Story Weaver1: What does 'sock puppet mean'?
Reggie Tuesday: That's perfectly okay if you don't like my pairing, ya know. But the way I see it is the unity of opposites. Robin is a dark and somewhat depressed individual and Starfire is a very light hearted and cheery person; it's like a yin and yang. The unity of opposites. It's your choice of course to take what I just said and say "That's the stupidest crap I've ever heard.

Lost Inside: Glad you like it.

Nunofyorbiz: Yes things like that tend to happen.

Starfire-is-not-a-wimp: Thank you, and I've been meaning to tell you how true your pen name is. Who would ever think of her like that, I mean 'come on!'

Rochwen90: Yes its all coming together, hee hee.

Gladdecease: To be honest I made all those mistakes in your response on purpose. You always point out a simple mistake like that I wanted to see if you'd pick up on it. Sorry about that. I also update my stories in the morning so I'm either tired or too lazy to fix a mistake that I actually make by accident.

Maile: I know it has that aura about it doesn't it?

Angel-star727: Thanks, glad you like it.

Me: I'm sorry to hear someone stole your name. It's really so creative too, 'Me' that's so cool. Glad you like the story.

Luvya: Yes the title is finally here. And did you hear about our new Pope; Benedict the sixteenth?

Soaring-bright-flame: Of course this was all planned ahead, MUA HA HA HA! Sorry. Ah now we have a new favorite quote?

Thanks for all your reviews, now I will commence with chaptering

Chapter Thirteen

The Event Horizon

Beast Boy smiled reassuringly at Raven's fret. "Raven, you don't have to worry about me. I'll be fine I promise." She looked at him uncertainly and closed her eyes. He leaned forward and pecked her on the cheek. "Good night Raven." With that he walked back inside. Wide-eyed Raven stood paralyzed right on the spot. She reached up and touched where he had kissed her and small table suddenly flew over the side and broke on contact with the ground. She looked down at it and let out a heavy sigh. 'It just isn't fair,' she thought.

SLYTHERIN COMMON ROOM………………..

Draco Malfoy sat on the couch with a less than happy look on his face. He along with the other students were now free from Malchior's control, be he for some reason was not willing to share in the rejoicing. It was as if he had a strange and twisted preference for being under the influence of another. He had been thinking long and hard about his father, Luscious has spent most of his life in service to Lord Voldemort and if his mother has thus far been aware of it. With a loud snarl he reached over and smacked away the candelabra on the nightstand. He stood up and kicked the burning wicks into the fire before they had a chance to spread on the carpet or the drapery. He gazed steadily into the flickering flames wondering what his father must be doing at this very moment.

"Draco." Malfoy looked around at hearing his name being called. He picked up his wand from the table and gripped it tightly.

"Who's there," he spat.

"Draco," came the voice again. He looked behind him and saw his father's head in the flames of the fireplace.

"Father?"

"Yes Draco, I have something to tell you rather something I require of you." Malfoy lowered his wand and stepped up to the hearth.

"What?"

"Send a communication to the Ministry pertaining to the whereabouts of five muggles in your midst…..and one very special mud-blood." Malfoy looked back at his father perplexed.

"Why?" Luscious Malfoy's face put on a small smile and contorted at the same time.

"Everyone one of the muggles and half bloods are now enemies of the Ministry, more precisely they will be."

"All of them?" A mad flicker of hope flitted across Malfoy's face. His father nodded towards him.

"Do I have a son who has the courage to do what must be done!"

"Yes Father," answered Draco obediently.

"Very well." With that Luscious Malfoy's face disappeared as did Draco from the common room.

OUTSIDE ON THE GROUNDS………………….

Ron was currently walking back inside the castle after going to Hagrid's to fetch some tea he had offered them. As he walked back he noticed a solitary school owl leaving the one of the high towers. He gazed curiously up at it. "Hmmm, that's the fourth one this past hour." He shook his head in confusion and continued on. Back inside the school Raven sat in the library alone and looking over piles and piles of books. In front of her lay the cartouche they had discovered a short time ago. Raven read the last line in one of the books and snapped it shut in frustration. With one more ounce of irritation she slid the entire stack off the desk and into a heap on the floor. She looked up from pile and saw Starfire entering.

"I…hope I am not disturbing."

"Nothing! Not one of these books has a single bit of info on any of these symbols!" She pointed to the markings around the ring-shaped diagram. "At first I thought it might be a compass of some type seeing how the symbols are arranged around the ring in such a way, but that didn't fly." Starfire seated herself across from Raven. "Then I tried to translate the symbols themselves and so far not one language in the history of the PLANET! Seems to be in here." Starfire had jumped at Raven's shout.

"Perhaps you could do with a charm of giddiness. It is a fairly simple charm and I have been fully annotated in how to induce it." So saying she brought out a slender wand. Raven took one look at it and gritted her teeth.

"NO!" The wand was engulfed in black energy. It disintegrated into nothing and Starfire looked more concerned than hurt.

"Ohhh, that was Susan Bones' wand." She scanned Raven watching her pour out effort after effort. "How much of your day have you dedicated to this document?"

"Seventeen hours," answered Raven going through another book though it showed no promise what so ever. "I've been trying to find out what I can before Beast Boy does, I mean, before Slade and Voldemort do." Starfire looked at her curiously.

"Raven I am sure you intended to say Beast Boy. Why is that?" Raven shot Starfire a look but calmed down and sank back down into her thin book.

"Because I think neither Beast Boy nor Rorek seem to understand what they're getting each other into. And quite frankly I'm just a little angry with Rorek for letting Beast Boy tag along with him on something not even he knows enough about."

"But Raven Beast Boy and Rorek share a symbiotic bond, Rorek cannot survive in this world without Beast Boy."

"Yes but that's not what I'm talking about," said Raven closing the last book with another annoyed snap.

"Then to what are you referring to," asked Starfire. Raven paused for a moment. She then laid a hand on the cartouche.

"If this is all real, for a fact, then we are dealing with one of the most powerful forces ever to come into existence. They need Malchior because he's the only dragon, or dragon spirit, left in this world able to unleash the dead ones. Rorek is from the same time period as Malchior, what if for some reason they end up wanting Rorek too? Both Beast Boy and Rorek would be sacrificed in order to make this thing work." Starfire sat back in her chair. "And I'm not entirely happy with the thought….of loosing him." She stood up and began gathering the fallen books into a pile. "That's why I'm angry at Rorek, that's why I'm going to find a way to get him back in the book or somewhere else as soon as possible." Starfire swallowed at bit at Raven's last statement and after Raven shoved the books back onto their respective shelves followed her out of the library.

GRYFFINDOR COMMON ROOM……………….

Ron entered the common room and found the others playing a game of exploding snap. Harry had been trying to teach the rules of the game to Robin, Cyborg, and Beast Boy for the past two hours and they seemed to be getting the hang of it. He sat down in a chair by the window as Cyborg just beat Robin in their fifth round.

"BOOOYAHH! Cyborg is king of game station and exploding snap!"

"Yay," said Robin glumly. Beast Boy and Harry had just started up another round.

"You know for strange people who wear funny clothes, you have some pretty fun stuff," said the changeling.

"Thanks, I guess." Harry started the game off but noticed Ron in the chair all by himself. "Oy Ron, what's up?" He looked over and shook his head.

"Nothing, guess I'm just a little tired."

"Yeah but that's not your tired face," replied Harry taking his turn. Ron let out a sigh and walked on over to Harry and Beast Boy's game.

"I think someone is sending You-know-who things about what's going on around here." Harry looked up from his activity and at Ron curiously.

"What Voldemort?" Ron winced at the name. "Ron how many times have we told you to not be afraid of saying his name, it is just a name." Ron however shook his head dismissively.

"On my way back I saw a lone school owl leaving the upper tower." Harry glanced around.

"So."

"It was the fourth one in little under an hour, and that wasn't even the owlrey." Robin and Cyborg had been listening and walked on over.

"Did I hear what I think we just heard," asked Robin. Ron looked at all of them very seriously.

"V-Voldemort's been knowing too much about what's going on around here, even for him. I think we have a mole here in the school."

"Got any ideas on who it might be," asked Cyborg.

"Just one," replied Ron. Harry got a glance from him and narrowed his eyes.

"Ron are you sure. I mean grant you he's a spoiled little prat but would Malfoy sell out the school to Voldemort?" Beast Boy shrugged his shoulders.

"Rorek's had his suspicions about him, doesn't think he can be trusted. I think I'll go with him on that." Harry took a look around and nodded.

"Alright we'll pay him a visit, last time I saw him he was in the great hall so he might still be there." The others nodded and they followed Harry out of the portrait hole.

THE GREAT HALL……………….

Draco Malfoy was indeed still in the great hall where Harry had seen him last and sat alone eating a bowl of apple slices. The doors to the great hall opened and in walked Harry, Ron, Robin, Cyborg, and Beast Boy. Malfoy slowly stood up and faced them as they came closer.

"Malfoy, we need to have a little talk."

"Go away Potter and take your posy with you, I have nothing to say." Harry and Ron removed their wands.

"We want you to come along now and answer a couple of questions." Malfoy's face twisted somewhat.

"Are you threatening me Potter!"

"Why would we, you haven't been doing anything suspicious have you?" Malfoy took quick glances around trying to find a way out of his situation. He suddenly let his wand fall out from up his sleeve and he jumped at Harry. His spell was inches away from Harry's feet making the group break apart and allowing Malfoy to pass through.

"You better get out while you still can Potter, you and your muggle friends. The ministry is on a hunt!" With a mad laugh he sprinted out the hall was out of sight.

"DAMN!" Shouted Harry. Robin caught up with him.

"Wait wait what does he mean the ministry is on a hunt?"

"I don't know but we should find the others quickly."

"Star, Rae, and Hermione are all outside," said Cyborg. Robin was already jolting out of the room.

Outside Starfire and Hermione were busy discussing simple spells for the novice while Raven tested the cartouche for reactions with sunlight. She saw nothing happening and growled in frustration.

"Don't worry about it Raven," said Hermione. "The answer always comes to me whenever I'm sure there is no other answer." Raven didn't look encouraged in the slightest. She pocketed the document and saw a host of wizards approaching the school. They stopped before the three of them and scanned them for a moment. Then the lead wizard pointed to Raven and Starfire.

"There, two of them. And the witch is a half-blood." They all drew their wands and took aim. Starfire gasped loudly while Raven prepared to shield them. The lead wizard launched a small fireball looking spell at Starfire though she never took any damage. Robin suddenly jumped in front of her and took the full force of the spell. He yelled out loud flew backwards until he hit the doors to school.

"ROBIN!" Starfire screeched out Robin's name and spun back around facing the small group before them. Eyes glowing furiously she began pelting them starbolt after starbolt. She then traced the ground before with her eye beams sending them to the ground. Hermione grabbed hold of Starfire's arm and pulled her back while Raven managed to get the shield up. Starfire bent down and hoisted Robin's left arm over her shoulder to carry him away. Raven followed her in keeping the shield up as she went. The wizards, whom they now figured to be death eaters, had regained themselves and now began bombarding Raven's barrier. Raven passed through the door way and it was promptly closed by Harry and Cyborg. Beast Boy saw an unconscious Robin being held up by Starfire.

"Dude what's going on?" Harry fixed a small latch locking to door for the time being.

"Ministry agents, probably also some of Voldemort's spies in Fudge's office. That lock won't keep them out forever. So we should get going."

"But where," asked Cyborg.

"Common room, come ON!" Ron rallied the way up the staircase and to the Gryffindor house. They ran as fast as they could not once looking back. They reached the portrait with the fat lady and stampered out the password.

"Basket Ball," breathed Harry. They all filed on in. Harry peeked around at the fat lady. "Could you not let anyone in unless we say its okay?"

"What? Whatever for," she asked indignantly.

"Because…..oh for God's sake Please?" She sighed annoyingly.

"Very well very well." Harry nodded in thanks and closed the door behind him.

Back in the entrance hall the Ministry agents stormed through the doors meeting Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape along the way. He gazed at each of them through his half moon spectacles. "Good afternoon gentlemen. Is there a particular reason why you have so abruptly entered our midst?" The lead wizard presented a rolled up piece of parchment to Dumbledore.

"We're here on Ministry business. All half-bloods are to be expelled from this institution at once as per order of the Minister of Magic." Dumbledore rolled up the bit of parchment and raised his eyebrows.

"Are you sure it was the Minister who issued such an order?"

"Quite, it has his signature does it not?"

"Yes yes it is here, but such things are simple to forge these days if one has mastery over the pen….or the person." The wizard looked a bit nervous but kept his hardened demeanor.

"If you will not bow to the Ministry's wishes then we will simply search the castle and then deal with the half-bloods ourselves." Dumbledore looked from McGonagall to Snape. Snape took a step forward.

"And who, might I ask, do you intend to find, Macnair?" He approached Snape, his wand still out and ready. Indeed Macnair had been one of the few sent to execute Buckbeak just a few years ago.

"It does not concern you, you need only stay out of our way."

"You will not so much as progress three steps in this castle so long as the headmaster is here"-

"Severus," said Dumbledore. Snape looked from the wizard. "They may search to their heart's content." Macnair gave Snape a triumphant smile. "However"- He looked back at Dumbledore apprehensively. "He may discover that not only will he find nothing, but he may venture into something he should not have." Macnair shot the three staff members a hateful glance and motioned for the others to follow him down the hall. As they moved out of sight Dumbledore couldn't help but smile warmly as if he had some secret trick up his sleeve.

BACK IN THE COMMON ROOM…………………..

After everyone got settled down Harry drew forth a bit of parchment from his robes and laid it out on the table. He then tapped it with his wand and thus uttered; "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." At once thin lines like fine black thread spread in all directions forming the very detailed and intricate map of Hogwarts. Cyborg and Ron looked over Harry's shoulder.

"Hey what's that," asked Cyborg.

"Something that'll let us know if anyone's coming," answered Ron for Harry who tuned them out from looking over the many pathways. "It's called the Marauder's Map." Cyborg nodded.

"Cool." Harry studied for a second time and slammed his fist on the table. He then addressed everyone.

"They've got all the corridors close to hear blocked off and monitored."

"Great so now what are we supposed to do," asked Beast Boy.

"We cannot simply leave," said Starfire. "Not while Robin is in this condition." She had lay Robin on the couch and had been nursing his shoulder wound as best she could.

"I don't get it one minuet we're chilling after a hostile school takeover and then we're running from you government," said Cyborg to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "Now when did this happen and why!" Harry and Ron shrugged their shoulders being just as confused as Cyborg.

"Malfoy did this," said Ron. "He's been sending Daddy little letters about what's been going on here and his father let V-Voldemort know." He paused for moment. "The last time I saw Scott he was heading out somewhere. When I asked him he said he was looking for his father; Noah's been missing since we re-took the school." Beast Boy stepped in though it was Rorek on the surface.

"More than likely they captured Noah in order to provide Malchior with a host, so that they may use him for the sacrifice."

"I thought you made sure that couldn't happen again," said Raven.

"If a dementor were to perform it's last and most terrible weapon, then Noah's body would be without a soul and up for the taking."

"Oh god," said Harry. "So Scott's out on a wild goose chase. His father won't be his father." Beast Boy/Rorek shook his head.

"That is probably certain." While the others debated on what to do now Raven took to the cartouche and just because there was nothing else to be done now just opened it up and looked at it. It was difficult for her to accept but it looked as if she was utterly stumped. She had gone over everything she could in order to figure where the dream catcher was and how to open it, but so far nothing seemed to help. As she gazed around at the many symbols Raven wondered if there really was anyway to solve this puzzle. Her head suddenly popped up and she shot a look at each of the symbols like her life depended on it. After getting a piece of paper and coping the symbols in a certain way she leaned back in her chair like a great weight had been lifted.

"If it's we can't stay here then where are we supposed to go," asked Ron.

"Through the dream catcher," said Raven thinking her thoughts out loud. They all looked over at her curiously.

"What did you say Raven," asked Hermione.

"Beast Boy said something about a fort of some kind being on the other side of dream catcher, we should try to make a run for it."

"Raven we do not know how to manipulate the dreamcatcher nor where it is located," believed Starfire. Raven however smiled."We do know how to work it and we do know where it is?"

"Well you obviously know something we don't," said Harry. Raven pocketed the parchment and showed them the other piece of paper.

"The symbols all around the ring, aren't symbols at all; they're puzzle pieces. And when you arrange them the right way they form the insignias for all four houses of Hogwarts."

"No Way!" Cyborg took the paper from her with a surprised laugh.

"The wizards and witches who made the dreamcatcher are also probably the one's founded this school, and because of that I'm willing to bet everything that the ring is here somewhere in Hogwarts."

"But they said that it blocked to the way to the dead one's obelisk," said Harry. "So shouldn't it be in some mountain range or something.

"Perhaps what they meant was that it was a portal of some sort," conjectured Starfire. "That the event horizon formed would transport someone to another place." She looked down at Robin who's breathing had become slow and steady. "If such a way provides us with an opportunity for victory I say we take it." Hermione nodded.

"Okay, but assuming that it is here; where in Hogwarts would it be?" Harry out a finger to his mouth.

"Well now that is a good question, where is the safest place to put something her in Hogwarts?" It was then that he, Ron, and Hermione answered the question with broad smiles.

A few moment's later Harry lead the last two of their group under his invisibility cloak through a certain door. They threw off the cloak and saw the others gathered around a trap door in the floor. "Where are we," asked Beast Boy.

"Third floor corridor," said Harry. "I visited this place once in my first year here. I wonder what Hagrid did with Fluffy?" Cyborg and Beast Boy shrugged at each other not really knowing what he was talking about. Ron bent down and opened the trap door. They all gazed steadily down into the darkness not being able to see the bottom. Raven was about to start levitating people down, beginning with Starfire and Robin when they heard the door opening. Cyborg readied his cannon while Harry and Ron took out their wands. The door creaked open and Neville slipped on through and quickly closed it shut.

"Neville?" Harry pocketed his wand. "What are you doing here?"

"They're after me," he said. "Rather they're after you, I said I wouldn't tell them anything then they started chasing me. I saw something invisible knock over a vase and knew it was you. Please wherever you going take me with you." Harry looked past him nervously.

"Fine but we have to hurry, whoever was chasing you can't be far behind." Neville nodded and walked up to the trap door.

"Oh this place does bring back memories," he said under his breath. Raven lowered them down into the dark cold bottom and as she descended herself heard someone trying to get through the door. She quickly closed the trap door shut and made her way to the bottom. Three voice uttered Lumos and three wand tips lit up the darkness. Starfire charged up her free hand to provide what light she could and they continued on. They walked on through the room that had held the giant chess pieces and were immensely thankful for not having to go through that again. It was in fact a great relief that each of the guards before that had protected the Sorcerer's Stone were now gone. Obviously they figured if no one knew about the ring no one would make a try for it. They finally reached the room where Harry had had his first encounter with Voldemort and saw nothing but an empty room.

"Where is it," asked Cyborg. Harry motioned for Ron to follow him and the two stuck their wands in a hollowed out portion of the wall. At once it lit up a steam of light that traced all around the room. Standing dead ahead of them was a large golden ring with the vast number of pieces on the outer edge.

"Whoa," said Raven.

"Now you know it's cool; Raven's impressed," said Beast Boy. Starfire sat Robin down against a pillar and tapped Raven on the shoulder.

"Please, if you could begin the sequence."

"Right," said Raven not entirely sure if she knew what she was doing. She approached the large ring and pulled one of pieces off. She examined it for a moment before taking a handful out at a time and rearranging them properly. A loud bang on the door shattered the silence. They all jumped and snapped their heads toward the door leading in.

"Oh no they did follow me," said Neville. "I so sorry."

"It ain't your fault," said Cyborg. "But a little speed would be nice," He said back at Raven. She didn't answer but looked around franticly trying to find the right place for the piece she had in her hand. The door took anther hit and Starfire gathered up Robin again.

"Please Raven."

"I'm going I'm going," she said irritably. She placed the last piece forming the lion coat of arms for Gryffindor and the ring began to give off a soft humming noise. Within moments an event horizon formed in the ring like a whirlpool and evened itself out. "Alright let's go!" Hermione was hesitant at first but took a bounding step through the portal. Another loud bang told them the door wasn't going to hold forever. Starfire carried Robin on through followed by Ron, Beast Boy, and Neville.

"You two go on I'll make sure they don't follow before I go through," said Harry.

"You sure man?" Harry nodded back at Cyborg and he lead Raven on through the liquid-like gateway. The lock was suddenly blown away and the door burst open. Macnair gazed stupidly at the sight ahead of him before shouting at his men to kill Harry. Harry blasted a few of them with the reducttor curse and took off running toward the ring. Macnair's angry yell was the last thing he remembered just before he ran forward and leapt on through the dreamcatcher.

How'd you like that? I figured since the last chapter was so short and uneventful that you deserved a good long update. That's also one of the reasons it took me so long to get this chapter up, sorry about that. Hope your liking it so far. Laters!