A/N: and it's just one right after the other. And No, I don't know what I'm doing, I'm just sort of doing it. XD Gotta love me.

Chapter Twelve

Harry got up for lunch, gathering his things together so that they wouldn't be everywhere. He'd just gotten through talking about werewolves in that class, though half the time reminding students that werewolves were normal people except when the moon was full and just before the full moon.

He walked toward the Great Hall when he thought of something. Professor Sprout had died in his seventh year and they had a substitutes and study hall for Herbology the rest of the year. He wondered who they got to permanently replace Sprout, or who they got to be the teacher for a year at least.

He walked to the greenhouses and found no one in them; however he saw a great number of unusual plants that looked very dangerous. "Who would keep plants like THIS?" he said as he spotted a giant Venus flytrap.

"I would of course," croaked someone behind him. Harry whipped around to see a very familiar face. Neville Longbottom looked like he was going to faint as he leaned up against the doorway.

"Neville!" Harry cried as he pulled Neville into a tight hug. Neville coughed and smiled in a weak manner. Harry frowned as he pulled away from Neville and stared at him. "Are you all right?"

Neville nodded. "Yes, I have been suffering from a cold for the past week. I see you and Knight are settling in nicely."

Harry frowned. "You should be in bed or in the infirmary if you are sick. Not working."

"It's only a cold, Harry. I've had worse, believe me." He coughed and then sneezed into a handkerchief before motioning to the greenhouse. "I see you've seen my collection. Lovely aren't they?"

"Bloody scary," Harry grunted as he looked at them. "One of my students, Jennifer Moon, is afraid of that big flytrap thing there. The boggart in the wardrobe turned into one and she made it dance."

Neville laughed weakly and rubbed his forehead. "Yes, well, Big Bertha there really likes eating people, but I feed her regularly enough, so that isn't a problem." He held up a bag of what looked to be live animals trying to get out. "I was just going to feed her."

"Lovely," Harry grimaced.

Neville walked toward Big Bertha and then stopped. "What are you doing here, Harry? You didn't want to be a teacher. You wanted to be an Auror. You ARE an auror."

Harry shook his head. "I can't tell you other than; it's a special assignment straight from Percy and Mr. Malfoy."

"Mr. Malfoy? Is he finally cooperating?"

Harry chuckled as he leaned against the doorway. Neville tossed a live rabbit at the plant. Big Bertha's mouth opened up and caught the little animal, trapping it inside. "I've heard some weird things, Harry. The Centaurs attacking anyone going into the forest, someone roaming around the forest in a black cloak, laughing at nothing; it's like seventh year never ended."

"It never did." Harry stared straight at his friend, green eyes blazing. "The centaurs attacked us a few nights ago. Astra was already angry, so it wasn't a big leap for her to grab onto this one big one's front legs and break them with her bare hands. We followed the centaurs into the forest to see what had caused them to think WE did anything to them." Harry's eyes unfocused as he saw the scene before him once again; bodies, pieces of bodies, littering the moonlit ground, the grass slick with blood. "I can't think of anyway to describe it to you. It was like they were swarmed upon and massacred right there."

Neville sneezed again and threw another rabbit at Big Bertha. "Sounds positively lovely," he grunted.

"There's more. Avalon—Mrs. Stark—said someone poisoned her husband Kennedy," said Harry as he shot a look around the room. "Has anyone besides you been in this room?"

Neville nodded. "Yes. This is Greenhouse three where students take care of the even deadlier plants than what is really required."

Harry nodded as he looked around again. "What sort of poison could make a man weak and tired; die very slowly or very quickly, the end unpredictable."

Neville blushed. "Ah—I was never good potions Harry. My plants are used IN potions, but aren't the sole creator of anything like that."

Harry nodded. "Too broad a description anyway." He sighed and moved away from the doorway. "I'll see you later, Neville," he said and then smiled, "It was wonderful to see you again." Then, he walked off.

"Where is it said to be again?"

"In the school, that's what the book said," said the new witch beside the cloaked man. She was old and wary of this one called The Master. He was too young to be thinking he can take over the world. She remembered only one other man who thought he could take over the world and the memory made her shudder.

The school bell rang as night fell, calling students to come to dinner. She looked to the cloaked man again and grimaced. "How are you planning on getting it, sir?"

"How do you think?" he said in a cold, gleeful tone.

The old witch looked to the young man with a glare. "You can not go in there on your own. They'll spot you."

"I count on it, my dear," he said. "However, you will serve as a welcome distraction from me."

She frowned. She knew this was going to happen. She was being used as bait. "What is it you wish me to do Master?"

"I'll let you know what you will do. Just go to the Great Hall and I'll tell you." Then, he touched her forehead and she screamed in agony.

Astra sat down at the teachers' table and stretched. "Oooh, I think I'm going to hurt those little Slytherin punks," she groaned.

"I hardly suggest that, Mrs. Malfoy. You are, after all, a teacher. Abusing your power on the students isn't setting a good example," said Mrs. Snape as she ate her dinner.

"Tell it to your man, McG. He's been doing that for years," grunted Astra as she shot a glare at Professor Snape next to Mrs. Snape.

"He knows he can not get away with that with me around. If he does, he'll get a severe penalty, correct, dear?" Minerva Snape glared at her husband in an almost 'I dare you' fashion. Snape just shrugged and looked away from Mrs. Snape. "See? He's been a very good boy for some time now."

Astra laughed. The sight of Professor Snape acting like the 'good little boy' was hilarious.

She noticed a movement not too far from the windows. She blinked and put her fork down as she watched the windows. It was almost black outside, except for a few stars, the ceiling reflecting this.

There was another movement and Astra saw the librarian, Madame Pince, walk into the hall, her hands at her sides like she was showing she didn't have any weapons on her. Astra frowned and stood. Students looked to Madame Pince curiously, the talking in the hall all but stopping.

"Madame Pince. Are you quite all right?" asked Mrs. Snape as she stood up.

"Yes, I am fine. I bring you a message," said Madame Pince.

"Message?" Mrs. Snape looked to her husband and saw he was staring at Madame Pince in a manner not unlike watching a terrorist about to explode. "Severus?"

"The Master wants you to know something," said Madame Pince in a strained tone, her lips drawn thin.

"What's that?" said Harry as he walked through the great hall doors.

She closed her eyes and tilted her face toward the ceiling. Astra jumped over the table with a shout. "NO!"

There was a flash of light and Madame Pince hit the ground. Harry ran head on into a sea of children running for the door, some of them older with their wands out. Harry heard a laugh echo through the room that sent chills down his spine. "ASTRA! WATCH OUT!"

Astra just managed to jump away as a metal rid buried itself where she had been. The ceiling hid whoever was sending out the crossbow bolts. "Good! I had hoped for a battle as such!" called the voice from the ceiling.

Harry ran toward the teacher table as fast as he could. Someone dropped down and landed in a crouch in front of Mrs. Snape, lashing out with a foot and sent her to the floor. Professor Snape punched the man on the jaw, but the man caught his wrist and twisted his arm with a cruel grin. Then, he twisted it harder and broke Snape's arm, kicking him in the chest with his foot. Snape hit the ground limply, pain shooting through his body.

The cloaked man laughed again and jumped from the table as Astra used of the plates as a Frisbee of sorts, throwing it at him. She ran and jumped onto the platform, running after the man.

Harry came up and went to Snape's side. "Are you all right sir?"

Snape growled as he sat up, holding his arm, which was bent in the wrong direction. "Get after him, NOW!"

Harry pulled out his wand and ran out through the teacher entrance. "Yes, sir."

Astra hit the wall behind her with a great force. Her whole body felt like electricity was going through it, though the fact she used to produce it herself saved her from most of the pain. A bolt was in her shoulder, imbedded to the hilt. The cloaked man chuckled and leaned into her, pushing the bolt further in. "Do you really think you can win, Elf?"

She let out a yelp of pain and jammed her hand into his stomach, feeling blood slicking down her fingers. The cloaked man growled and ripped the bolt from her shoulder. She cried out and trembled as she started to slip down the wall.

She looked up to see the cloaked man, The Master, throw the bolt down and grab his stomach. He was suddenly thrown back by Harry tackling him. Astra had a hard time focusing through the pain and the loss of blood as she tried to keep herself standing. "Harry! Watch out!"

Harry just managed to dodge one of the bolts aimed at him. He sent out a spell at the cloaked man as he ran after him. More of the teachers came around the other corner with a couple of students in tow.

"You can't escape now, whoever you are. Put down your wand and weapon, NOW!" growled Harry, blood coming from his mouth where the man had hit him.

The cloaked man grinned as he turned toward Harry. "You know, I think I'm going to enjoy this game now." Then, suddenly, the man jumped out a window and seemed to disappear.

Harry growled and ran to the window, ready to jump himself; however, a strong pair of arms wrapped around him and stopped him. "Stop! You'll hurt yourself, Harry!" said Neville.

Neville pulled Harry back into the hallway with some effort. Harry pushed Neville away and jogged over to Astra, pulling her away from the wall some and held her against him. "Neville! Get Madame Pomfrey! Hurry!"

Neville nodded and ran down the hallway. Harry brushed Astra's hair from her face as he looked down at her. "It's only a shoulder wound. You'll be all right."

Astra grunted. "Sweet talker. I'll have to tell Ginny you've been flirting with me."

Harry pulled her face up to look at him. "You need to stay conscious. Come on, keep talking to me."

"I…can't." She smiled faintly at him and then all went black for her.