Chapter 22-Utter Confusion

Harry was pacing Dumbledore's office for what seemed like an eternity. His mind was racing and he couldn't sit still. He kept himself occupied by making a mental list of what had gone on in the past few hours:

He had been told to stay in a room to keep him safe while the school was under siege.

Nearly thrown Malfoy out a window and let him fall to his death.

Flown out onto the grounds in search of professors who hadn't done much of anything to stop the situation yet.

Been told to go wait nice and quietly in an office while Hogwarts was under a serious attack.

"Harry if you don't stop pacing you're going to wear a hole in the floor," Hermione commented. Harry rubbed his temples and collapsed into the armchair next to hers. "I wish I had a Pensieve," he said, closing his eyes.

"This will all be over before you know it Harry," Hermione reassured him.

"Come off it. I know you're trying to make me feel better Hermione but don't lie to me. I've been told enough lies to last a lifetime."

"Fine," she said somewhat angrily as she sat up and stared at him straight in the eye. "Truth is, I'm scared to death right now and I wish that this is all just some kind of a crazy nightmare and soon I'll wake up. But the fact is, we're all confused and afraid so don't think for one second that you're the only one who's stressed right now, got it?!"

"Yes ma'am," Harry strained, nodding his head in approval. The angry version of Hermione scared him very much.

"What's all the yelling about?" A voice asked from behind them. Harry peeked up over the top of the armchair and saw Ron walking towards them, Cassie trailing right behind.

"Nothing," Hermione replied.

"Right," Ron said, rolling his eyes. "So what's going on now?"

"Do you seriously think we know?" Harry asked angrily.

"Well I thought maybe Dumbledore…"

"You thought wrong then. Nobody tells us anything."

"Sorry I even asked," Ron said, taken aback slightly as he sat down on one of the couches in the corner of the room.

Harry sighed heavily and began to apologize. "Sorry Ron. I'm just mad is all. Dumbledore told McGonagall to get in touch with the ministry for recruits or something. And Snape is supposed to tell the Order to take in people or something like that. But he hasn't told us anything directly. Only to wait here until McGonagall shows up."

The room was under heavy silence after that. The only sound was of the faint ticking of the clock and crackling of the fire. All the portraits were empty and even Fawkes was missing from his perch near the desk. It seemed like an hour passed by before the doors to Dumbledore's office opened again. Professor McGonagall strode through the room looking very distressed. Her eyes were bleary but her face was trying to hide her fear as she kept her lips pressed together tightly.

"Good evening all of you," she started; still weary from the nights events.

'Tell me one thing good about this situation,' Harry thought to himself.

"It has come to our attention that there are two fleets of Dementors currently approaching the school. The ministry has been informed and reinforcements are being arranged as we speak. The teachers are currently trying to hold them off as long as we can. The way I see it there is nothing major to worry about."

'Yes, Dementors are attacking the school but no worries here.'

"However, the Headmaster believes that until we are completely safe again, we need to begin clearing out the students who could be put into immediate danger. And believe it or not," she sighed, "you are some of these few."

Harry scoffed which caused McGonagall to shoot him one of her death glares. "Is something wrong Mr. Potter?"

"No ma'am. Well not really," he lied. "But I don't see why we can't stay. I can't speak for Cassie but Hermione, Ron and I can do the Patronus charm. There are a bunch of other students here who could do it as well, former members of the D.A. If you could just let me…"

"While I appreciate your initiative I'm going to have to decline. You are not of age yet and are not suited to fight in this type of situation."

"What's the point of teaching us Defense Against the Dark Arts if we don't learn to use it in real life?" Harry argued. McGonagall gave him a questioning look before sighing heavily once again. "Potter, I am blown away by your willingness to help the cause, really I am. But it's a matter of safety

Harry nodded energetically, glad for a chance to prove himself worthy. As soon as she stepped out of the room Hermione advanced on him.

"How the hell could you do that?!" She yelled, her eyes were gleaming with anger.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked, quite shaken by her tone of voice.

"You just volunteered us to go out and try to stop a bunch of Dementors! I know you may be used to that kind of thing Harry but I for one, am not."

Harry stared at her in awe before speaking again. "So you wanna just run away?" His tone started to rise. "You want to go someplace nice and safe while others are out there risking their necks doing something your capable of doing yourself? Now I don't know about you Hermione but I don't like the idea of people going out risking their lives just to keep me safe, not knowing whether or not their efforts were worth it."

Now it was Hermione who was giving him an odd look. "That's all well and good Harry but I still don't think I'm up for this." Harry couldn't believe his ears. Hermione Granger, the smartest witch of their age was giving up an opportunity to show her magical talent. He didn't know what else to say to her so he turned to Ron instead.

"What about you then? If Dumbledore agrees are you coming with me?"

"I…er…I'll think about it," he replied shyly, turning his back to Harry.

"What?"

"Jesus, I don't know! This is all so soon. I don't think I can do this, maybe you can Harry but I'm not sure if…"

"But I don't understand. Why won't you…"

"What's so bloody hard to understand," Cassie said coldly. She had been silent since she entered the room and was currently staring out the window in the corner of the room. "They're scared. Everyone's scared. Believe it or not Harry, not everyone is as brave as you are." Harry ignored this comment and turned his attention back to Hermione and Ron.

"So you're just going to let me go out there by myself then?"

"No!" Hermione cried, getting up from her chair. "You're not going out there by yourself. You can't. I won't let you!" She slowly backed away from him and towards the corner to join Ron and Cassie. "Stay with us Harry," she pleaded. "Please."

Harry eyed Hermione carefully. Her eyes were full of concern and fear, begging him not to throw himself out into what he was planning to do. Ron was looking at him hopefully thinking the same thing. He glanced back and forth from Hermione and Harry, tempting him to agree with her. Cassie was staring at him with a look of warning.

"No." He said flatly.

"Harry why would you want to put yourself through this?"

"I think what she means is," Cassie interrupted. "Do you really think you can make a difference or are you going into super hero mode?"

Harry's mouth dropped open at this comment. He had been accused of having a stupid hero instinct too many times for his liking.

"What did you say?" He asked slowly and through clenched teeth.

Harry never heard a response because at that moment, Professor McGonagall came back inside, mumbling under her breath.

"The old man has lost his mind…I can't believe he's going through with this…give them experience my foot…I'll show him experience…," she whispered to herself as she busied tidying things in the office that were already neat as a pin.

"Uhh Professor," Harry said impatiently, snapping the Transfiguration teacher out of her trance. "Don't mean to interrupt but what exactly did Professor Dumbledore say?"

"Huh?" She replied, as if she had just noticed the four students standing there. "Oh right," McGonagall smiled as the realization hit her. "Headmaster Dumbledore, he said uh…… he said if you're really willing to go then its good practice. Practice for what, I don't know. All the years that we've put into this school trying to keep the student's safe and he goes and pulls something so ridiculous. All his talk about trying to keep the students out of harm…and making sure they're always protected at Hogwarts…I think he's got a screw loose that man…"

"Professor we're not going," Hermione interrupted. "As flattering as it is that Professor Dumbledore finds us capable assisting in this whole mess I don't think we can handle all the stress so if you don't mind just setting up a portkey…

"Hermione what are you saying!?" Harry jumped in. "This is fighting for wizard kind is what we're talking about! You guys can run and hide but you can't speak for me and I am going out there and nothing you say can stop me."

Hermione's mouth was hanging open and her face was full of shock. She took another step farther away from him and shook her head slowly. "Harry," she said in a hushed tone, barely loud enough for him to hear, "I really think you're making a bad decision here. But if you're so determined to do this then fine Harry," she was getting angry again. "But think about this," Hermione warned him. "You're parents didn't die for you to go and get yourself killed in a stupid fight against Dementors."

"Mr. Potter, may I suggest heading down to the grounds now," Professor McGonagall broke in, having lost her state of insanity, "I believe there are some plans for you. As for you three," she said, turning her attention to Ron, Hermione, and Cassie. "If you are not willing to go along with Mr. Potter I'll set up a portkey immediately."

The groupe in the corner nodded to the Gryffindor Head and looked at Harry expectantly. Harry read there faces and knew that they were begging him to stay behind as well. He shook his head defiantly and crossed his arms, closing the conversation once and for all.

Professor McGonagall pulled a goblet out of one of the pockets of her robes and muttered a spell as she tapped it with her wand. It gave off an eerie orange glow for a few seconds before returning to normal. She handed the object to Hermione and instructed them. "Once you arrive follow the crowds towards the rock shaped like a cookie with a bite in it, the Order members will take care of you from there."

The three of them nodded simultaneously and placed a finger on the goblet. "Don't forget what I said Harry," Hermione said desperately, a split second before the portkey activated and they disappeared out of the office in a swirl of colors. Professor McGonagall turned to the opposite side of the room and began walking towards the door. "Follow me Potter," she said flatly, "You're needed downstairs." With that, she briskly walked out of Dumbledore's office, Harry trailing behind.