Chapter 21-In Search of Help
Harry lay in the solitude of the dormitory for a while thinking non-stop. Was this really how his life was going to end? Lying helplessly in the comfort of the castle before the Dementors sucked out his soul. Or maybe they wouldn't perform the kiss on him. Maybe they would take him back to Voldemort, and then he would kill him. Either way he was dead meat unless the Dementors could be held off.
"Harry," a small voice said. Harry sat up and saw Hermione standing in the doorway, shifting anxiously.
"Yeah," he sighed as he threw himself back down.
"Are you okay?" She asked, walking over to sit next to him.
"Yeah," he repeated. Harry wanted her to go away, he didn't feel like talking.
"Don't lie to me."
"I'm not." That was a lie as well.
"Harry you almost killed a person," Hermione said, her tone rising slightly.
"I don't think Malfoy counts as a person."
"I know but..."
"He's a slimy prat."
"He is and..."
"And you know what else?" He asked angrily as he got to his feet. He felt like talking now.
"He's a Death Eater. A cold, heartless, slimy, little Death Eater."
"Feel better now?"
"Not really," he admitted as he took his seat next to Hermione.
For a while they just sat in silence, which Harry was grateful for as it gave him time to think about the real situation at hand. The Dementors had already closed in on one side of the castle and the batch approaching their side was unknown to the teachers. Somebody had to tell them.
Harry abruptly got up and headed towards the door.
"Where are you going?" Hermione called after him as she tried to catch up.
"The teachers don't know about the second fleet," Harry said urgently as he bounded down the stairs.
"Harry you're crazy! Absolutely mad!"
"Thanks for your support," he replied smugly.
"Wait!" She yelled, as she finally got up to speed with him. "At least let me come with you." She finished breathlessly.
Harry thought it over carefully. Hermione wasn't a burden and if they were in any danger she was able to do a Patronus Charm. Plus he didn't know how to get out to the grounds from their current location.
"Fine, but we have to be quick," he said as he started to exit through the portrait hole. "And stay by me," he added quickly.
Hermione rolled her eyes exasperatedly and sighed, "Whatever, come on." She grabbed his wrist and pulled him along the same twists and turns he had walked through before. After what seemed like a half an hour Harry found himself in the third floor corridor. "Now what?" He asked bluntly.
"Well I think those guys were staying somewhere near the astronomy tower but I'm not sure if the professors are flying on brooms or hitting them from the ground or..."
"Hermione," Harry said as she began to ramble. "You're getting ahead of yourself. Why don't we just walk out on the grounds or something?"
"Yes, lets just walk onto the grounds were a swarm of Death Eaters are possibly waiting there just to suck out our souls." She replied sarcastically.
"Well then what do you suggest we do?" He asked getting very annoyed. This conversation was going nowhere.
"I don't know," she said, looking around frantically trying to find an answer. "We've got to be able to see them from somewhere. And then we have to get to them but how?"
"Well you said they were by the astronomy tower right?"
Hermione nodded her head vigorously, waiting anxiously for Harry's idea.
"So we'll go up there." He finished.
"Yes but how do we get to them if we see them. We can't fly Harry."
A small grin began to spread across Harry's face.
"Harry are you sure you don't want to reconsider this?"
"Do you have a better idea?" He asked in a hushed tone. They had been climbing stairs for a while now trying to get back to the Gryffindor common room.
"But you know I hate flying..."
"Well you don't have to come then," Harry said very matter-of-factly as they approached the portrait of the fat lady.
"What are you children doing here?" She asked pompously. "Shouldn't you be off in your little hiding places or something?"
Hermione rolled her eyes and stated the password. As the portrait hole swung open, Harry dashed in and charged up the stairs and into the boys' dormitories. He rummaged through his trunk and pulled out his Firebolt.
"I hate flying, I hate flying, I hate flying..."
"Hermione!" Harry yelled. "You don't have to come if you're so bloody scared."
"B-but but...you can't do this alone..." She whimpered.
"Well either let me go alone or get on." Harry commanded as he mounted his broom. They were on the ledge of the astronomy tower looking out past the grounds. The swarm of Dementors was rapidly approaching and they needed to find the teachers.
"I'm coming," Hermione trembled as she climbed onto the Firebolt.
"Ready?"
Harry felt her slowly nod against him as she clutched at his waist for dear life. He pushed off the ground and felt a cold gust of wind sweep through them. The handle of his broom felt like ice and he had shivers up and down his spine. They stayed there floating for a while, trying to find any sign of professors or immediate danger.
"Harry," Hermione said, her voice quavering. "What if the professors aren't out here?"
"No." He said harshly. They just had to be out here, they couldn't just let the Dementors push their way to Hogwarts. And if the teachers weren't out there, but Harry and Hermione were then...
'You're in it deep you know that?' An arrogant voice said in his head.
Harry pointed the Firebolt downwards and before he knew it they were spiraling towards the ground at an alarming rate. Hermione was screaming uncontrollably behind him. He pulled up slightly and regained balance (which was a large relief for Hermione).
"Harry," Hermione said once she regained her nerve. "I don't think that..."
"Give it some time." Harry snapped. He couldn't be wrong. The panic caused a nauseous feeling in his stomach. If they weren't out here where were they? Why weren't they here?
They flew along the edge of the castle and towards the front of the castle. Harry rounded a bend and to his relief he saw all of the professors filing out of the doors. Professor McGonagall's eyes fell on Harry and Hermione and the rest of the crowd turned to see what she was staring at. Harry landed a few feet away from them and Hermione quickly hopped off her end of the broom.
"Dementors!" Hermione cried, looking frantically at the people around her. They were all eyeing her strangely and nobody spoke.
"Yes, Granger we are aware of the Dementor situation," Snape drawled, "But why may I ask are you and Mr. Potter here?"
"Now, now Severus," Dumbledore said calmly. "I'm sure there is a perfectly good reason why the two of them are here." He raised an eyebrow at them as if demanding them to answer his question. Harry opened his mouth to answer him but Hermione cut him off.
"There's a whole other flock of them!" She wailed.
The color slowly drained from the faces of all the teachers. They talked amongst themselves in anxious whispers except for Snape and Dumbledore, who were staring at each other helplessly.
"Are you sure?" Dumbledore asked urgently. Harry nodded his head vigorously.
"Very well," he said, turning his back to them. "Attention!"
All the teachers immediately quieted down and looked up at the headmaster expectantly.
"It seems this situation has gotten far more out of hand. We need to act quickly. Minerva," he said turning to professor McGonagall. "Floo to the Ministry. Tell them it's bigger than we expected. Get as many recruits as they'll be willing to give." McGonagall nodded curtly and rushed back inside the castle. "Severus," he said as she spun to look at Snape. "Alert the Order, see if they can manage anything. They should take anyone who's in immediate danger."
"But Albus..." Snape protested but Dumbledore put up his hand to hush him.
"There is no time for arguments. Time is wearing thin. Now, please go." Snape glanced over at Harry and Hermione before nodding shortly and crossed through the double doors.
"Harry," he said, turning to the young wizard before him. "I need you to go back inside."
"But Professor," Harry objected.
"Please Harry," he said desperately, "Wait inside my office, Minerva will be with you shortly."
"But I can..."
"I am not doubting your ability to assist us in this situation but there are other things that are going on, more important things. Now please." He motioned for them to go inside. Harry opened his mouth to speak again but thought better of it. He dragged himself through the large oak doors with Hermione trailing slowly behind him. They walked up the flights of stairs and through the hallways in silence.
"Harry?" Hermione asked after a while.
"Yeah?" He replied dejectedly.
"What do you think he meant when he said there are much bigger things going on?"
Harry thought about this for a while. He really had no idea what Dumbledore was talking about, but then again nobody really ever did. Something about what he said had clicked in his head though. Somebody said that to him before...
"...there are more important things going on now..."
Harry's mind perked up in the discovery he had just made. Sirius had told him that same thing so long ago at Grimmauld Place.
"I don't know Hermione." Harry sighed, "I don't know anything anymore."
