Standard Disclaimer: WE OWN NOTHING!
Harry
Potter and the Spiritus Crystalus
Chapter 7
Wan and her friends…
Wan Chang sat with a group of her friends in one corner of the common room. They talked in hushed tones.
"I've spoken with my friend via owl. He tells me that the Minister is placing more pro-muggle types into high positions of power, like that muggle lover Weasley. It's even rumored that the head of the Aurors is a muggle lover."
The group started to protest, but she hushed them and told them to keep their voices down. Satisfied that she had their attention, she continued.
"Now, my friend deplores the violence that has happened recently both in school and around the country, but he also says that sometimes you need to break a few eggs if you want to get your way. I've told him what some of you were up to…" She glared when a few looked to protest her indiscretion, "In general terms of course. Anyway, he thinks it's a good idea to make sure the muggle born and half bloods know their place. He also asks me to tell you that he'll help in any way he can, but to stay true to our cause."
The group nodded, looking pleased. A short time later, they split up and headed for their dorms.
No one noticed the slight shimmer as it moved away from the wall.
Lemon Drops exposed…
Ginny entered Professor Dumbledore's office. Fawkes greeted her as the Headmaster waved her to a seat.
"Come in, Miss Weasley. Would you care for a lemon drop?" he asked. Ginny politely declined.
Dumbledore sighed in resignation, and then he squared his shoulders. "You've been doing very well with your exercises Miss Weasley," he began. "Now I think its time to try applying them. As you are aware, a true Legilimens is capable of delving into someone's mind to find out secrets that the subject wishes to keep hidden. We'll start with some simple memories I wish for you to quest for. If you can, you will find them all on your own without knowing what exactly what I am giving you."
Ginny pulled out her wand and looked nervously at Dumbledore who nodded at her to begin. She lifted her wand and pointed it at the Headmaster and said "Legilimens."
"Albus!"
The cry came from a distance. He looked up, still crying. Across the field came a taller lad who, spotting Albus, broke into a run.
"Albus, why did you run from the church? Everyone was afraid for you," said the taller lad.
"I-I-I couldn't stay any longer Abe. What will become of us with Mum gone? You go to that school in another month," said Albus.
"The father at church says the Flamel family will take you in until you can join me at Hogwarts, Albus. Don't worry, Mum is watching over us, nothing bad will happen," said Abe.
The image faded from Ginny's mind. She looked up at Dumbledore startled.
"Yes Miss Weasley, that was my brother, Aberforth, and I when we were boys. I allowed you to see that so you could learn that life cares not what age you are. It places burdens and heartaches on us all, no matter what the age. Your Mr. Potter has more than his share of heartaches, some of which he hides very deep, even from you," he said softly.
"Now let us try again, only this time I will try to keep you from seeing the memory."
Ginny pointed her wand again. "Legilimens," she said strongly.
She felt like she was swimming upriver. His shields were strong, but she had already found a kink she could worm into. As she pushed deeper, she could feel him bring more of the power of his mind to bear on her. She had a very brief flash of memory, so quick she wasn't even sure she saw it at all.
Albus knelt over the bodies of a woman and a small girl. In his hand he held a muggle weapon. A gun? He was weeping. Slowly, he raised the gun to his head…
And then she was pushed out of his mind. She blinked and shuddered from the pain caused by the loss of the link and from the remembered pain from that flash. She looked at the Headmaster, his face echoed her pain and his eyes were wet.
"Professor?" she asked.
"You are getting quite good at this my dear. I did not expect you to be able to achieve that much," he replied gravely.
"Professor? The memory?" she asked.
Dumbledore sighed. He pushed his glasses up and rubbed his nose for a moment before releasing the glasses again.
"That was my wife and my daughter. I found them shortly after Grindelwald killed them," his voice trailing off.
Impulsively she stood, ran to him and gave him a hug. Dumbledore's eyes widened for a moment, then he smiled at her gently and patted her back. When she released him she returned to her seat.
"Now I think I begin to understand some of what Harry sees in you Ginevra. Your heart is large and your capacity for love knows no bounds. You act impulsively on your emotions, but you are also learning which emotions to act upon. Now, let's try for one more memory. This time I will really put up a fight."
Ginny pointed her wand again and cast Legilimens
Ginny really had to struggle. The kinks in his shield much smaller this time. Finally she managed to enter through one.
There was a flash of a memory.
It was the Headmaster's office. Upon the desk lay a bowl of Lemon Drops. A man she didn't know was casting a preserving charm on the bowl. The door opened and in walked a very young Albus Dumbledore.
"You wished to see me, Sir?" he asked.
"Yes Mr. Dumbledore, please be seated. Would you care for a Lemon Drop?"
Suddenly she was forcefully ejected from his mind. Her senses reeled as she tried to comprehend what she had seen. She eyed the Headmaster suspiciously as an idea formed in her head.
"Alas Miss Weasley, I'm afraid you've discovered the real secret behind my lemon drops. Yes, they are hundreds of years old. About five hundred years ago, the Headmaster at the time placed the bowl of them on this desk. All through the long years of his tenure, not a single drop was taken. He bet the next Headmaster one hundred galleons that he couldn't get rid of them. Each successive Headmaster has made the same bet to the incoming new Headmaster. In five hundred years, not a single lemon drop has been taken. I do believe there is a nice tidy sum of several thousand galleons riding on that bowl now days. I trust you will keep this to yourself, my dear?"
She could only node mutely in agreement.
Dumbledore sighed and stared at his bowl of candy; undiminished since the day he took the job.
"Perhaps the next Headmaster will have more luck," he said sadly. "With that, I believe we are finished, Miss Weasley. You have done very well today."
Ginny nodded and left Dumbledore's office, leaving him alone with his memories and his lemon drops.
Harry in Training…
Harry continued his training, this year with Dumbledore assisting him. With only two classes to sit, and helping in DADA with Professor Snape, he rarely felt the need for late night training sessions.
He hadn't had much of a chance to train over the summer. As a result, he was surprised to discover that his power increases over the summer had resulted in nearly destroying the Room of Requirement. Dumbledore had been forced to cast powerful rebounding spells on the walls which caused a one to ricochet off, instead of plowing right through.
With the re-growth of his leg, Jack Parsons had taken to teaching Harry the basics of martial arts. He didn't expect him to need to use it, but he wanted Harry to learn how to fall properly, how to roll with a hit. The idea was to teach him how to minimize the damage his own body may take by falling improperly. His first thought was that this might be a good idea, but after a few sessions was convinced Jack was really out to kill him.
But this wasn't the worst by any means. Jack's physical training included endurance training, which Harry came to loathe with a passion. On more than one occasion he threatened to transfigure Jack into a keg of beer and invite the upper classes to a party. Doing fifty pushups was one thing; being told to do three hundred was another matter entirely!
Tomorrow was the first Hogsmeade weekend, and Harry was greatly looking forward to it. But right now he had more important matters on his hands. When he walked into the Room of Requirement, he saw that Jack's twisted little mind had been at work again.
Dumbledore and Professor Snape were present, as well as Jack, and about twenty simulated opponents.
Jack beamed and walked over to him when he entered. "Harry, today we're going to try something different." He pointed to a maze in the center of the room. It was enormous!
"In a few minutes you're going to enter the maze," Jack continued cheerfully. "Your opponents will apparate into the maze before you. Once you enter the maze, your goal will be to reach the exit, relying mostly on stealth, speed or misdirection. You can fight the simulations, but if you make too much noise, you'll draw other opponents to your location. You still on my track, Harry?"
Harry nodded thoughtfully.
"Ok. Now the good Headmaster here has already run the maze once. His time was six and a half minutes. Let's see if you can do better than that, hmm?"
Dumbledore looked at Jack, but said nothing.
Harry nodded. Jack signaled Dumbledore and the simulations popped out of sight. A moment later, Harry squared his shoulders and walked into maze.
Dumbledore turned to Parsons. "Excuse me Professor, but why did you tell him I ran that maze?"
"Always give them a yardstick to measure themselves by, Headmaster, even if you have to make one up," Jack said with a grin.
Dumbledore nodded approvingly. "Quite so."
You are in a twisty maze with all corridors looking alike…
He entered the maze, reviewing the requirements. Speed and stealth would cull out a lot of spells that made noise, even if he cast them without speaking the incantation. He looked at the walls. They appeared to be grown hedges like the maze he had gone through in his third task of the Tri-Wizard Tournament.
He moved further into the maze, cautiously. As he turned down one corridor, he was narrowly missed by a loud cutting hex. He cursed and fired back at the form, blocking his path with a freezing charm. It was one of the few totally silent spells he knew.
Unfortunately, this particular opponent didn't care for being frozen. Instead of sinking into the ground like most simulations, this one turned into a column of light towering above the maze, a beacon for the other opponents!
Jack stood with the other teachers. "Gotcha, Kiddo!" he muttered with a wide grin.
Both Professor Snape and Dumbledore chuckled.
Harry swore and cast a camouflage charm on himself, followed by a silencing charm. If he couldn't fight his way through, maybe he could sneak his way through. Hearing the pounding of feet approaching, he stayed close to a wall and started moving slowly towards the exit.
The column of light gave him an idea. As he navigated the maze he touched a wall here and there, leaving a charm behind. At one point he froze, his back to the wall, as two opponents pounded down his path, just narrowly missing him.
He could see the exit now, it was only ten meters away, and it was guarded by three simulated opponents. He crept forward, moving closer to the exit.
Jack chuckled. "I don't think he's going to make it this time."
Dumbledore had a slight smile on his face. "Indeed, it would appear that way Professor. But if there is one thing I have learned, it is not to underestimate him."
Harry silently released the charms he had placed in the maze.
Jack and the other two teachers gasped as over thirty towering pillars of light erupted from all over the maze. They watched as the three simulations pounded down the corridor of the maze, leaving the exit unguarded.
"Damn! Nice one kid! Really nice! Divert and evade," Jack murmured shaking his head in admiration.
"Do you think so, Professor? I think it's a trifle overdone if you ask me," said Harry as he dispelled his camouflage charm and the silencing charm. He was standing right next to Jack.
Jack jumped nearly four feet into the air. He turned and spun on Harry. "Dang it all Harry, you nearly gave me kittens! I'm gonna have to go change out my shorts now!"
Harry grinned wickedly at him. "Payback for all those times you've thrown me around the room, Professor."
Hogsmeade Weekend, Harry and Ginny…
Harry came down to the common room. Today was the start of a Hogsmeade weekend. It would also be the first time Harry had been back to the town since he gave the speech which resulting in the ousting of the old Minister of Magic.
For the past few days he had been plagued with dreams about the sword of Gryffindor, and he had handed in more than one homework assignment decorated with the sword.
He was determined to put that behind him and spend his time enjoying the company of his fiancée. He had taken extra care dressing today, and while he wasn't wearing his finest dress robes, his muggle clothing was some of the finest casual wear he could buy at Harrods.
He looked up as she came down her staircase wearing a pleasant skirt-blouse combination and a jacket over her shoulder, should it get chilly. She spotted him and hurried over. His clothing today seemed to mold itself to his torso. She wished he didn't always choose dark colors, but she had to admit, he looked damn fine today. Now if only she could figure out something to do about his hair.
He stood and kissed her on the cheek and she smiled warmly at him.
"Well Harry, have you figured out what we're doing today?" she asked.
"I figure we'll make a stop at Honeydukes. I promised Erika and Eric I would pick them up some sugar quills. After that, you have a choice Gin. We can go to the Three Broomsticks or Madam Puddifoots," he said, looking around, embarrassed.
Madam Puddifoots? She thought. He wants to take me to the most romantic spot in Hogsmeade? He knows I would have been happy to go to the Three Broomsticks with him. Madam Puddifoots is supposed to be so romantic.
Ginny looked at him quizzically. "Are you turning into a romantic on me Harry?" she asked him shyly.
He lowered his head a little so it was close to hers. "Would you be upset with me if I was Gin? Besides, can't I treat my girl to something special once in a while?"
"I think I'd like that," she said with a demure look.
"Do you want us to wait for Ron and Hermione? Or should we go on by ourselves?"
He had a hopeful look. Taking a stab, she guessed, replying, "Oh, they can always find us later. Let's push off."
He beamed a big smile at her and she let out a small breath, glad she'd interpreted his wants correctly. He held out his arm and, linking hers through it, the left the common room.
Blaise smiled from under the invisibility cloak he had borrowed from Hermione. He was truly happy for Harry and thought Ginny was a beautiful girl. Harry had given him a chance when no one else outside his house would have. Harry had accepted him, both as a friend and for his talents, Blaise felt he owed Harry and wasn't about to let him down.
His eye's narrowed as his target came down the stairs and headed for the exit. He tucked in behind her and followed.
Hogsmeade, Honeydukes et al…
Harry and Ginny made their way from the castle, passing the outer walls. In the distance they could hear a dull booming coming from the Warbangers building. He chuckled hearing the twins hard at work and placed his arm around Ginny's shoulders.
It was a pleasant walk to town for the both of them. Harry looked carefully, but there was no sign of the terrible battle that had been fought here barely five months earlier. The couple made a beeline for Honeydukes, where Harry picked up several packages of Sugar Quills and two boxes of Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans. After paying for their items, they left.
"Gin, can we make one more stop before we go to Madam Puddifoots?" he asked.
"Sure, were are we going?" she replied.
"I want to stop at Dervish and Banges for a moment. I owled them on Monday and I want to see if my items are in," he said.
Curious now, she followed Harry to Dervish and Banges. Once inside the shop, he moved immediately to the counter.
"Would you please inform Mr. Dervish that Mr. Potter wishes to know if his order has arrived?" he asked.
The clerk behind the counter began to stammer. "O-O-Of course Mr. Potter. If you will wait here, I'll be right back."
The clerk vanished into a back room and a moment later Mr. Dervish himself appeared, carrying two medium sized packages.
"Mr. Potter! What a pleasure it is to finally make your acquaintance. Your orders arrived yesterday. I have inspected them myself, but you might want to take a look. I must say, these are wonderful quality! The best I've seen in a long time," Mr. Dervish exclaimed cheerfully.
When Ginny stepped forward to watch Harry Mr. Dervish scowled at her.
"Oh I'm sorry, Mr. Dervish. This is Ginevra Weasley, my fiancée, and the other person that will be giving these gifts with me."
Dervish's face instantly transformed from a scowl to a broad smile. "Oh, of course! Welcome to my humble shop Miss Weasley."
Ginny smiled at the man, although his change in demeanor made her want to scowl, then turned her attention back to Harry. He had unwrapped both packages and was inspecting the contents. Ginny could see that one was a Wizard's Chess set, hand carved and, if the box were to be believed, made with the finest enchantments and materials. The other box contained a silver Lunarscope.
Harry nodded and pulled out his Gringots card to pay for the purchase. Ginny gasped when she saw him spending over one hundred galleons for two children's toys!
Mr. Dervish quickly rewrapped the gifts and handed them to Harry who shrunk them and put them in a pocket. Bidding Mr. Dervish a good day, the couple left the store and made their way to Madam Puddifoots.
The Three Broomsticks…
Wan Chang sat at a corner table alone. She watched the door carefully for someone to enter. Her table was empty and, being it was so early, The Three Broomsticks was still fairly empty with only a few students about.
After a long wait, a tall young man entered. Wan waved and he returned her wave. He went over to the inn keeper and spoke softly with him for a moment. Then, behind his back, he showed a hand with three fingers outstretched.
Wan saw the movement, picked up her things, and headed upstairs. Finding room number three was easy enough. She opened the door and looked in. There was a momentary draft of air but, ignoring it, she stepped inside.
Another minute went by and Danny entered the room, closing the door softly behind him. As he turned, he put on his best smile for her. She really is quite plain, he thought. But the Master has promised me I can have both her and her sister, so I can live with the plain one if it gets me the beautiful one.
Wan flung her arms around him and kissed him deeply. She was already fumbling for his zipper, when he stopped her.
"Later, my pretty. First I want to know, were you caught? I was so worried you might be caught!"
"No darling, no one saw a thing. I waited for the Quidditch match when his room would be empty and snuck in then," she replied, her hands still working on his zipper. "It's been so long! I want you, and I know you must be ready to burst, you poor dear! Let me give you some relief."
"In a moment, my pet. I want to know, how long did it last? Did he suffer, has he fully recovered?" asked Danny.
"He screamed for nearly an hour. It was so funny! I don't know much about how he recovered because he's very secretive about what he can do. Those that know don't talk about it, except to say he's very powerful. Some say even more powerful than that fool Dumbledore," she replied.
"And are you still relaying my messages to your friends?" he asked, his breath deepening as she started to fondle him though his pants.
"Oh yes, Danny. They love hearing from you."
"Good, very good Wan. I'll try to get you more powder. If you have the chance to get to his salve again, take it and owl me. Understand?"
"Yes, yes. I understand," she said through her own gasps as she rubbed herself against his leg.
He sat on the edge of the bed and reached to fondle her breasts through her blouse. She moaned and knelt before him. She quickly opened his zipper and released him from his pants.
He stopped her. "I want you to prove your love to me Wan," he said fiercely.
"I'll do anything for you Danny, anything!" she moaned piteously.
He smiled at her. "Good my pet. I will owl you asking you to bring me a toy for our next meeting here. I think you will enjoy it. Do this for me and I'll have your ring with me next Hogsmeade weekend."
She nodded in acceptance of his demand, then she moaned in delight as he grabbed her head and guided her downwards.
In a single dive she gathered him into her mouth. He gasped and pulled out his wand to cast a darkening charm. Maybe she is worth keeping, he thought. Her mouth is most expert, I doubt Cho will be as good.
The couple was so engrossed in their own passions that they never noticed the door opening and closing.
Just outside of room number three, there was swish of cloth and Blaise Zabini appeared. He visibly trembled with his anger as he folded Hermione's invisibility cloak.
He stopped folding the garment and gasped. On his pinky was the ring given to him by Harry. It wasn't as fancy as his Phoenix ring, but the center stone of this ring was blinking softly. According to Harry, this was a special dark mark detector. Its range was less than fifteen feet. As the ring had never blinked in Wan's presence, that meant Danny was a Death Eater!
Madam Puddifoots…
Madam Puddifoot, to Harry's embarrassment, made a big deal about the young couple and made sure they had the best table in the house. They placed an order for some hot chocolate and a plate of her famous cookies.
Sitting at the table, Ginny couldn't contain her curiosity anymore.
"Harry, who are those gifts for?" she asked.
"Hmmm? Oh, the gifts! I bought them for Erika and Eric. Coming from a muggle life, I thought they'd like real Wizarding gifts for Christmas," he replied.
"You've really fallen for them haven't you? I see the way you treat them. You look out for them, even sneak them sweets from the kitchen now and then," she said with a warm smile.
"Yeah, I guess I do. I can't help but see them and think about how lost they feel. One moment they were muggles, the next they were being told they were a witch and a wizard."
"You know what? I think you're embarrassed to admit that you love two little kids, and kids in general. All of the younger years seem to think you're the greatest teacher they've ever had. I think you have the makings of an excellent father, Harry Potter, and I am going to enjoy helping you become one"
"I hope you're right, but sometimes it scares me too…" his voice trailed off.
Ginny leaned forward and took his hand in hers.
"Tell me what scares you," she said softly.
He looked at her, his eyes filled with a kind of worry she never saw there before. After a moment he began to talk very softly. "In the muggle world, they say that people who have my kind of background, you know, getting… hit… and stuff… when they grow up, they hit their own kids. They call it a cycle of some sort. I don't understand it. But sometimes it scares me that I really will turn out that way."
He tensed and stared down at the table after he finished, almost afraid to look at her.
"Look at me," she demanded gently
When his eyes locked with hers, she said, "Harry, dear heart, I've seen you cry in anguish over the loss of someone else's parents. I've seen you befriend two little kids and give them your love. You've never struck me or anyone you love that I know of. Tell me, can you see yourself hitting Erika?"
"NO! Never Gin, I'd rather die first!" he exclaimed.
"The very fact that it worries you and scares you a little is enough to convince me you will do everything in your power to make sure our children are brought up entirely opposite from how you were brought up. In fact, I think you'll be my biggest problem. I suspect you'll be spoiling them more than my mum will. You're going to be a wonderful father Harry, I can feel it," she finished with a smile.
He smiled at her and took both her hands in his, sending a single thought to her. I love you, Ginny.
She smiled and giggled a little mischievously before sending a thought back to him. I love you too, Harry.
Harry blinked in shock when her words echoed in his mind. Then he smiled back at her. He knew she had been getting some special training from Dumbledore, but she hadn't told him what that training was.
To the outside world they were simply a young couple staring deeply into each other's eyes. No one knew they were carrying on a conversation that had gone beyond the need for words.
Ron and Hermione…
Ron and Hermione left Hogwarts and were heading to the Three Broomsticks when Blaise fell into step next to them.
"We need to talk, someplace secure, now," he hissed at them.
Startled, Hermione suggested the Shrieking Shack. Unlike the locals, Hermione, Ron and Harry knew exactly what its purpose was.
"Isn't that haunted?" asked Blaise in surprise.
"No, that's its cover story Blaise. I'll tell you about it another day. It's the only place around here that I know the locals won't go," replied Hermione
"Ok, let's go then. This is too important to wait," said Blaise, clearly agitated.
The three immediately changed course, heading to the Shrieking Shack. Once inside, Hermione conjured three chairs. She and Ron took a seat while Blaise, ignoring the extra chair, started to pace.
"Blaise, mate, settle down and talk to us," said Ron.
Blaise ran a hand through his hair, before beginning. "All right. I followed Wan Chang from the castle to the Three Broomsticks. There she met a Death Eater named Danny. She never mentioned his last name. He definitely supplied Wan with the neutralizing agent for Harry's salve, and plans on sending her more to repeat the attack. He's also been egging on a group of other students through his communications with her."
Hermione hitched in her breath and Ron looked angry…very angry.
"There's more. He wants her to bring something from Hogwarts for the next Hogsmeade weekend," finished Blaise.
"Ron, Blaise, Harry needs to know about this right away. He and Ginny are somewhere in town. We need to find them," said Hermione
"They aren't in the Three Broomsticks. I was just there," said Blaise.
Ron paled and gasped. The other two turned to look at him curiously. "Y-Y-You don't suppose they went to Madam Puddifoots?"
Hermione looked at Ron in exasperation. Blaise snickered and volunteered to go check for them. She waited for a few minutes to make sure Blaise was well gone before turning back to Ron.
"What's wrong with Madam Puddifoots? I'm told it's quite romantic!" She asked haughtily.
"B-B-But it's all pink inside 'Mione, and they have these cherubs on the walls," replied Ron, knowing he was suddenly on dangerously thin ice.
"Honestly, Ronald! I swear you don't have a single romantic bone in your body!" she snapped at him with a glare.
Ron put head in his hands. If Harry took Ginny to Puddifoots, he thought, I'll have no choice but to take 'Mione. Oh Merlin Harry, how could you do this to me? It's BLOODY PINK with BLOODY PINK CHERUBS!
Hits and Misses…
After a half hour wait, Blaise returned with Harry and Ginny following. Hermione conjured additional chairs.
"I found them in Madam Puddifoots," Blaise said with a smirking grin. Ron groaned and buried his head in his hands again.
Hermione shot him a withering look, then turned to Harry.
"Harry, Blaise has something he needs to tell you."
Harry turned to Blaise and listened as he repeated his story. Ginny reached out and placed a hand on Harry's knee. She could see his anger and feel his magic swelling immensely.
"Blaise, round up any Brigade members you can find and check the room. If both of them are still there, capture them alive and bring them here. I need both of them, Blaise. Wan's useless without her Death Eater boyfriend," said Harry in a steely voice.
Blaise stiffened almost to a position of attention, nodded curtly, then left the shack at a run. Harry was about to get up and start pacing when Ginny moved her hand to his arm. He turned to look at her, his eyes blazing with power.
"Harry," she said softly, "let Blaise do his job. Your pacing or blowing up Hogsmeade will accomplish nothing."
Her words took a long minute to sink in. He closed his eyes and focused on his calming phoenix song. A moment later he opened his eyes and looked at her, a thousand sparkles danced in his gaze.
"Your right, love," he replied.
An hour later, Blaise returned to the Shrieking Shack. His shoulders were slumped.
"Harry, I'm sorry. We missed him. He left before we could get enough people assembled. I'm sorry I failed you, mate."
Harry stood and walked over to him. Placing both hands on his shoulders, he looked him squarely in the eye. "Blaise, you didn't fail, you just had a spot of bad luck. Since we know they plan to meet on the next Hogsmeade weekend, I want you to put together a plan so we can take them both down with a minimum of fuss. You did real good Blaise, you alerted us to the danger."
Blaise squared his shoulders. "I'll give it my best, mate."
"You're a good man Blaise, don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
Blaise nodded and smiled.
Harry looked up as Susan Bones entered the room. "Harry," she asked, "what's going on? I saw Blaise come in here…," her voice trailed off as she spotted Blaise and she blushed prettily.
Blaise looked stunned, staring at Susan. Then he shot her a questioning look. She smiled back at him.
"Nothing's going on now Susan, but we'll have a little fun next Hogsmeade weekend I think. In the meantime, I intend to take my fiancée back to Madam Puddifoots. How about you all join me, my treat?" he asked with a sly grin.
Ron was about to protest when Hermione stomped on his foot. "BLOODY HELL woman! That hurt!"
Hermione touched his cheek absently, "Hush Ron," she said before turning back to Harry. "We'd love to go," she said sweetly.
Blaise shot another questioning look at Susan who blushed and nodded demurely. He looked like a man about to touch a live snake for the first time when he reached out slowly and took her hand in his.
Susan gave a small smile of triumph as Blaise looked at Harry saying, "We'd be honored to join you, Harry."
Harry bowed to Ginny and took her hand. "Shall we go then Miss Weasley?"
Ginny laughed and mussed his hair before saying, "But of course, Mr. Potter."
Monday night with Tonks…
Tonks was working with the Stonesmith twins again. Professor McGonagall had gone to deliver some papers to Professor Dumbledore, but would return before the session was over.
Tonks had brought in a couple of surprises for them and she had something special she wanted to try.
The twins watched her curiously as she pulled out two small mirrors and expanded them so they were each about four feet high. Then she leaned the mirrors against the wall and positioned each twin in front of a mirror.
Next to each mirror, she placed a pile of chocolate frog packages. Both twins eyes shone with delight seeing the sweets.
"Erika, Eric, you have both been doing wonderfully for me, but I'd like to try something different tonight. If you can do it, you'll each get a chocolate frog," said Tonks.
The two first years eyed her warily in the mirror, then nodded.
"Eric, I'd like you to change your hair until it's the same color as Professor Harry's. Erika, I'd like you to make your hair red, like Ginny's."
Erika spun around to face her. "But we're twins! We're supposed to be the same!" she said hotly.
Eric looked at the pile of chocolate frogs longingly. "I'd like try," he said quietly.
Erika turned around to stare at her brother in shock. "B-B-But the chocolate frogs, Erika!" he said in protest at her glare.
Tonks placed a hand on both of their shoulders. "Would you try Erika, for me?" she said with a sad smile and in a soft voice.
Erika looked torn. She also wanted a frog, but this just… oh very well.
"Oh alright, we'll try," she replied.
Both children turned to the mirror and screwed up their faces in concentration. A few seconds later, Eric had black unruly hair like Harry. Erika was having a harder time of it, but a minute later she had bright red hair like Ginny.
Tonks laughed happily for the two and hugged them both. She then gave them each a chocolate frog to munch on while they rested for a bit.
When Tonks felt a hand on her shoulder, she turned to find that Professor McGonagall had returned. Minerva looked down at the Auror and gave her a smile and winked.
"Well done, children!" said McGonagall.
Tonks recaptured their attention. "Now, I want you both to keep the hair color. It will be hard at first, but the more you practice holding the change, the easier it will become for you."
The both nodded. Ten minutes later Erika's hair reverted to normal. A minute later Eric's followed. Both children were clearly tired from the night's session.
McGonagall looked up from her desk and evaluated their condition. "I think that is enough for tonight. Nymphadora, if you would be so kind as to escort Miss Stonesmith to the common room, I wish to speak to her brother for a moment longer."
"I'll be happy to Minerva. I'll take her to her common room, and then I need to speak to Professor Dumbledore. He asked me to provide him with an update on the twins progress," she replied.
Tonks offered Erika her hand. Erika took it with a smile and walked from the room.
Eric looked at Professor McGonagall fearfully.
McGonagall smiled at the small boy. "Please relax, Mr. Stonesmith. I wanted to talk to you about your performance in transfiguration class. You were doing so well until we tried to change the hedgehog into a pin cushion. I'm wondering if you can tell me why that particular transformation gave you so much difficulty?"
Eric looked down at his feet, his voice barely audible. "I just couldn't see the why behind it, Professor. When I grow up will I often have to change hedgehogs into pin cushions? Isn't that mean to the hedgehog?"
McGonagall smiled at the boy. "No, you'll probably never have to change a hedgehog into a pin cushion. The only reason we do it here in school is because we are trying to teach you the concept behind how to perform such a transformation. You must learn to master the transformation process, which is why we start with simple changes and work to more difficult ones."
Eric thought about that for a moment, and then nodded. "That makes sense Professor. Sometimes its nice to know the why behind something."
Now that is a quite an understatement Mr. Stonesmith. I suspect you will do quite well as long as you know your 'why', she thought.
"Yes, knowing why is sometimes almost as important as knowing how. I expect you will do better now Mr. Stonesmith. You may return to your common room," she said with a small smile.
Eric picked up his book bag and left the room. He hadn't gone far when he was hit from behind and everything went dark.
The common room…
Harry was sitting with Ginny, Ron and Hermione. Each of them was reading a book, when there came a piercing cry from one of the staircases, and then a short brown blur streaked out of the stairway.
"PROFESSOR HARRRY! OW!" screamed Erika, then stumbled and fell to the floor.
Harry dropped his book and ran to the little girl. She was clutching her leg and whimpering in pain. Harry scooped her up and brought her over to the couch.
"OW! Make it stop!" she cried again.
She whimpered and clutched at her other leg. Ginny pushed the little girl's hand away, pulled up her pajama leg and gasped as a nasty bruise formed before her eyes.
"Please, no more…" she whined.
Erika flinched violently several more times, once clutching at her stomach and another time at her ribs.
"Erika, what's happening?" Hermione asked, her eyes filled with concern. Ginny looked ready to cry. She had never heard about a curse like this before.
Erika whimpered and moaned. Harry suddenly reared up straight. "Eric! He's in trouble! Hermione, Ginny, get her to Madam Pomfrey," he shouted as he ran for the door.
Harry knew Eric had a late night session with Professor McGonagall and Tonks, so he felt the best thing was to check the route from the Gryffindor entrance to the common room and Professor McGonagall's office.
He spent about twenty minutes checking several classrooms before he heard a moan come from a small closet. Opening the door, he paled. His magic roared through him and he staggered. He placed a hand against the wall to steady himself. Where he touched, the castle wall flared a bright blue. There was a loud, hollow booming sound as a circle of light spread from his hand. It quickly encompassing the wall he leaned against and raced off through the castle.
He conjured a stretcher and levitated the injured boy onto it gently. With the stretcher following, his eyes blurry with tears, he ran towards the infirmary. With every step, his magical energy increased as his desire to protect the small boy, and those like him, grew stronger.
The Headmaster's Office…
Dumbledore looked up in shock as the wave of light passed through his office and he heard a booming sound. Until a moment ago, he was listening with amusement to Tonks give a report on her work with the Stonesmith twins.
His floo suddenly flared to life and Madam Pomfrey's head appeared in the fireplace.
"Headmaster, we need you in the infirmary! Erika Stonesmith was just brought in looking like she's been badly beaten," she said.
Tonks gasped in anguish. She had left her safe in the common room!
Dumbledore immediately went to the floo, with Tonks close on his heels.
Hogwarts Infirmary…
It was chaos. Ron, Ginny and Hermione were all talking at once and Madam Pomfrey was trying to determine what had happened to Erika.
Tonks rushed over to the little girl's bed, her eyes filled with tears.
"Quiet. Quiet please," said Dumbledore.
When the three settled down, Dumbledore asked, "Now then, Miss Granger. Perhaps you can tell us what happened?"
"Professor, Erika came running into the common room from her dorm. She was crying. It looked like someone was beating her but we couldn't see what was causing it. Harry seemed to think it was Eric who was in trouble," she replied.
"And where is Mr. Potter…"
The doors to the infirmary burst open by themselves. A moment later it looked like the walls were bowing outward and a light approached. Harry came in, glowing from head to toe, a stretcher hovering obediently behind him with a small, still form on it.
Madam Pomfrey gasped as Harry stopped and levitated the broken form onto a bed. She rushed over and began performing her scans.
"Auror Tonks, I need your assistance. Get the camera from the office," Madam Pomfrey said sharply.
As Poppy erected curtains around Eric's bed, Tonks sprinted for the office. When she came back, camera in hand, she ducked behind the curtain.
Madam Pomfrey took as few photos as were absolutely necessary before handing the camera back to Tonks and pushing her from the curtained off area. She turned to survey the boy again, then she started to straighten his limbs and heal the broken bones.
Harry watched silently for a moment before turning towards the exit. The castle started to rumble with a deep powerful sound that was more felt than heard.
Ginny looked at him. "Harry, where are you going?" she asked.
"To find Wan Chang," he replied.
Everybody flinched. It wasn't what he said as much as the tone he used. It was hard as stone and filled with the promised of pain.
Ginny sprinted ahead of Harry and blocked his path, placing both hands on his chest.
"You listen to me Harry. You'll not do this! You're not going off to wreak revenge when you don't even know if she was involved! Are you listening to me? I'm not letting you do this!" she said, steel in her voice.
Harry was staring over her head, but he blinked once, then once again. With a shaky breath, he looked down at her.
"You'd never forgive yourself if you do this Harry. We both know that. And we both know you couldn't live with yourself if you hurt Wan for the wrong reasons. Think with your head! You know this is wrong," Ginny said softly, reaching up to caress his cheek.
Harry's magic suddenly collapsed into itself and his eyes filled with tears. He reached out to her. She pulled him into her embrace where he could cry for two little kids he had come to love.
Ginny looked at the Headmaster and he smiled in approval. Not only does she learn to control her own anger, but she can also help Harry control his, he thought.
Harry regained enough composure that he was able to go stand next to Tonks with Ginny in one arm.
When he placed a hand on her shoulder, the normally happy go lucky Auror leaned against him. Harry could feel that Tonks was trying very hard not to show her emotions.
"Poppy? How is he?" asked Dumbledore.
"He'll be fine, Headmaster. Both of his legs were broken, a few cracked ribs and a nasty blow to the head, but he'll recover. The bones are healing even as we speak. His sister is just bruised. It seems that whatever link exists between the two of them is strong enough to echo injuries, although not as strongly," said Poppy.
"Indeed? That is most interesting, Poppy. I will have to look into that," replied Dumbledore.
Tonks stepped forward, "Headmaster, as an Auror, I must report this. Clearly a crime has been committed against these two."
"Yes, yes, Nymphadora. You must do what you must. We will, of course, cooperate fully with the authorities in this matter," Dumbledore said sadly.
Tonks stepped into Madam Pomfrey's office to place a floo call to the Ministry.
Harry turned to Ron. "Starting tonight, I want every muggle born and half blood and their friends to know that the Brigade is offering them safety. If they come to us, we will assign someone to guard them. I also want two of Blaise's security guarding the infirmary until these two are released."
Dumbledore stared at Harry for a moment. The younger man returned his look defiantly. When Albus raised an eyebrow, Harry had grace enough to look embarrassed.
"Harry," the Headmaster said softly. "It does you credit to show your love for these two. It's nothing to be ashamed of."
That only made Harry more embarrassed, but he felt a little better as Ginny tightened her grip on him.
They all waited while Ministry Aurors came to question them. Auror William Hill personally took Harry's statement, then asked how he was doing. Hill was glad to see Harry had done well with the Weasleys. Although not strictly a Child Protective Services case, William Hill was one of the best in the Ministry for this sort of investigation.
When Remus finally arrived, Tonks fell into his arms weeping. The emotions she had held in tight control for most of the evening finally let go. He held her tightly and let her cry herself out.
After dealing with questions from the Aurors, Madam Pomfrey pushed everyone out of the infirmary. Tonks and Remus wanted to stay with the children, but Poppy insisted they leave as well. Dumbledore returned to his office and a much subdued Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione returned to the common room.
News of the attack spread throughout the school like wildfire. A vast bulk of the students, full bloods included, seemed to think it was cowardly and were furious that the attackers had not been caught. Everyone suspected it was someone in the student population.
Over the next few days, the Stonesmith twins had a steady stream of visitors, cards and sweets. Ron went up to play Wizard's chess with Eric while Hermione brought their homework and helped them with it. Harry and Ginny visited them very often and even Dobby showed up with a very rare Elf Chess set to teach Eric how to play the multi-dimensional board.
Tonks showed up everyday and it wasn't uncommon for her to sit and watch them while they slept, or to see her holding one of them when they had a nightmare or cried. Eric had nightmares every time he slept, and it was common to see Erika climb into his bed to hold her brother. Remus brought in a Mind Healer and that seemed to help Eric get over some of his problems from the attack. At least the nightmares eased off a little.
Homecoming…
Three days later, when the twins were released from the infirmary, Harry and Ginny escorted them back to the common room with Hermione. There was a marked change in their behavior now. Erika and Eric seemed to need to be in close contact with each other and they were afraid to be left alone. They were alright in the presence of people they knew and trusted, like Harry and Ginny. But if left alone, they huddled together. Eric seemed to retreat further into his shell.
Harry opened the door to the common room and Hermione and Ginny ushered the two twins in. Inside, most of the students waited silently. Word had spread of how fearful they had become, and while people wanted to throw them a party and welcome them back, they didn't want to scare them.
There was a great banner floating over the room welcoming them back. And, hearing of the assault, Fred and George distributed a wide selection of their products, including several hundred of their Bow Wow Bonz chews, which gave anyone eating one long floppy ears like a basset hound. Over three hundred students waited for the twins, their ears already altered.
Erika took one look at the students and gasped. She clutched at Ginny's hand tightly. Eric saw the students and he ran behind Harry.
Harry knelt down and looked Eric in the eye. "Eric, these are all your friends. No one here is going to hurt you. They wanted to welcome you back."
"You sure?" he asked timidly, eying the strange looking crowd of floppy eared people.
"I'm sure Eric. Why don't we go say hello?" Harry asked with a smile.
Ginny was having a similar conversation with Erika.
After a moment of doubt, the two allowed themselves to be led forward into the smiling crowd of people. It took a while before the twins relaxed and as they did, the party noise level got louder. Music played in a corner, and people started cleared away the furniture from the center of the room so there was a space for dancing. Fred and George had been very generous in their donations and Eric seemed to find their Canary Creams very funny.
Nearby, Harry and Ginny watched them. Finally, they relaxed as the two kids started to get into the swing of the party.
"It tears at my heart to see them having to go through that Gin," Harry said softly.
"I know, but they're doing better now. They need this release. We all do," she replied.
Harry hugged her tightly for a moment and then went to ask Erika if she'd dance with him.
Erika looked up at him as he led her around the dance floor. "Did Ginny teach you to dance this good, Professor Harry?"
"I suppose she did Erika. I wasn't much of a dancer until I met Ginny," he replied.
"Then I'll have to teach both Eric and my boyfriend to dance so they do it right, won't I?"
Harry chuckled. "Boyfriend? You have one picked out already?"
"Well, since I like Ginny I can't have you. But what about Angelo? He's kinda cute. Yes, I think he'll do very well. I'll take him," she answered quite firmly.
"Have you asked him about this Erika? He may want to have a say in this."
"Oh, he'll be happy that I've made the choice for him, Professor Harry. It's much too important a choice to let you boys handle it."
Harry could only shake his head and wonder if the little girl wasn't right.
The next morning…
Harry woke from another series of bizarre dreams. He was actually beginning to miss his old nightmares. These were getting too weird for him. Ginny hadn't joined him last night and he understood why. Her dorm was off the same stairwell as Erika's, and she wanted to be available in case the little girl needed her.
Harry stretched and his foot touched something cold and hard. He flinched back and sat up. He blinked for a moment in confusion. Lying across his bed under the duvet was the sword of Godric of Gryffindor. He scowled, before getting up to take his shower.
Once dressed, he picked up the sword. Ron, Blaise and Neville looked up in surprise when he pulled the sword out from under the blanket. It made a soft, soothing ring in his head as soon as he touched it.
"Umm… Harry? What are you doing with that?" asked Ron, eyeing the huge weapon warily.
"Damned if I know, Ron. It was here when I woke up." He sighed, and then continued. "I guess I better go give this back to Dumbledore."
Leaving the dorm room, he nearly smiled when, upon reaching the common room, startled students scurried out of his way. He supposed he did look a sight, carrying the large sword like he meant business. Too bad Wan wasn't around!
That scene was repeated all the way to Dumbledore's office. The Headmaster looked up in surprise when he entered.
Harry placed the sword on Dumbledore's desk and sat down in a chair.
"Ah, good morning, Harry. Would you care for a lemon drop?" asked the Headmaster.
There was something in the way the Headmaster said that, a slight note of desperation, that put Harry on his guard.
"No, thank you Headmaster. But perhaps you could explain why I woke up with the sword in my bed this morning?"
Dumbledore looked at the sword for a moment before replying. "To be perfectly honest Harry, I do not know why you awoke with the sword in your bed. It is most puzzling."
"Professor, I've been plagued for weeks now with dreams revolving around this sword, all sorts of dreams. I've even discovered on more than one occasion I've drawn pictures of the sword on homework I've handed in!" he said in exasperation.
"Perhaps you are summoning the sword in your sleep, or perhaps something else is happening. I do not know, Harry. I do not think whatever is happening is necessarily bad. It may even be Hogwarts itself telling you that you need the sword. Has anything changed since the last time you picked up the blade? Does it react differently now?"
Harry looked at his Headmaster and sighed. "I'm probably going to regret telling you this, but I hear a comforting ring in my head when I hold it. It feels right Sir, but at the same time it feels… incomplete. Like something is missing."
"Something is missing from what, Harry?" Dumbledore asked gently.
"That's the problem Sir, I just don't know," replied Harry.
"Very well. There is nothing that can be done until this becomes clearer in your mind. In the meantime, should the sword appear again, I think it prudent that you keep it. Just do not let others handle it, or they could be harmed."
Meanwhile in the Great Hall…
Wan sat with her friends. She was irritated because Danny hadn't sent any letters in the past few days. She looked across the hall with narrowed eyes.
Damn! Potter and his roving band of merry blood traitors protect all the mudbloods and half bloods now! She thought.
And to make matters worse, Potter hadn't forgotten about her detention. Dumbledore had lowered it, but still, she was doomed to two months detention cleaning bathrooms for that damn squib, Filch!
A lone black owl winged its way down to her. Danny's owl! Eagerly she pulled the letter from the owl and sent it on its way. Opening the letter she felt a familiar warmth in the pit of her stomach. Danny was just so romantic! And his erotic letters were to die for!
The second page of his letter was a little darker in nature. Her breath hitched in as she read what he asked her to do.
He loves me and he'll have my ring in just two weeks, she thought. All I have to do is use that spell he taught me over the summer. But it's wrong! Everyone says so! On the other hand, he'll be mine, he's just asking for proof of his love. And he makes me feel so good. She mentally shrugged. As he says, unless someone tests my wand, no one will know I cast it. I'll do it! For Danny!
Blaise and Susan…
Blaise sat at the breakfast table and his eyes seemed to roam continually around the Great Hall. Every so often, they would fix on two different people. Wan Chang and Susan Bones. Wan never noticed his gaze as it lasted only a few seconds. Susan, on the other hand, seemed to always know when he was looking at her because she'd turn to look back at him.
The trip to Madam Puddifoots with Harry had been awkward for him, to say the least. Blaise barely knew Susan but he'd held her hand because it felt right. Like it belonged there. But they hadn't had any time to formalize or even define their relationship. He didn't even know if they had a relationship. He found himself more and more in her company and it unsettled him. The ex-Slytherin and, thanks to Harry, he did consider him self an ex-Slytherin, was not used to being confused about things. To Blaise, there was right and wrong, black and white and no shades in-between. And that's exactly how he felt, except when he looked at Susan, who was definitely making him feel in-between.
There was some motion in the hall and his eyes locked on it like an eagle. He watched Susan leave her friends and join him at his nearly empty table. As much as he tried, he couldn't help but admire her form, the shape of her face, or the sway of her hips. A moment later, the remaining students at his table got up and left, leaving him alone with Susan.
"Would you like to talk about it, Blaise?" she asked, laying a gentle hand on his. His eyes watched her long braid and he wondered what she'd look like with her hair undone.
"You confuse me, Susan. I'm not sure what to say or do. Until last year I didn't think you knew I existed, or I you. And now I can't help but look at you. No matter where you are in a room you draw my eye," he admitted.
She smiled warmly. "I admit that before you joined the brigade, I probably knew your name and no more, Blaise. But you interest me. You have an intensity about you, almost a passion for what you consider your mission. I find that admirable and I have to admit to being curious if that same intensity and passion applies to other aspects of your life."
She intertwined her fingers in his and her knee gently touched his. He looked startled for a moment, then he smiled just a little. He gently pulled his hand free from hers and wrapped his arm around her waist.
"I'm a simple man, Susan, and I do everything with the same level of passion," he replied, pulling her closer to him and kissing her. Susan melted against him. When the kiss ended, she looked into his eyes, her face flushed.
"Indeed you do, Mr. Zabini and I look forward to spending a long time exploring the depths of it," she said huskily, her eyes smoldering.
Serena Pranks Severus…
Serena woke early on Sunday morning. As much as she hated rising early, the letter she received from her sister in America the day before had filled her head with ideas.
Her sister worked for a boat charter company and had complained about the company's computers being hit by something she called a 'virus'. It had taken down their entire system and her sister was extremely upset. While Serena had worked with computers a little, before coming to Hogwarts, she didn't have any experience with viruses, but the idea was intriguing.
Stuffing her sister's letter into her cloak pocket, she turned as her rumpled husband entered the dining room.
"Good morning, Severus," she said cheerfully.
"You're up early," Snape said gruffly, as he walked over and kissed her cheek.
"I need to visit the twins today, and I thought I'd get an early start."
"Which twins?" he asked dryly.
"The Weasley twins."
He scowled. "Why?"
"Well, I have this idea…" As she explained, his scowl deepened. It was no secret that he didn't like the twins, but she was sure that he'd see the possibilities.
"Serena, you're a potions Professor! Leave the Weasley's to their useless antics," he sneered.
"And I thought I was the grumpy one in the morning," she said, her eyes narrowed.
"You must have better things to do with your time," he stated imperiously.
"Oh sure. I'll brew up some wart removal potions and let Voldemort burn the world," she said, sarcastically.
"Serena," he began, raking his fingers through his hair.
"Enough," she said softly, hugging him. "I don't want to fight with you, Severus. Go take your shower and I'll have breakfast on the table when you're done."
Severus would later blame his sneaky wife for taking advantage of his half-awake state, but for the moment, he missed the wicked gleam in her eyes. Giving her a quick squeeze, he turned and left the room, thinking of nothing more than a hot shower and a cup of tea.
Returning twenty minutes later, freshly groomed, he sat down at the table. Serena set a plate of his favorite puff pastries before him and poured him a cup of tea. Taking a sip, he shuddered as the caffeine hit his system.
Feeling more awake, he asked, "How long will you be gone?"
"I don't know. But if you need something, you know where I'll be. I'm going to collect Hermione Granger on my way down. I don't know if my idea will work, but she's become rather proficient at crafting new spells and may be able to help."
"Ah yes, the Gryffindor Know-It-All," he sneered.
"Tut-tut, Severus. There are no more Houses," she said, before kissing him absently on the top of the head in passing. "I'll see you later."
Grumbling under his breath as she left the apartment, he picked up the Daily Prophet and scanned the headlines. Selecting a pastry, he bit into it with real pleasure. Serena knew her pastries, he had to give her that. Finishing the treat, he reached for his tea. With the cup halfway to his mouth, he paused.
What the…His thoughts stopped and his eyes widened as his cheeks started to swell.
Viral Magic…
Entering the Warbangers building, Serena and Hermione looked around for the twins. Serena had allowed the younger witch to read her sister's letter on the walk down from Hogwarts and, just as she suspected, Hermione saw the possibilities. Now, they had to sell the idea to the Weasley's.
Finding the young men in their office, the women waved off their surprised welcome and quickly got down to business. The twins were doubtful at first, but soon become enthusiastic as the idea's potential took hold.
"Research is the first step," Fred said, disgustedly.
At Hermione's surprised look, George smiled. "Yes, we do research, but that doesn't mean we have to like it. We tried skipping the research once and the results were…interesting. It took three weeks for all the feathers to fall out," he added, shaking his head in mock despair.
"At least you had feathers," Fred said with a scowl. "Do you have any idea how hard it is to sleep with porcupine quills sticking out of your body?" He shuddered with the memory.
With identical waves, the twins led the bemused women out of the office and down a dark hallway. When they reached a dead end, both men withdrew their wands and, with a murmur, flicked the now glowing tips of their wands at the brick wall before them three times.
The wall shimmered briefly before melting away to reveal a door. Pulling a key from his pocket, Fred unlocked the door and George ushered Serena and Hermione into the room.
"Welcome to the Weasley's Wizarding Warbangers research department," Fred said grandly as he closed the door behind him. "We should find everything we need here."
Hermione stood stock still, gazing around her in wonder. The room was huge! It was at least as big as the Great Hall at Hogwarts. But what caught her attention was that the room was full of books. Wall to wall, floor to ceiling shelves, crammed with books of all sizes. One long, polished oak table took pride of place in the center of the room. The rest of the space was filled with trunks, some of which were open, revealing scrolls, loose parchment and more books.
"Someone pinch me," Hermione murmured. "I must be dreaming."
"No dream, m'dear…" George said happily.
"…but we'll pinch you if you like," Fred added with a salacious grin.
"Fred, that's Ron's girlfriend you're thinking of pinching!" George exclaimed.
"So? What Ronnikins doesn't know won't hurt him," Fred replied, wiggling his eyebrows.
When George smacked his brother, the fight began. Ignoring them, both women moved deeper into the room to explore.
Hours later, Serena stood and stretched with a groan. They'd made real progress, but her back was killing her and she was getting hungry. Drawing her wand, she conjured food and drink. The twins, smelling food, dropped the scrolls they were perusing and joined her.
"Hermione," Serena called softly when the young witch didn't join them. "Come, eat something."
Hermione muttered irritably and buried her head in another book.
Shaking her head, Serena turned back to the famished twins and grinned at their obvious greed. It wasn't hard to see where Ron got his eating habits!
"I've been meaning to ask," Serena began as she filled her plate. "Where did you get all these books? Some of them are ancient and thought long lost. Others, while not exactly dark magic, are definitely gray in nature."
"Oh, we have our sources, and a very generous investor," Fred said mysteriously.
"Obviously," Serena replied dryly.
"I'm sure understand why we can't divulge that information, Professor," George said with a cheeky smile.
"It's Serena, and yes, I do understand. I simply asked because…well, I've been looking for a few books myself. Nothing illegal or dark, mind you. Just rare."
"If you leave us a list, we'll check with our sources for you," Fred offered.
Serena's reply was interrupted by a shout from Hermione.
"That's it!" the young witch said. "I think I've found it!"
As the twins scrambled over, Hermione made a few quick notes on a piece of parchment and held it up triumphantly.
"It might be a little rough, but it should work," she said with a grin.
When the twins took the parchment from her and began studying it, Serena joined the trio, setting a plate of food before Hermione. "Eat," the Potion Mistress stated firmly.
With a grateful look, the bushy-haired witch did just that. She hadn't realized how hungry she was until the plate was before her.
"Are you sure this spell will work, Hermione?" Fred asked, frowning down at the parchment.
"It should, but there's only one way to find out," she said between bites.
In unspoken agreement, the two men moved away from the table. Turning to face each other, they both drew their wands. At a nod, Fred stated clearly, "Morbus Virga," while pointing his wand not at George's body, but at his wand.
Nothing happened.
When the twins turned to look at Hermione, she rolled her eyes. "Try casting something, George," she said in the patient tone one usually reserves for a child.
With a blush, George grinned sheepishly. "Forgot about that part," he muttered.
Pointing his wand at a dirty plate, he cast a scouring charm. Everyone jumped when, with a loud pop and a flash of light that enveloped the room, twelve squirrels shot out the end of his wand and ran, scurrying around the table.
The twins gaped, Serena laughed and Hermione sat back, grinning with a sense of achievement.
"I'd say it works, Fred," the young witch said, her eyes dancing excitedly.
When Fred raised his wand again to banish the squirrels, the same loud pop and flash of light occurred. This time however, hundreds of small pebbles were ejected from his wand tip.
With a shout, Serena ducked under the table, followed closely by Hermione and George.
"Fred! Don't cast anything!" George yelled.
"Gee, you think?" Fred asked in annoyance. "Brilliant, you are!"
Once the pebbles had stopped ricocheting, everyone climbed out from under the table and eyed Fred. He placed his wand on the table and backed away slowly.
"Wonder how long it lasts?" he asked.
"Umm, actually, I'm not completely sure about that," Hermione stated. At their incredulous looks, she continued quickly. "My research was a little rough, but my best estimate is an hour."
"Well, we can't leave the squirrels in here," George stated. "They may chew on the books. Can't have that!" Pointing his wand, he cast the banishing charm.
"This is beginning to become a habit," Serena muttered to Hermione and Fred under the table as they ducked the rain caused by George's summoned thunderstorm.
"The books!" Hermione cried. "They're getting soaked!"
Ducking a bit lower, she pointed her wand at a bookshelf on the far wall and cast a shielding charm. Everyone bolted from under the table as hundreds of large, hungry land crabs shot out of the wand, infesting their sanctuary.
Three soaked peopled turned as one and looked at Serena. She pulled out her wand and eyed it dubiously. "Perhaps not," she muttered.
"But the books!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Fine, but the results are on your head," Serena grumbled wetly. Pointing her wand at the nearest bookshelf, she cast the shield charm and groaned as every closed trunk in the room snapped open and expelled their contents in a violent eruption of soggy paper.
"Well, at least the spell works," muttered Fred, dejectedly.
"Yeah, but we'll have to replace the library if this keeps up," George said sourly. "Do you know how much that's going to cost? And some of those books can't be replaced!"
"Dobby!" Serena called loudly.
As everyone turned to look at her, a small pop was heard over the raging thunderstorm.
With a frightened squeak, Dobby ran under the table to avoid the rain. With a squeal, the little elf quickly reappeared, trying to pull a crab off his toe. Serena helped the struggling elf remove the crustacean, then picked him up and placed him on the tabletop.
"Dobby, we have a problem with our wands. Can you banish the storm, the crabs and the squirrels?"
With a nod, the elf waved his hands a few times and the room was cleared.
As everyone thanked him profusely, he squirmed, but said, "I's get the other elves to help Dobby clean." With that, he disappeared with a small pop.
A Drop in a big bucket…
Entering the castle half an hour later, Hermione and Serena headed straight for the Headmaster's office. While the spell had some unexpected results, it had worked. Under the wand virus, the caster became ineffectual. Baring wandless magic, the new spell could be of real value.
"Salt water taffy!" Serena exclaimed.
When the gargoyle moved, both women jumped on the moving stairs and rode them up. Serena didn't bother to knock on the door. Bursting in, she teetered to a stop as she realized the Headmaster wasn't alone. Hermione, not looking, barreled into her back, causing both women to stumble.
"Excuse me, Headmaster. I didn't realize you weren't alone," Serena said sheepishly as she reached out and steadied Hermione.
"Quite all right, my dear," Dumbledore replied. "It must have been important."
"Uh, yes, but we didn't mean to interrupt."
"That's ok, Professor," Harry said from his seat before Dumbledore's desk. "We were just talking about the security measures the Brigade is taking to protect some of the students."
When Ginny nodded in agreement, Ron stood up and walked to Hermione.
"Are you ok?" he asked her.
"I'm fine, Ron. We were in a hurry to tell Professor Dumbledore about a new spell we discovered."
"New spell?" Dumbledore inquired, intrigued.
"What new spell?" Ginny asked at the same time.
"Well, it has some unpredictable results, but nothing harmful. At least, not so far," Serena said.
"Perhaps a demonstration?" The Headmaster asked.
Serena and Hermione looked at each other. When Hermione shrugged and pulled out her wand, Serena moved behind Dumbledore's desk. If the others in the room noticed her movement, no one commented.
"First, everyone needs to put their wands outside the room."
"What?" Harry asked. "Hermione, what are you talking about?"
"Just do it, Harry," Hermione said. "Trust me in this. Take out your wand and place it outside the door."
With puzzled looked and a few shrugs, Ginny, Ron, Harry and Dumbledore all removed their wands. Ginny collected them and set them outside the room. Shutting the door firmly, she leaned against it and raised an eyebrow at Hermione.
With a deep breath, Hermione pointed her wand at a snow globe sitting on a bookshelf and said, "Wingardium Leviosa."
As Hermione cast the spell, Serena ducked behind the desk. She'd learned her lesson the hard way. Better to be safe than sorry, and all that. While she couldn't see what was happening, the sounds coming from the others were proof that her instinct had been correct.
With a pop and a flash of light, lemon drops spewed forth from the tip of Hermione's wand, thousands of them. Millions! They bounced off the walls, ricocheted off windows and rebounded off paintings. Ron was hit between the eyes by an errant drop, causing him to shout and duck behind the desk with Serena. A moment later, Harry shouted and joined them, his glasses broken by the crazy candy cascade.
Dumbledore dropped next, yellow candy decorating his hair and beard. Everyone heard the door slam. Ginny, being the intelligent witch she was, had left the room.
Over the roar of the candy waterfall, those in the room could hear the rather rude curses issuing forth from the annoyed witch responsible for the sugar attack.
"Ouch! Usually it's not this…Ow! That's going to bruise! This should have stopped…ouch!"
A hand appeared from under the desk and a shouted "Finite Incantatem!" came from Ron.
The candy rain stopped, and the shouts began. Irate portrait owners shrieked indignantly at the rough treatment they'd received.
"Silence!" Dumbledore bellowed, standing once again.
The door squeaked open and Ginny pushed her way in. Looking around the room, she gasped. Millions upon millions of lemon drops covered the floor. When she tried to push the door shut, she found it blocked by the little candies as they skittered into the hall and bounced merrily down the stairs.
"Not lemon drops!" she exclaimed.
"I'm afraid so, my dear," Dumbledore said with a resigned chuckle.
Harry scowled. "This is ridiculous!"
"It's just candy, love," Ginny said with a smile.
"Not that, Gin. Didn't any of you notice? With the exception of Hermione, who was occupied, and Ginny, who ran from the room, did anyone here think of casting a shield? No! We all ducked behind the desk!"
When they all gaped at him, he raked his hands through his hair and growled as several yellow drops fell out. "I'm supposed to face Voldemort, yet I'm afraid of lemon drops," he moaned.
When Ginny started to giggle, he glared at her. When Serena and Ron joined the laughter, he grinned sheepishly.
"Umm, Headmaster, you wouldn't mind if I dragged your desk out to the final battle, would you?" he asked, cheekily.
Dumbledore laughed, enjoying the joke. "Whatever you need, my dear boy! Whatever you need!"
"What about this?" Hermione asked, waving a hand at the mess.
"Oh, that's easy," replied Ron. Lifting his hand, he cast the banishing charm wandlessly.
Hermione shrieked as the number of lemon drops doubled, then doubled again.
Serena gaped as she found herself knee deep in candy. Ginny's eyes widened, Ron's mouth dropped open and Harry lost his balance as the drops shifted. When Ron reached out to steady him, he lost his balance and they both disappeared beneath the yellow wave.
"Bugger," Dumbledore exclaimed, eyeing the candy with despair.
Ginny grinned and said, "Freely given, Headmaster! Freely given!"
At Dumbledore's gloomy look, she collapsed in helpless laughter, sliding down the door. As her head vanished from sight, all that indicated her location was the shifting motion of lemon drops and the muffled howls of mirth.
Agony of the lemon drops…
With the help of house elves, the lemon drop invasion was contained. Trunks and boxes were filled with the sweet stuff and stored in an unused chamber of the Headmaster's quarters. Wands had been retrieved and returned to their owners, Harry's glasses had been repaired, and the group now sat grinning at each other. All, that is, except Dumbledore.
With a sigh of dismay, he sank into his chair and rubbed his eyes. He tried to ignore Ginny's giggles, but it was becoming difficult.
"You did ask for a demonstration," Ginny reminded him cheerfully.
At his mock glare, she laughed again. "True, Miss Weasley. But why did it have to be lemon drops?"
"Professor," Ron said. "Why didn't the banishing charm work? I didn't use my wand!"
Dumbledore then explained about the lemon drop bet. As the realization sunk in that she'd just added millions of the candies to the wager, Hermione groaned and apologized profusely.
Dumbledore waved off her apologies, saying, "It's my own fault, my dear. As Miss Weasley gleefully pointed out, I did ask for the demonstration."
"But why didn't the banishing spell work?" Ron asked again, puzzled.
"Because under the bet, the lemon drops must be freely given away, not banished, Mr. Weasley," the Headmaster explained tiredly. When Serena snickered, Dumbledore turned to her. "That reminds me Serena. Severus was looking for you. He sent me an owl earlier. Rather odd, it was. He could have asked me himself, rather than sending a message," he added, his eyes dancing.
"Oh gods!" Serena exclaimed, jumping out of her chair. "The pastries!"
With that, she bolted from the room.
Serena pays for pastries…
Serena entered the apartment quietly and made her way to the living room. Finding it empty, she moved from room to room, in search of her husband. She knew he'd be annoyed and wasn't really looking forward to explaining herself.
Figuring her luck was holding and that he must be out, she entered the potions lab last. The place was a mess. Potion ingredients were scattered everywhere. Glancing around the room in dismay, she finally found who she was looking for.
Severus sat behind his desk with his head in his hands. His posture radiated a strange mix of agitation and dejected hopelessness.
Confused, and a little apprehensive, Serena debated about making a quite exit. In the end, she couldn't. Something was obviously wrong.
"Severus," she called quietly and blanched when his head whipped up. "Oh my," she murmured as he glared.
His cheeks were inflated. Not just puffy, they were huge. He resembled a chipmunk, if said chipmunk had swallowed a hot air balloon!
"Are you in pain?" she asked fearfully, moving to his side.
He shook his head, still glaring.
"Why didn't you end the spell, Severus?" she asked in dismay.
When he rolled his eyes at her, she caught on.
"Oh, of course. You can't speak," she whispered.
Taking out her wand, she pointed it at her husband and said, "Finite…wait!"
When she dropped her useless wand on the desk, Severus managed a grunt. Picking it up, he tried to force it back into her hand.
"No, I can't use my wand, Severus. I'll explain later. Trust me, if I cast with it, things will get much worse!"
With a disbelieving look, he pulled out his own wand and thrust it at her. Taking it, she shivered as a current of magic traveled up her arm.
Steadying herself, she pointed the wand once more and cast the spell. Biting her lip, she watched as his cheeks deflated with a rude sound.
"Are you all right?" she asked, a bit fearfully.
"What the hell was that?" Severus roared, shoving himself to his feet. "There I was, eating breakfast and minding my own business. The next thing I know, I'm a bloody balloon!"
"I'm sorry," she said. "I thought it would wear off!"
"When? Next week? Bloody hell, woman! What were you thinking?"
"Your comment this morning about the Weasley twins annoyed me. I thought…well, I thought I'd teach you a lesson. Their inventions aren't useless, Severus!" she exclaimed, backing away from him.
"Oh, I'll admit that little prank may have its uses. Feed one to Voldemort and he wouldn't be able to speak for hours! Potter could kill him easily then!"
When she giggled, he took a gliding step towards her. "Do you know I nearly went to Minerva to fix what you'd done? I never would have lived that down! The old bat would have baited me for years to come! I even tried brewing something to end your damn prank, but you know what I found, wife?" he asked, menacingly.
"What?" she asked while trying to hide her amusement. Minerva would have been so pleased!
"Drinking anything with cheeks that large is impossible. It just runs right back out!"
Picturing him trying to drink a potion, Serena gave up and laughed. "Oh gods, Severus, if I had a camera I'd be rich! The expression on your face…"
She broke off with a yelp as he lunged towards her and picked her up. She grunted when he threw her over his shoulder and started from the room.
"I think it's time to teach you a lesson, Serena," he stated, leaving the lab.
"Now Severus," she started, trying to placate him, only to shriek when he reached up and slapped her bottom, hard.
"Severus, if you'll just let me explain!" she tried.
Entering the bedroom, he tossed her gently onto the bed and followed her down.
"Oh no, Serena," he began, pinning her to the bed. "Explanations can come later. Right now, I intend to have my revenge!"
Seeing his hot look, an answering fire appeared in her eyes. As he bent and took her lips in a hard kiss, she made a mental note to send the Weasley twins a thank you gift for their puff pastries. Then she was lost to the hard, demanding man above her.
Authors Notes:
Hmmm, lots of questions. Why was Dumbledore trapped? Well let's see, a room, no exit, a one-way floo, and if you don't know where you are, you probably can't apparate. And just to make it interesting, we'll pretend there was also an anti-apparation ward on the room. Next question.
Actually the vision showed the crystal pulsating with a "dark light".
There are plenty of stories where Harry attacks Voldemort via his link by doing everything from playing rock music to having sex with 42 women and three monkeys. Frankly, we wanted to shut that damn link down to a minimum and concentrate on other areas.
We don't like Wan either.
Narcissa took what little money was left in her vault and opened a beauty shop in downtown Trenton, NJ. We thought about bringing her back, but seriously, nothing in Canon suggests she'd be as powerful as Lucius.
Tonks' family? Well if we wrote about EVERY character in canon this story would be thousands of pages along. Even canon glosses over many characters.
Cho may make a cameo appearance, but definitely not in a manner that many people would expect. On that, we'll keep our lips zipped.
Sex in these stories is carefully measured and doled out. We try to keep it tasteful and not pornographic. Besides our word processors are smoking enough from banging out these chapters as quick as we do.
We've finally figured out why some stories have thousands of reviews. Take a chapter, wait a month until several hundred people have begged for the next installment, then post your next chapter. I guess we're too impatient.
How do we turn out chapters so fast? ELVES.
Erika, picture Colin Creevy when he first entered Hogwarts (only not quite as annoying), Eric, picture the exact opposite. Look folks, take two eleven year old kids, tear them away from friends and family and throw them into a strange environment and expect them to react 100 percent normal? Be serious. No not that Sirius!
And finally, we want to recommend the following stories to EVERYONE.
Old-Crow's No Thanks… It's a work in progress, but what a work! No super Harry here! Excellently done.
Melindaleo's Power of Emotion (complete) and Curse of the Damned (WIP), are both excellent works!
