that, he also left and went up the stairs to his room. He got out of his Pj's and put on his muggle clothes. Then he tried to brush his hair flat, but failed ever so miserably.

"It's never going to be flat dear," breathed the mirror.

"Ah, whatever," Harry muttered, setting down his comb on the dresser, went downstairs again and found Hermione, Ron, Mark, Remus, Sirius, and Tonks in their traveling cloaks..

"Sirius, er, I thought you had to stay in hiding."

"No, I was-" then the other people shushed him for fear of bringing up memories.

"Oh, I suppose you were cleared, then? I guess that's all I need to know, then, so, we're ready?" The others shifted their glances at each other, waiting for Harry to go into another fits. But when Harry didn't, Ron spoke up.

"Yeah, just waiting for mum to set us off," Ron replied. Then Molly Weasley came into the room with a pot of floo powder.

"All right, dears? Now take the pinch of the powder and say 'Diagon alley' clearly and you should be fine. Remus, you first," Mrs. Weasley instructed. Harry vaguely remembered his first trip using floo powder. He shivered at the memory, shaking his head. One by one, each went through the Floo Network. Remus, then Tonks, Harry, Sirius, Hermione, Mark, and Ron brought up the rear. Molly Weasley stayed behind to look after Grimmauld place.

Harry landed in the Leaky Cauldron pub's grate. Everyone set out to Diagon Alley and went up the white stone stairs into Gringrotts. Harry had to get some money to get a new wardrobe, sets of books, and to replenish his potion ingredients stash. After two hours of shopping, Harry getting books about Animagi, defensive magic, and then sneaking off into Knockturn alley with Mark to get a Dark Arts book. Harry only wished to learn more about it to know what he was getting himself into. When they came back out into Diagon Alley and found 'his' guards searching for him, they scolded him for straying.

"Sorry, sheesh, I didn't want to be watched all the damn time, you know!"

"But something could have happened, Harry," Remus justified, heaving a sigh. "At least, you're here, safe, and, now, where did you go?"

"Do I have to tell you?"

"Yes!" chorused the three people.

"If Harry doesn't tell, I'll tell, we went into-"

"Mark!" Harry yelled, glaring at him.

"Fine, you do it, then," Mark glared back.

"I don't get you, you were on my side about the trust part!"

"Ah, so it's the trust part, huh?" Sirius asked. "What about that Firebolt question you had me answer?"

"I-That-Er-That doesn't-"Harry stammered. "Fine, we went into Knockturn Alley!"

"What!?" yelped Remus. Tonks widened her eyes, and Sirius gaped at him. "What for!? You're lucky you're even alive!"

'I'm not that stupid, you know, we had our faces covered the whole time. Not that suspicious in that Alley. Anyways, I didn't want to be ignorant about the Dark Arts, so I decided to get some information. In case I ever get myself into such a situation. God knows how often I get myself into trouble, sometimes."

"No, give me the book," said Remus firmly.

"Why should I? Now we need to meet up with Ron and Hermione at the ice cream parlor," Harry turned around and started walking to the spot they were all to meet at. However, he took not more than two paces when he felt a firm grip on his right shoulder.

"Don't you walk away from me," snarled Remus. "Give me the book."

"Remus, are you worried that I would actually use them?"

"That is exactly what I am afraid of," replied Remus.

"Well, I can assure you that I won't, the only practice I would get is in my own head," Harry said coolly, pulling away from Remus and walking away faster. Mark had to run to keep up with him. Once they found Ron and Hermione sitting at one of the table eating ice cream, Harry sat down and the rest of his guards finally caught up with him.

"Please, Harry, I know your intentions are good. At least, let me look at the book," Remus pleaded.

"What book?" Hermione asked.

"Harry got a book from Knockturn Alley," Mark explained, and Hermione gasped and looked at Harry.

"Harry! What were you doing in the Knockturn Alley, where the guards with you?"

"'Course not, otherwise I wouldn't have gone in, with them around," Harry replied, snapping. "Anyway, I'm not handing the book over, I know you'll just take it from me. Well, perhaps you can look, but don't touch. You can do that back at the Headquarters."

"Fine Harry, that suits me," Remus replied, staring at Harry as he sat down opposite of him. Silence fell, except for chattering people around them, fairies flying, and singing.

"I told you, I won't hand the book over," Harry spoke up after being stared at. Remus grumbled and looked away, not at all happy about Harry.

After some idle chatter and eating some ice cream, the group got up to go back to the Headquarters, using a portkey in a secluded alleyway. After the portkey transported them back to the 12 Grimmauld place, Harry took his stuff upstairs and came back down with the book that Remus wanted to see so much.

"Since you're so adamant about what book this is," Harry walked into the living room where Sirius, Remus, Ron, and Hermione were. Mark was already upstairs in their rooms. He saw that Remus sat up straighter, and Harry sat opposite of everyone and set the book on the table, flipping the pages every moment or so.

The book contained several permanent curses, of how you do them, incantations and the background of it. There were some life-threatening hexes as well, containing some good background of each of the curses, hexes, and spells. Of course there were some gruesome pictures like turning someone inside out and severing many limbs at once.

"Erm, I never heard of this book, must be rare. Well, at least it provides lots of background in it," stammered Remus. Harry closed the book in annoyance.

"I'm not going to perform them! I just want to be informed."

"But you were curious the last time you did them!" Hermione spoke up.

"And what did I do last time, anyhow? Why do you keep mentioning that I had gone to-Wait, I did an Unforgivable?" The group wasn't happy at all that Harry was getting closer to solving his last year at Hogwarts.

"Look, you take a rest, the first four years worth of memories at Hogwarts has been exhausting. I don't think you should remember the fifth year right now. Perhaps tomorrow or the day after," Sirius said, getting up from his seat and helping Harry up to his feet.

"Long day I suppose, good night," said Harry curtly. He left the living room to go to his quarters. Three long days later, at Grimmauld place, Harry found himself eating a piece of toast in the kitchen alone. Then someone came into the kitchen, yawning and he realized that it was Sirius.

"Mo-Morning," yawned Sirius, sitting across from Harry. "Nervous?"

"Should I be?"

"Well, you certainly seem really laid back. But why are you up early?"

"None of your business," Harry replied. Before he had woken up, he had had more dreams of Voldemort and other snippets of memory from his fifth year. Such as Umbridge giving him a detention the first week at Hogwarts. Granted, he didn't know the whole fifth year, yet, but he was on his way to remember.

"Fine," said Sirius sourly, drinking a cup of milk.

Then Mrs. And Mr. Weasley came into the kitchen, followed by Remus; Tonks and then a tired-looking Mark traipsed into the room.

"Morning, Harry dear," Mrs. Weasley said with a sad smile. "Would you like something to eat?"

"I already ate my breakfast, thank you very much," replied Harry.

"Oh, well, at least you ate something," she said, bustling around, making everyone's breakfast. Once everyone ate their breakfast, Mr. Weasley spoke up.

"Okay, so everyone good to go? The hearing starts at nine, A.M., of course, so don't worry about the time being changed. You will be in the Madam Bones' office for the hearing. I'm sure we can clear you just as easily as last year. Do we have the proof of Harry's amnesia?" he asked.

"Yeah, I got the paper from a mediwizard that came two days ago to examine Harry," Sirius replied, pulling the roll of parchment out.

"Okay, can you stop talking like I'm not here?" Harry said annoyed.

Oh er, sorry Harry," Sirius said.

"Sure, Sirius," said Harry coolly.

"Right, now, everyone ready? Okay, here's the portkey," he took out an old napkin for everyone to grab hold of. "Three, two, one," Within seconds, they all arrived at the Ministry Atrium. Harry composed himself, and looked at the water fountain. Without warning, the battle at the Ministry came back to him.

The trickery that Wormtail did by posing as Aunt Petunia, the escape he tried to make, battling with the ten death Eaters by the water fountain, and the short duel with the Dark Wizard. He also remembered setting the chandelier on top of Voldemort and escaping to the surface and founding Lucius and Bellatrix there. He had performed the Unforgivable on Bellatrix after knocking Malfoy out. Then he had escaped to an alleyway to think and came back to the Ministry because he had nowhere else to go. He remembered being cocky with Voldemort and dueling. Then everything became fuzzy and he started hearing his name being called.

"Harry, Harry, oh Harry wake up!"

"It's happening again isn't it?" someone asked.

"It must be, this room must have triggered this, Harry wake up!" Harry let out a small groan. "Harry, is it happening again?" Remus asked, worry evident on his face.

"Yeah, only this time, I only remember the battle that had taken place here, I understand now, ah, shouldn't we get going?" Harry asked, rubbing one side of his temple.

"Don't worry about the Hearing Harry, we can be a bit late," Mr. Weasley said as Sirius helped Harry to his feet.

"Alright, but I want to get this over with though," Harry said, walking to the room to have his wand checked in, as well as Remus, Sirius, and Mark's, even though Mark doesn't know any magic as of yet.

"How did you know where we had to go?" Remus asked, as everyone left the room.

"I-well, have been getting dreams with some pieces of my memories, and my last hearing was one of them," Harry explained.

"Oh, I see, anything else you remember?" he asked again.

"Just that one, and Umbridge's detention, and-and one of Snape's."

"Snape?" he asked.

"Yeah, we've already talked about it," Harry stepped onto the lift as everyone else filled in. Once they reached the Second floor for the hearing, Harry waited for someone to lead, seeing that he never actually had the Hearing in the original room the year previously. Once Mr. Weasley, the new Minister of Magic, entered the room, Harry found himself with ten other people in addition to the group he had arrived with.

"You're late," Madam Bones said.

"Sorry, we ran into some difficulty on the way down here, excuse him please," explained Mr. Weasley. "Well, shall we get down to business?"

"Yes, let's," she said. "Well, on Friday, the August 23rd, you received a letter from us for using magic, when you are fully aware that you are an underage wizard. Is this correct?"

"No, madam," Harry replied.

"No? Then what's not correct?" she asked.

"I wasn't aware that I was an underage wizard."

"You weren't? How can that be, since you were on trial last year?"

"I have a case of amnesia," he replied.

"Is that right? Do you have a proof, mister?"

"Yes, may I bring up a witness?"

"Yes, you may," she replied.

"Sirius?" Harry asked, and Sirius came up next to Harry, pulling a roll of parchment out.

"Do you want to read this or me to read out loud?" asked Sirius.

"Read it out loud, please," replied the judge.

"Okay, so here it is: Harry Potter seems to have a mild case of amnesia. He currently only remembers his years at the Dursleys and his first four years at Hogwarts. However, the examination was taken after Harry regained a few partial memories. This was according to the temporary amnesia potion, which is also mixed with truth potion. Harry was willing to submit himself under the Vertiaserum. According to Harry James Potter, he remembered nothing until he had received assistance from an acquaintance. Right now, he only needs some sort of object, certain words, and/or experiences to trigger his memories." Then Sirius set down the paper in front of Madam Bones for her to see the valid signature of the Mediwizard.

"Ah, I know this mediwizard, very trustworthy. Well, I'll accept your story on amnesia. However unusual. Did he say something about how he had gotten the amnesia?"

Sirius then looked down quickly scanning the paper and his cheeks filled with red tinge. "Yes madam, I-I seem to have skipped a line or two."

"Ah, read it out loud then," she said with a wave of her hand. Sirius picked the paper up and began reading again.

". . .To trigger his memories. As for the cause of amnesia, he seems to have forgotten everything the night that his house was attacked and explosive spell on the house. How he survived, I don't know, I haven't been able to retrieve that information out of Harry. I thank you for the examination."

"I see, so it occurred night when his house was attacked, then? Hmm, Harry Potter, why was the wizard unable to retrieve that information of how you survived?"

"I'm sorry, but even I don't know how, all I know was that I hid under the loose floorboard after expanding the space."

"Ah yes, we did get that spell on your files. However we excused that because it was a life and death situation. Go on," she said.

"Well, that's all I know - I saw some white light though before I was knocked out. I had assumed it was the explosion. Then I woke up two days later in the location where I had hidden."

"Alright. Wait a minute, do you have a legal guardian with you?" asked the judge, while looking through the documents in front of her.

"Well, we don't exactly have that worked out yet," replied Harry, sheepishly.

"Well, I'm afraid we will have to postpone the trial until a guardian can be appointed to you. By law, under 17 years of age, a wizard needs a parent or legal guardian to accompany them or with their permission to attend a court."

Then Mr. Weasley stood up, looking embarrassed. "Oh, I had forgotten the legal guardian thing! Would you give us a three-month extension on the trial to appoint one?"

"Of course Minister, Sir. I suppose we can also take the suspension off Harry for him to attend Hogwarts until we can continue the trial. Meeting adjourned."

Harry's group filed out of the small court room, the door closed behind them, and then Sirius spoke up.

"About this 'legal guardian', I should be the one because I'm the godfather."

"Wait a minute, you're hardly in the public, I am, and I should be the one," interrupted Remus.

"But wait, what about Harry's best friend Ron, shouldn't I be the one because I have the experience?" Mr. Weasley asked. However, Remus and Sirius glared at Mr. Weasley. "Okay, nevermind then but still-"

"I'm the godfather!"

"At least I wasn't in prison!" yelled back Remus, and a hurt look fell on Sirius' face.

"Shut up you three! Mark also doesn't have a guardian! Why are you arguing about this?" Harry asked angry and annoyed that people were fighting for guardianship over him. 'Right, sure, The-Boy-Who-Lived' Harry thought. 'Anyone would like to.'

"Harry, it is because we care about you," Mr. Weasley replied.

"Well, I don't want anyone to care about me!" said Harry hotly.

"We can't help it, okay, so if it were up to you, who would you like as a guardian?" Remus asked, and Harry fell silent, thinking.

"I don't know, we do have three months, don't we?"

"That was only to extend the time because of the paperwork for the guardian," Mr. Weasley replied.

"Oh, well, couldn't you extend it until I'm 17 so I wouldn't need one?" The three adults gaped at him, and then Mr. Weasley spoke up.

"Harry, I can't do that, it's favoritism, and it will look bad. I'm sorry."

"That's fine, wonderful," Harry said sarcastically. "I didn't want anyone to fight for me. How about some random wizarding family?"

"Harry, w-what about me?" Sirius asked, looking hurt.

Then the other two adults looked thoughtful, and both said at the same time. "You know-" the two looked at each other grinning.

"Okay, you first, Remus," Mr. Weasley said.

"Alright, well, you know that might be best. About Sirius being the one as a guardian for Harry," said Remus, and Mr. Weasley nodded.

"That's what I thought, too," he said. "That's what Harry's parents had wanted in the first place. Placing Sirius as the godfather, and I guess we should comply with that. Harry, how would you like that?"

"Fine, I guess," replied Harry dully.

"Right, well I'll get the paperwork started, Sirius you can come back here in a week to fill it out." Then Mr. Weasley went onto the lift alone to get started on the paperwork. The other people went on a separate lift to head back home to Grimmauld place.

"Oh, yeah, what about Mark?" asked Harry.

"You're talking like I'm not here, Harry," said Mark.

"Sorry, but-"

"I don't want one," he said.

"I'm afraid you will need to have one, Mark," Remus said. "Until we appoint you with one, you will be a ward of the Ministry, a subject placed at Hogwarts."

"What? Do I have to?" groaned Mark, and Sirius looked at Mark for a moment, then to Harry. "Well, that sucks," said Mark, kicking the wall of the lift.

"Don't do that," reprimanded Remus, and the lift stopped suddenly.

"Oh bloody hell!" cursed Sirius. "Mark! You killed the lift!"

"Sirius!" yelled Remus.

"What!? This is a dire situation isn't it? Mark, oh bloody hell, how are we going to get out of here?"

"Well, in the muggle world, they would have an emergency phone in the lift in case it stopped working but - "

"But what?" Remus pressed him.

"There isn't one here," Mark explained.

"Just great, we're going to starve here. We're going to die!" Sirius exclaimed, worried.

"No, we're not, Sirius," said Remus.

"Can't you two apparate?" asked Harry, leaning against the wall, not at all worried.

"It's anti-apparation, and I hate small spaces! I can't-I," Sirius let out a really loud, manly scream. Remus slapped Sirius, and he stopped.

"Sirius, get a hold of yourself! Calm down, you're not at Azkaban anymore. If you continue to act like this, I'll stun you," threatened Remus. "Now, we need to think clearly, and do something."

"Such as?" Harry asked, crossing his arms.

"Such as getting out of here!" Sirius said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Sirius, we're all smart in here, I'm sure we can come up with something," said Harry. Mark sat down, thinking as well as everyone else. Sirius was standing up, walking in small circles, panicking.

"Sirius, sit down, it's nerve wracking when you do that!" Remus said.

"I can't stop walking! It's… too small in here," said Sirius, hyperventilating.

"Oh fine, that's it, STUPEFY!" Remus knocked Sirius out cold. "There, now we can think more clearly."

"But that's one less head to think with," said Harry, Suddenly the torches went out on their lift and the familiar cool woman's voice spoke.

"Attention all wizards and witches, there are two spies in the Ministry, please be on the look out for two suspicious wizards. They may be highly dangerous."

"Oh bloody hell, and we're caught in this!" Remus cursed, and the two younger boys rose their eyebrows. "What? I can curse as well as anyone else, you know!"

"Yeah, it's just that you reprimand us for it and then its alright for you!" argued Harry.

"Okay, sorry, Harry. I think we should go and wake Sirius up… ENERATE!" Said Remus, waking Sirius up with a soft groan.

"Ugh, Remus, why'd you do that to me? Why is it dark in here, what's going on?"

"It's just that, there's two spies at the ministry, it was announced just before we woke you up," explained Remus.

"Oh bloody hell, have you found a way out of here yet?" Remus didn't even bother to reprimand him for the language. Harry felt the cold entering him, and started to pass out, hearing the screams of his mum.

"Ah," Harry mumbled.

"Oh hell, dementors! How'd--!?" someone yelled, but Harry couldn't hear properly. He saw some flashes of white, what he knew must be the Patronus charm. He fell to the floor, unable to stand up anymore.

His mum, he could now clearly see the terrified look on her face, and Voldemort advancing on her, killing her. Harry tried to think of something happy. But it had been so long since he had truly felt happy.

"Expe - epecto... exp - expecto PATRONUM!" But all he could conjure was a vapor of white wisps.

Harry struggled for his wand, knowing that Mark was unable to do any spells. In addition, he realized that Sirius and Remus couldn't conjure the Patronus charm. Very unusual, since Remus could usually conjure one. He couldn't push the screaming out of his head, and then he saw something else. He saw himself brutally killing Avery in Hogsmeade - the way he had felt.

The memory changed, he felt long and slithery, he rose up, staring at the man before him. He was waking up, he knew he had to attack him, and so he did, feeling blood running down his mouth and teeth.

"Stop!" yelled Harry, trying to stand up. But he felt a slimy hand grasping his right shoulder. "N-n-n-NOOOO!!!"