Standard Disclaimer: This isn't our universe. It belongs to JK Rowling. If it were ours, Voldemort would be dead, and Harry and Ginny would be vacationing in Rio. Oh wait! That may still happen in this story. In any event, it's not ours and it's not canon. So hush! No House Elves were harmed in the creation of this chapter.
Harry
Potter and the Spiritus Crystalus
Chapter 12
The Bahamas…
Harry awoke the next morning feeling refreshed and wonderfully alive. He, Ginny, Neville and Luna had spent several hours in their animagus forms, romping through the tropical forest. Personally he had to admit he was glad Ron hadn't come along. They had seen too many spiders last night and Ron would have gone bonkers.
Ginny lay next to him, one arm draped over his chest. He really liked what Remus had picked out for clothing, especially Ginny's nightwear. They were breathtaking. She had been reluctant to wear some of the items at first. But seeing Harry's reaction to them quickly changed her mind. Last night, she had climbed into bed wearing a translucent floor length gown that shimmered in the darkness and hugged every curve. They spent several hours just talking and occasionally kissing before finally falling asleep. Harry had to admit that he treasured those moments as much as when they made love.
It was their last full day on the island before returning to Hogwarts, and Harry had some plans for today. Jack told them they would be attending a luau later tonight, whatever that was. The last few days had been filled with swimming and relaxing on the beach.
He gently pulled away from Ginny and got out of the bed. Getting dressed, he went back over to her and pulled the light blanket up around her. He then conjured a white lily and placed it next to her before leaving the room.
Stepping out onto the porch, he looked around. Up the beach he could see an American Wizarding couple with their two kids. They had met them the first day of their arrival. He watched as the young boy ran into the water and skimmed the surface for few feet and wondered if he could do that.
Sprinting for the water's edge, he never noticed Ron and Hermione step out onto the porch of their bungalow. He hit the water's edge and suddenly realized he didn't know what to do next. His momentary confusion caused him to trip and fall headfirst into knee deep water. He slid to a painful stop after a few feet and slowly got up to the sounds of Ron rolling on the floor of the porch, laughing his head off.
"OY! Potter! You're supposed to do that on a board," Ron shouted gleefully.
Harry grinned evilly at Ron and levitated him off the porch and down the beach to the water.
"HEY MATE! NOOOO!'
Harry dragged him out deeper and started dunking him in the water. It was quite amusing to see Ron bouncing up into the air, then down into the water with no one laying a hand on him.
"Oh! I'm gonna kill you," Ron tried to shout between dunkings.
Ron dropped suddenly as a stream of cold water hit Harry in the back. He whipped his head around to see Hermione smiling sweetly at him and looking very innocent. Smiling back at her, he could sense Ron swimming in. He summoned and amplified the wave Ron was on, directing and channeling it. Ron and the wave arced high in the air. Hermione looked up at the oncoming wave and paled as it crashed down on her.
By the time Ginny came out of the bungalow, there was a full-scale water war going on between Neville, Luna, Ron, Hermione and Harry. No one was safe. Ginny let out a startled squeak when she saw four blasts of water heading at her from four different directions and apparated to the water's edge next to Harry.
Harry spotted her and, instead of resorting to magic, he picked her up in his arms and waded out to deeper water. Ginny was pounding him about the shoulders, trying to get him to stop.
Severus, Serena, Jack and Hestia were sitting together on the porch of the Snape's bungalow, enjoying morning tea and watching Harry and his friends.
"Now that's what they needed," said Serena, eyeing the water fight. "Harry's gotten more sleep these past few days than he has in weeks." She grinned as she watched Ron running down the beach, screaming. On his heels was a horde of illusionary, dog sized spiders.
The fight finally ended with everyone pinning Harry to the sand and Ginny tickling the bottom of his feet.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry…
Wormtail had spent the last several days slinking about the castle. On more than a few occasions, he had hidden to avoid being seen by one of the teachers. Once he even managed to hide from the prying eyes of Dumbledore.
He'd found no sign of Harry Potter, nor any evidence of any sort of training, other than regular schoolwork. Running about the corridors, he felt an odd sort of nostalgia and a longing for his own younger days. But those days were long gone and could never be recovered. It was on top the Astronomy tower that his anger flared again as he remember her.
Audrey Kingston. She was in the same year as Peter and his friends. He remembered vividly how jealous he had been of James and Lily. One night, in despair, he had talked to Lily about Audrey. She had told him that if he had any feelings for Audrey he should tell her and get it out in the open. When he did just that, here on top of the Astronomy tower, she had rejected and laughed at him. Called him a sniveling disgusting excuse for a man.
A few days after Audrey's rejection, he approached Lucius Malfoy. Several weeks later, he had accepted the Mark. And Audrey? She vanished during a Hogsmeade weekend. But Peter knew the truth. She had followed him willingly after he cast the Imperius on her. She screamed for hours while he used her and sliced the skin from her body with his knives. Oh yes, that was a sweet memory!
Leaving the Astronomy tower, his anger grew to full-fledged rage. He didn't know where Harry was, but he'd have his revenge against the Potter family again and again. He ran all the way to the owlery in his rat form. Making sure the owlery was empty he transformed back to his human form and quickly scribbled out a note, using the parchment and quills that were always kept in the room. He pulled out a knife and wrapped the note around the hilt of the blade, and then he cast a sticking charm to keep the note in place. Selecting carefully, like a viper he struck.
Leaving the owlery, he turned back into his rat form and made his way quickly from the castle. Dawn was only a few hours away and it was time to leave. He had a report to make.
Grimmauld Place, Morning…
Tonks closed the door to Jason's room and smiled. He had completed his homework from yesterday and she'd just delivered his lessons for the day. Like so many young wizarding children, he was being home schooled.
When she had left Jason's room, he was playing with a floating orb, a Wizarding toy designed to help a small child begin to understand how to focus their magic. The colorful orb changed colors and shapes, based on the commands from the child. With Jason occupied, Tonks was finally able to go in search of her wayward husband.
Remus had gotten up very early to handle an emergency call from Hogwarts and hadn't come back. She was a little surprised to learn just how knowledgeable her husband was. It was quite likely that he was the brain of the Marauders, while James and Sirius were the foot soldiers.
After checking the Order's Map Room and the kitchen, she finally found him in the library. The room was a mess. Books lay scattered on the floor and stacked on chairs. Glancing about the room, she saw him at a table, bent over several open books, with copies of several of the Order's maps spread out before him.
"Don't let Hermione see what you've done to this place, Remy. She'll probably faint," Tonks said with a smirk.
His head whipped up and he glared at her. Muttering to himself, he turned back to his books. He snapped one volume closed and tossed it over his shoulder before reaching for another.
Tonks saw all the warning signs. Whatever the call had been about, he was angry…very angry. Walking over to him she laid a calming hand on his shoulder.
"Talk to me Remy. What's gone wrong now?"
He snapped the book closed in front of him and leaned back in the chair. She started to knead his shoulders, draining the tension and anger from him. After a few minutes he reached up and pulled her hand forward far enough to place a kiss on her palm. Then he sighed heavily.
"You have a fool for a husband, Tonks. I'm such an idiot!"
"What? You're not a fool or an idiot, Remus Lupin. Now tell me what the problem is," she retorted angrily.
"Hogwarts! All of these maps I created are nice, but I didn't take into account the wards around Hogwarts interfering with them! Albus floo'd this morning. He says Pettigrew has been in the castle and our maps didn't detect him," he said, smashing his fist on the table.
"You're not going to be able to solve anything while you're angry, Remy. Come and have a spot of breakfast and calm down. We'll work on this later, all right?"
She blinked for a moment, a bit shocked. Had she just channeled Molly Weasley? When he nodded and allowed her to lead him from the library, she sighed.
Breakfast, the Great Hall…
Harry and his friends assembled at their usual table. They were tired, suffering from portkey-lag, but glad to be back at Hogwarts. Last night Harry had told Ginny that the trip was one of the best times of his life, and he'd love to take her back there for their honeymoon. Ginny was very pleased with the idea and had made sure he knew it in no uncertain terms. He had blushed when she told him she would make sure to bring all of the 'special' nightgowns Remus had supplied.
Harry looked carefully at his friends. All of them seemed to be more relaxed this morning, despite their fatigue. Ron and Hermione were arguing softly about something, Neville and Luna were busy talking, and Susan was feeding Blaise a piece of sausage off her plate. Harry was amazed by the changes that had occurred in them all. Especially Blaise. The dour, serious ex-Slytherin was still dour and serious, but he now smiled every so often. He'd even tell jokes!
Harry leaned forward against the table. "Guys," he said softly, gaining their attention. "When I first started attending Hogwarts, several teachers told me how noticeable my parents love for each other was. I think that our kids are going to hear the same stories about us," he concluded with a smile.
Susan and Hermione blushed, Ginny squeezed his thigh under the table and Luna cocked her head and looked at Harry thoughtfully.
Turning back to his breakfast, Harry was about to start reviewing what he'd be doing in DADA class this morning when Professor McGonagall interrupted his reverie.
"Professor Potter, the Headmaster would like to see you, Mr. and Miss Weasley, and Miss Granger in his office as soon as possible," she said in a hard tone.
Harry looked at the other three, then shrugged before standing up. Professor McGonagall led them from the Great Hall.
Headmaster's office, Hogwarts…Arriving at the Headmaster's office, they filed in, noting the grim expression on Dumbledore's face. Next to the Headmaster's desk was a small, open topped basket with a cloth over it. For once, there was no offer of a lemon drop.
Taking the seats Dumbledore offered them, Harry was surprised when he felt Professor McGonagall laid a hand on his shoulder. He was about to look up at her when Dumbledore spoke.
"I'm glad to see you all back. While you were away we had an…unwelcome visitor in the school. I'm afraid the visitor came and has since left, unobserved, but he wanted us to know he was here. He left a message behind," Dumbledore said heavily, passing a bloodstained parchment over to Harry.
Potter,My master wants you to know that no place is safe for you or your friends. Not your hidden headquarters, not your home, not your school. We're coming for you.
Wormtail
Harry read the note, then passed it to Ginny. He looked up at Dumbledore and the Headmaster sighed.
"Harry, it pains me to tell you that we found the note attached to the hilt of a knife early this morning… in the owlery," he said.
Harry grabbed the arms of his chair tightly. "Hedwig? Where is she? Is she alright?" he asked alarmed.
Dumbledore's eyes darted to the covered basket. Harry spotted the glance and dropped to his knees, tearing the cover off the basket. His shoulders shook as he tried to control his emotions. With one hand he reached down to smooth the feathers of his friend and companion for these past seven years.
Ginny and Hermione both joined him. Ginny gasped and leaned against Harry and Hermione rubbed his back comfortingly. They both knew how much he loved his owl.
"I'm truly sorry, Harry. Hagrid and Madam Grubbly-Plank both tried their best, but the damage was too great. The bond between wizard and familiar is most potent. We all share in your pain," Dumbledore said softly, a tear running down his cheek. "If you wish, I'll take care of…"
"No! She was my friend. I'll take her down to the lake. She'd like it there," he replied, overriding the Headmaster.
Harry carefully placed the covering over the basket, picked it up and stood. Turning, he left the office, not looking back. Everyone exchanged a glance before following Harry.
In a secluded spot not far from Hagrid's hut, Harry set the basket down. Raising a hand, he silently cast a spell and a hole appeared in the ground. Kneeling next to it, he placed the basket into the hole and covered it over.
Bowing his head, he remained silent for several minutes. Finished with his thoughts, he looked up and his eyes burned. He held one hand over the small grave. A moment later, a slab of white marble appeared over it. The inscription was simple, yet poignant.
Faithful HedwigNever Forgotten
There was a flash of flame above the grave. Fawkes appeared, singing a soothing note as he circled the grave, weeping. Where the tears hit, small flowers appeared, tinged red and gold. Their fragrance was uplifting to all.
Hermione, who had been holding onto Ron's arm, whispered, "Phoenix Flowers, they only grow on ground blessed by phoenix tears. They bloom all year long. They're very rare."
Harry's head whipped around. He had thought he was alone, but he spotted Ginny, Hermione, Ron, Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore only a few feet away. Hagrid, who had brought his class down to the lake to talk about the giant squid, stood nearby with his class of first year students.
Ginny stepped over to him and knelt by his side. He looked at her, trying hard to fight back the tears.
"She was my first true friend, after Hagrid. And my first real birthday present…Hagrid gave her to me. There were times…at the Dursley's she was the only thing that kept me from killing myself. She'd land on my bed and cuddle with me. Sometimes, when the Dursleys were starving me, she'd bring me mice. She'd get mad when I wouldn't eat them," he choked out. Then he angrily dashed away his tears.
Ginny put her arm around his shoulders. Her touch, that small comforting gesture, broke his composure. He leaned into her, crying for his friend. Hagrid stood silently, tears streaming down his own face. He had heard everything Harry had said.
Hagrid's class seemed frozen in place. The first years seemed transfixed by the spectacle of their favorite Professor crying. Most of them had brought their familiars to school but had not yet developed a bond with them.
Dumbledore stepped forward and placed his hand on Harry's shoulder. Then he turned to the students. "The bond between wizard or witch and their familiar is a strong bond of friendship and even love. It is a relationship that goes far deeper than owner and pet. And the loss of a familiar is felt as keenly as the loss of a family member. If you can achieve such a bond with your familiar as Professor Potter had, you will someday understand, and you will have achieved a great thing," he said softly.
The class nodded at the Headmaster while Harry stood, helping Ginny to her feet. Hagrid walked over to Harry and swept him up in a bone crushing hug, which unfortunately for Harry, nearly resulted in some real bones being crushed. After Hagrid put him down, both Eric and Erika, who were part of Hagrid's class, hugged him.
Harry wiped the tears from his cheeks and led the group from the grave surrounded by flowers.
Warbangers…
For the past six months Fred and George had been studying books given to them by Harry and Jack Parsons. The normally fun loving twins were looking into some of the devices muggles used to wage their wars.
The guidelines that Harry had laid down for them were simple. He wanted devices that would either incapacitate, or otherwise put a large group of people out of action quickly. Harry had further defined the term 'out of action' as to mean the inability to cast spells.
With that in mind, the twins dug into their jobs with gusto. Some of their inventions, like the Quagmire Traps and the Grapes of Wrath, showed great promise and could be used to defend the castle. Other items, like the Puking Gas, had proven to be a problem and would probably not be used. The gas was a great idea, but if the wind blew in the wrong direction, things could get messy.
Today Fred and George were meeting with Jack Parsons and Dumbledore to discuss plans for placing some of their more unique items about the castle before the battle.
Entering the Headmaster's office, Dumbledore waved the two young Weasley men to seats. Jack took up a position near the window, leaning against the wall.
"You know, this is…" began Fred.
"…the first time we've…" continued George.
"…been in here and not…" said Fred.
"…been in trouble!" finished George.
Jack shook his head and muttered something about 'geeks' under his breath. Both twins turned to look at him.
"Oh no sir! I can assure you…" began George
"…we're not geeks! we're…" continued Fred.
"…the wizard equivalent!…" said George.
"…WEEKS!" proclaimed the two, simultaneously.
Dumbledore coughed politely, trying to bring everyone's attention back to the topic. "Boys, I know from the sound of the explosions, and the screams coming from your building, that you've been busy. Would you mind telling us what you've managed to accomplish thus far?" asked Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling merrily.
The two young men looked at each other, then Fred nodded to George.
"Well Headmaster, in our talks with Harry, he made it pretty clear what he wanted," said George.
"With the Dark Forest abutting the southern and western sides of the castle, we've concentrated on creating enough Quagmire Traps to cover the northern and eastern sides. That should make approaching from those directions much more difficult," said Fred proudly.
"For the Dark Forest, we've decided we'll release the Grapes of Wrath and a lesser number of Greatgrapes," added George proudly.
"Greatgrapes?" Jack asked curiously.
"Oh, you know about our Grapes of Wrath, right?" asked Fred.
Jack and Dumbledore nodded.
"Well, Greatgrapes are larger versions of the Grapes of Wrath," answered George with a beaming smile.
Both Dumbledore and Jack shuddered at that thought.
"Don't worry Headmaster, they have a limited life span. Eight hours after we release them, they'll become inactive," reassured Fred.
"We've also turned out nearly ten thousand grenades," added George.
"I still say they need a better name. We should have called them Boom Bangers or something," muttered Fred, glaring at George.
George glared back. "Don't blame me! That's what Harry calls them," he retorted.
"That will teach us to never let Ginny pick a man with no imagination," Fred said to George.
"Gentleman, let's get back on track please?" asked Dumbledore painfully. Jack didn't know whether to laugh or strangle them.
Both of the twins turned back to Dumbledore, looking upset.
"Well you see Headmaster, it's about Hermione's wand virus hex," said George, looking ashamed. "We've tried everything we can think of and we just can't limit its effects. It's just too dangerous to use when so few people are capable of casting wandlessly," he concluded sadly.
Ah, so here's the crux of the problem. They are upset, thinking they have failed, thought Dumbledore. He nodded thoughtfully at them. "I suspected that might be the case gentlemen, but you needn't fret about it. You have done work far in excess of the grades you managed to obtain here in school. Why in fact, if I didn't know better, I'd say you deliberately failed your tests," he said with a slight smile and a twinkle in his eyes.
Both men managed to look very embarrassed.
"When can you start installing the Quagmire Traps?" Jack asked intently. "How much time will you need?"
"Oh, that! We can start emplacing them April first. It should only take two days," replied George.
"Yes, they're quite simple to lay down. We can activate the charm from the Warbangers building or anywhere else, once the fight begins," added Fred.
Jack smiled grimly. "Good. I'll get together with Ron and Hestia to adjust our schedules properly," he said.
"We'll come with you!" cried Fred.
"We haven't tormented Ronniekins…" continued George.
"…since he proposed to Hermione!" finished Fred.
With a wave to Dumbledore, the two Weasleys leapt to their feet and followed Jack from the Headmaster's office.
Midnight encounter…
Wan Change left the infirmary well after curfew. She had been helping Madam Pomfrey with a first year that had been injured in a broom accident. She had stayed late because the boy had been scared. He was muggleborn and unused to Wizarding world medicine.
Madam Pomfrey was actually very pleased with the progress Wan had made, although her gruff demeanor with the young girl hadn't mellowed very much. Wan didn't care, she was helping and, in a small way, paying back some of the debt she felt she owed.
That debt lay heavy on her shoulders as she trudged back to the common room. She knew there would be few friendly faces to greet her there, but she'd hold her head high anyway. Let them think what they want, she thought fiercely. I'll do what I have to do to prove myself.
Suddenly she was grabbed around her neck and a hand clamped over her mouth, preventing her from screaming. A voice she didn't recognize growled in her ear.
"If you're not with us, then you're against us, Chang. Filthy mudblood lover!"
A dark clad figure stepped in front of her. Her eyes bulged outwards when she saw the wand pointing at her midriff.
"Interficio torqueo," the voice hissed.
She was surprised when nothing seemed to happen. A punch was delivered to her stomach and, as the air was forced from her lungs by the blow, she was released. When she slipped to her knees, she felt a pair a hands encircle her neck from behind. She tried to fight against the hands but she lacked the strength. Spots exploded in front of her eyes and then the hands released her as her assailants fled the scene.
She started to rise when the curse's effects hit her, doubling her over. With a whimper, she toppled over and lay on her side, curled into a fetal position against the pain burning through her.
The Common Room…
Harry sat studying at a quiet table. It had taken him a few days to get back into the rhythm of school and studying after Hedwig. It still bothered him, but his friends were always close at hand to help. He was about to close his book and pull out his sketchpad when a hand touched him on his shoulder. Looking up, he saw Blaise.
"Harry, we need to talk," Blaise said softly.
Harry nodded and put his book on the table. Standing, he walked to a nearby couch and spoke to Blaise. A few moments later, he turned to his friends.
"Guys, I'm going to the infirmary with Blaise. I'll be back when I can," he said. Everyone looked up at him, concerned.
"I'll go with you," Ginny stated firmly. Harry thought about it, then nodded in acceptance. He knew he had about as much chance of ordering her to stay behind as he had in ordering the sun to stop rising.
As they walked to the infirmary, Blaise filled them in on all the details. "One of our security patrols found Wan Chang lying in a corridor. She'd been attacked and whomever did it was pretty determined to do some damage. She's been cursed, probably by one of the Gut Burning hexes, and someone tried to choke her. Madam Pomfrey managed to lift the hex, but she can't do much about the damage," he said tensely.
Entering the infirmary, Harry and Ginny stopped short, seeing Madam Pomfrey and Dumbledore sitting beside the girl. Her face was ashen, her breathing slow and shallow. Harry walked over to her bed.
Madam Pomfrey looked up as they approached, her expression turned suddenly hopeful.
"How is she?" Harry asked softly, dreading the answer he knew he was going to get.
Dumbledore didn't turn to look at him. "She's slipping away. The curse did too much damage for us to repair. It won't be much longer. I will sit with her until the end. She should not be alone when the time comes," he replied heavily.
Ginny sat on the bed next to Dumbledore, placing a hand on his shoulder. "No sir, we'll sit with her as well," she said quietly. Dumbledore nodded gratefully.
Madam Pomfrey stepped over to Harry and grabbed his arm, the plea evident in her expression. Harry closed his eyes trying to block the look she was searing into his soul.
She can't be asking this of me, he raged silently. Wan! After what she did? How can I interfere? Has she truly turned from the dark? Doesn't anyone know the price I'll pay if I do this? But Madam Pomfrey wouldn't ask if she didn't believe in her. OH MERLIN! What do I do?
Harry could feel the internal phoenix song surging within him, clouding out all doubts and calming him. When he made his decision, there was a sudden burst of welcoming heat from his locket. An instant later, he took wing. Madam Pomfrey staggered back from where she had been holding Harry's arm and looked up in wonder at the black phoenix flying around the infirmary. For the first time in over an hour, she felt a sense of hope.
Wings circled the room several times, gaining speed with each pass. He screamed each time he passed over Wan and the stunned Dumbledore. Blaise, thinking something was wrong, left his position outside the infirmary and entered. He stopped dead in his tracks as Wings screamed again and dove at Wan Chang, talons outstretched.
Wings struck, tearing a massive wound in Wan's stomach. Launching him self into the air again, the black phoenix circled the bed once before coming to land next to the pale, dying girl.
Madam Pomfrey gasped at the obviously mortal wound Wings had created and rushed to heal it. Dumbledore leapt to his feet and grabbed her. She struggled in the Headmaster's arms, unable to understand what was happening.
Wan's eyes snapped open and she gasped as her lifeblood literally spilled from her body. Her vision clouded over and she never saw the phoenix by her side.
Wings cocked his head to the side and looked at the ashen girl before him. Then he bowed his head over her wound and wept.
Flame erupted in the air over their heads as Fawkes and more than a dozen other phoenix's appeared in the infirmary. The swan sized birds landed on beds, chairs, wherever they could, and sang a mournful song that wrenched at the hearts of everyone present.
Wings wept for Wan Chang, his tears flowing freely into her wound, sealing it, preserving it, and correcting the flaws. He wept for all that had turned from the light.
Moments passed and Wan's vision cleared. The paleness of her complexion receded and her wound closed. She gazed down at her stomach, then at the large bird beside her. She reached up and stroked the downy feathers.
Wings looked up as the other phoenixes changed their song to one of glorious exaltation. He sprang aloft and glided to the center of the aisle between the beds in the infirmary before reverting to his normal form. The song of the other phoenixes soared to a higher volume, echoing, amplifying and filling the whole of Hogwarts.
Harry pitched to his knees as his magic surged within him. His body burst into an intense corona of light.
To heal an enemy is an act of ultimate love, Fledging. You are worthy of being a phoenix friend.
The words echoed in Harry's mind and he looked up in surprise at the phoenixes. This was the first time he had ever heard a phoenix in his mind while in human form. He nodded to Fawkes and the others. The song stopped as, one by one, the large birds vanished in a flash of flame.
Harry concentrated for a moment and dampened down his magic until he no longer glowed. Standing, he turned to face a grinning Dumbledore, while Madam Pomfrey rushed to check Wan. Ginny walked over to Harry and he put his arm around her shoulders.
"I think that James and Lily are most proud of you today my boy, as am I," said Dumbledore.
Ginny hugged him tightly. "How do you feel?" she asked.
He looked down at her and smiled. "I'm fine. I feel calm, refreshed and a little strange. I could hear Fawkes talk to me without being in my phoenix form," he replied quietly to her.
Madam Pomfrey straightened up and gave a sigh of relief before turning to Dumbledore. "She's sleeping, Albus. All signs of the curses damage are gone," she said, shooting Harry a grateful smile.
Dumbledore glanced at Wan. "Then I will leave her in your capable hands, Poppy. Harry, I'll escort you and your friends back to the common room. I think that Miss Chang may want to speak with you," he said.
Returning to the common room, Harry noted it was fairly crowded. Ron and Hermione looked up from where they were sitting. Ron gave Harry a curious look.
Harry shrugged, saying, "Wan Chang was attacked tonight, but she's going to be fine. Madam Pomfrey will probably release her in time for breakfast or lunch tomorrow."
Harry had spoken loudly and was unsurprised to note that the noise level in the common room had dropped to nothing. Everyone had heard, just like he had wanted.
Hogwarts Infirmary, the next morning…
Wan Chang blinked a few times, stretched, and then froze. This wasn't her bed! She bolted upright in fear, looking around wildly. She only relaxed when she saw Madam Pomfrey coming towards her.
"Awake are we, Miss Chang? I must say you look far better this morning than you did last night," said Madam Pomfrey in her typical gruff bedside manner.
"What am I doing here?" asked Wan.
"You were attacked last night, Wan. You would have died had it not been for the action taken by Professor Potter," replied the matron.
"P-P-Potter healed me?" she stammered in reply.
Madam Pomfrey nodded. "You might want to think about that, Wan. I'm not so sure your former friends would have been so generous," she replied in a gentle tone. "Be that as it may, I've checked you over and you're ready to return to class. I've laid some clothes out for you."
"Thank you, Madam Pomfrey."
Watching and Waiting…Since the incident with Wan, Harry seemed to be much calmer. He was sleeping better and his nightmares, though frequent, had changed, becoming fuzzy, indistinct and lacking in emotional detail. It was something Harry was grateful for.
At the end of February, Wan supplied Blaise with a list of names. There wasn't anything anyone could do about the people on the list until they were caught in the act. Harry had put a watch on them, but he knew nothing could be done until they attacked another student.
Jack spent several hours a week teaching Harry the basics of sword handling. While swords were no longer considered to be a weapon of war, Jack had gotten interested in them as part of his martial arts studies. Like Harry's earlier training in martial arts, no one believed Harry and Voldemort would end up in a sword duel. But since Harry knew the sword was going to play an integral role in the final battle, Jack wanted him to be able to handle the sword without slicing his own foot off.
Harry had, by this time, drawn hundreds of sketches for the addition to the sword. Time was the critical element. The addition included a Spirit Crystal and meant the sword could not be prepared too far in advance.
Viki comes to town…
Viktor Krum limped into the Hogshead. Most of his bruises had faded but he was still recovering. He checked into a private room, telling Aberforth he'd be there the coming week and prepaying in advance.
Aberforth, being somewhat harried by customers, and reputedly somewhat crazy, never bothered to notice the softly blinking light of his dark detector. Later that day, the crystal was destroyed when he accidentally dropped a case of butterbeer on it, shattering the stone.
Headmaster's Office, Hogwarts…
Dumbledore was surprised. There was a knock on his door and for once his wards had not warned him that someone was approaching.
"Come in," he said, in reply to the knock.
When Harry Potter entered the office, Dumbledore's surprise increased. He had kept a tracking charm on the young man, as well as a few other students, all year long. Yet wards and charms had failed to detect Harry's approach.
"Sir," Harry said in greeting while taking a seat. "I'm concerned. This has been a far from normal school year for many of us. Study and class time has been interrupted by other duties. With the final battle coming, teachers and students are going to be injured, maybe killed. It would be foolish to think that we won't suffer losses. But what will happen after? We may have students who are unable to take their tests due to injuries."
"Yes. I confess I am worried about that myself. I have spoken with the Board of Governors and the Ministry concerning this issue. Right now, they are considering one of two paths. Either making everyone repeat their year, or extending the school year by another month to account for time lost. I think extending the year will be adequate, but the Board must consider all the options," replied Dumbledore.
"Yes sir, but what about any injured students?" Harry asked.
Both of them winced. They knew that at last year's battle in Hogsmeade they had gotten off extremely lucky. Among the students, only six had been injured, and only one seriously. This time would be far worse and they both knew it.
Dumbledore sighed, his eyes losing their twinkle. "I fear you are correct to worry about that, Harry. But both the Ministry and the Board have been warned that there may be the need to provide special tutoring for students convalescing from injuries. The Ministry has assured me that any students needing the extra time will have special NEWTS and OWLS set up for them on a case by case basis. I have also spoken to the teachers. All have agreed to help provide any tutoring required."
Harry nodded, then decided to bring up the other topic that had been bothering him for a long time. "Albus," he began, ignoring the Headmaster's startled expression. "There is still one injustice which you need to correct. One that has gone unchecked for far too long."
Dumbledore didn't miss the steeling tone of Harry's voice and thought frantically. An injustice? Against who? Surely he's not talking about Wan Chang.
"An injustice Harry? Against whom?" Dumbledore asked.
"Headmaster, we both know who opened the Chamber of Secrets all those years ago."
Dumbledore nodded. "Yes I do, Harry. But I fail to see your point."
"Hagrid, Headmaster! You need to have the edict of expulsion revoked and get him a wand. Everyone who knows Hagrid knows he's got what's left of his wand in that silly umbrella of his. And he'll need tutoring to bring him up to par with a seventh year."
Dumbledore blinked in surprise. This was something he hadn't expected. "Very well Harry, but you get to tell him," he said, a slow smile creeping through his beard.
Harry winced. He truly liked Hagrid, but the half giant was very emotional at times. "Actually Albus, I think it would be better coming from you. He idolizes you," Harry shot back with a grin.
The two wizards stared at each other for a moment before they both burst out laughing. As much as both of them liked Hagrid, they knew who ever told him was bound to be on the receiving end of a long painful hug and buckets of tears. In the end, they agreed to wait until all the paperwork was completed and then they'd tell him together.
Ideas and Plans…
"Ginny? Can I talk to you for a minute?"
Ginny looked up from the book she'd been reading to find Hermione standing beside her bed. Seeing the devilish look in the older witch's eyes, she put her book down.
"Sure, Hermione. What's up?" she asked.
Hermione sat down on the bed and pulled the drapes for privacy. She then drew her wand and cast a silencing charm around them.
"I need your help. I want paybacks for Fred and George's little stunt."
Ginny grinned. "Well, you have to admit, it was amusing."
"For you, maybe. But you're not the one everyone's snickering at. And I would remind you that I helped when Harry had problems proposing to you last summer!" Hermione said with a scowl.
"True" the younger girl said, frowning at the memory. "So, what did you have in mind?"
"That's what I'm having problems with. Every idea I've come up with so far leads to maiming and missing limbs. I want to prank them, not hurt them. Well, that's not true. A little pain wouldn't be so bad."
Ginny opened her book bag and removed parchment, ink and quill. "All right, let's work on some ideas," she said.
Sweet Revenge…
Midmorning found the Weasley twins in the potions lab of the Warbangers building. Cauldrons of all shapes and sizes gurgled and bubbled around them as they went over their notes for a delayed explosion time for their grenade potion. While they found blowing up their iron pipe cannons quite amusing, it wasn't really the effect they were going for.
An explosive sound rocked the lab, interrupting their argument over how much Erumpent horn fluid should be used. When the smoke cleared, both twins rushed around the room, checking the brewing cauldrons for damage. Finding none, they checked the rest of the lab.
"Nothing," Fred said, puzzled.
George shrugged. "Odd. There's no reason that should have happened. The Erumpent fluid is locked up in the office, so it couldn't have been that."
"All of the explosives are locked up," Fred said as he returned to the table and their notes. "We learned that lesson after blowing up Dad's work shed the summer of our fifth year."
"Don't remind me." George cringed as he joined his brother at the table. "Mum was shirty for weeks afterwards."
"Not as shirty as she was when you tried that shaving charm on the cat last Christmas," Fred said, laughing.
"I was nearly finished. It's not my fault the cat moved. Besides, Mum's eyebrows grew back, didn't they?" George asked, haughtily.
"I still don't see why she got angry at me," Fred grumbled, reaching for his quill. "For once, I was innocent."
George snorted and went back to reading his notes. When Fred dropped his quill, he barely noticed. When he dropped it a second time, he frowned and glanced at his brother.
"What is it?" he asked Fred, noting the shocked expression on his face. "What's wrong?"
"Look," Fred exclaimed, holding his hands up.
"Lovely hands, Fred. I have a pair just like them."
"Look at my thumbs."
"What?" George said, frowning at his twin's digits.
"They're backwards, you git!" Fred shouted. "I tried to pick up a quill to write more notes and I couldn't hold it!"
George grabbed one of Fred's hands and compared it to his own. They looked identical, of course. "I think you're going off the deep end, brother mine. You're thumbs look the same as mine."
"Really? Then pick up a quill and write something."
Muttering about the dangers of potions fumes on an unstable mind, George picked up a quill…and promptly dropped it. Frowning, he picked it up again and, once more, it slipped out of his hand.
Raising his hands, he stared at them in dawning horror. "What did you do?" he whispered.
"Me?" yelped Fred. "I've been in here with you all day. When would I have had time to do anything?"
"Wait," George said, looking into his twin's eyes. "That explosion, the smoke? What ya wanna bet ol' Remus is up to tricks again, eh?"
"Remus, of course! Come on then, let's go floo him."
After a frustrating few minutes of trying to manhandle floo powder into the fire without the use of their thumbs, Remus' head appeared. With much laughter, he informed them that he was not responsible for their current condition and neither were the rest of the Marauders, as far as he knew.
When Dobby delivered lunch an hour later, he found two depressed, but hungry young wizards. Leaving two trays, he disappeared with a small pop. Removing the lid from his try, Fred groaned.
"Of all days to have soup for lunch!" George exclaimed, eying his own tray with a scowl.
Having fished his dropped spoon out of his soup for the third time, Fred growled, "Mum's not here to yell and I'm hungry." Carefully picking up the bowl, he brought it to his mouth and drank hungrily, ignoring the warm liquid dribbling out of the corners of his mouth and down his shirt.
With a shrug, George followed his example and carefully picked up his own bowl.
Hogwarts Great Hall, Lunch…
"That should be one down," Hermione whispered to Ginny.
"They're in for a bad day," Ginny commented quietly, grinning down at her plate.
"What are you two whispering about?" Ron asked, suspiciously.
"Nothing," they replied in unison, their faces shining with innocence.
"You two scare me when you say that. You really do. Just tell me know. Am I in trouble?" Ron asked nervously
"Should you be?" Hermione asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh no, I'm not answering that!" Ron exclaimed and resolutely turned back to his lunch.
Harry looked deeply into Ginny's eyes for a moment, before his own widened and he snickered.
"Stop looking!" she sent him privately.
"Then stop looking so guilty, he sent back with a grin.
"Don't tell, she pleaded.
"Won't," he assured her, taking her hand under the table and giving it a squeeze.
For Love of Snape…
The twins locked up their lab and headed for their private quarters. Their thumbs had returned to normal an hour after lunch and they were able to return to their work. For a prank, it was mild and they felt lucky to have been let off so easily. That didn't mean the person behind it was safe, however. They had every intention of finding out who did it, and making his or her life a little more interesting for a few days.
They exited the Warbangers building and walked to the castle.
"Umm, Fred? I thought we were returning to our quarters?" George asked as they entered Hogwarts.
"So did I," Fred said, bewildered.
"I guess it doesn't matter. We can have dinner here and plot revenge after."
"All right. Let's find Harry and the others. We can let them know how our research is going while we're here."
Entering the Great Hall, they spotted Harry and headed in his direction. The table was crowded with couples, but there were two seats left. Luna, Neville, Ron, Hermione, Harry, Ginny, Serena and Severus all looked up as they approached.
Before the twins could reach them however, there was another explosive sound and the two young men were wrapped in smoke. Several startled screams echoed about the hall and all eyes turned in their direction. When the smoke cleared, silence descended.
The twins looked around, baffled. When the giggles, snickers and flat out laughter reached them, they turned towards each other and gaped.
Rather than plain black wizarding robes, each now stood wearing tights, ruffs, high-heeled slippers and codpieces.
"The codpieces were a nice touch," Ginny whispered with a straight face.
"I thought it might work," Hermione said, grinning.
The high-heeled slippers caused a few moments of anxiety as they wobbled their way dangerously to Harry's side.
"Did you do this?" George asked, glaring down into glowing green eyes.
"Wasn't me," Harry gasped out through his laughter.
"Oy! Didn't know you went in for codpieces," Ron said, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes.
"Shut it, Ronnikins!" both twins bellowed.
"Where's Colin and his camera when you need him?" Neville asked, weak with laughter and leaning against Luna.
"Behind them," Luna said, chuckling.
Both twins whirled around, stumbling in their high-heels. Grabbing at each other for balance, they looked up just in time for Colin to catch several shots of them before he sped away.
"Come back here," Fred yelled.
"I don't know why you're upset. Your new attire suits you rather well," a snide voice said from the table.
The twins turned once again, this time more carefully, and were confronted with the sneering countenance of Severus Snape.
"Here it comes," Hermione whispered to Ginny.
George wobbled around the table and dropped to his knees before the startled Defense Professor. Pulling his wand, he conjured a rose and held it out to Snape.
"A
flower was offered to me:
Such
a flower as May never bore.
But
I said "I've a Pretty Rose-tree",
And
I passed the sweet flower o'er.
To tend him by day and by night.
But my Rose turn'd away with jealousy:
And his thorns were my only delight." George quoted, sadly.
"What are you doing?" Snape hissed in anger as those in the hall broke into gales of laughter.
"Oh I don't know, Severus. It was rather pretty, actually," Serena said, trying hard not to laugh.
"This isn't funny, wife!" he snapped back.
Not to be outdone, Fred pushed George away and dropped to his knees, smiling at Severus. He conjured a box of chocolates, gave them to the angry man glaring down at him, and then threw his arms wide.
"I sleep with thee and wake with theeAnd yet thou art not there;
I fill my arms with thoughts of thee
And press the common air.
Thy
eyes are gazing upon mine
When
thou art out of sight;
My
lips are always touching thine
At
morning, noon, and night," Fred said, passionately.
When Severus moved to stand, Serena grabbed his wrist. "Do you really want them following you around the halls?" she asked, trying to stifle her giggles.
As he turned to glare at her, both twins stood and scrambled to stand on the tabletop. Gazing down on their once-feared Professor in adoration, they ignored the laughter and catcalls around them.
"Where did you find those poems?" Ginny asked Hermione, holding her aching sides.
"A book, where else?" Hermione said, smiling smugly.
"Why Snape?" Ginny chuckled quietly. "Why not Dumbledore?"
"Well, I figured it was a good way to kill three birds with one stone. Snape was a bastard for the first five years I was here and always picked on me as a know-it-all. Why not pay him back as well? Besides, Dumbledore would have enjoyed it. Look at him."
Ginny glanced over at Dumbledore's table and saw that he was slumped down in his chair, laughing as hard as everyone else in the hall.
Harry looked up at the two men now standing on the table. Cocking his head to one side in consideration, he squinted at them. Murmuring to himself quietly for a moment, he then sat back with a grin.
"Here comes the last poem," Hermione told Ginny in a low voice.
As everyone in the hall watched, the twins opened their mouths and…stopped. Hermione frowned in puzzlement. The next poem should have started. But rather than passionate verse, the twins only stared blankly at Severus.
Then, slowly, their costumes began to melt away to be replaced by pink tutu's, white tights, silk slippers and pink, pointy hats. When the small, gossamer wings appeared upon their backs, each twin lifted his star tipped wand and took flight.
As the crowd gaped at this new vision, sweet humming could be heard from the twins as they fluttered delicately about the hall. When they passed over Dumbledore, they swished their wands and fountains sprang up from each table in the room.
Harry slid to the floor and ducked under the table just as the fountains erupted and sprayed lemon drops down upon the crowd. Ginny shrieked and dove under the table. The others quickly joined her. Students and teachers were taking cover all over the hall. Dumbledore, limp with laughter, was being dragged to safety under a nearby table by a group of third years.
Hermione remained in her seat. Ginny dashed out from under the table to grab her, only to be arrested by the sight before her. The older witch sat holding handfuls of her hair and pounding her head against the tabletop.
"Hermione?" Ginny tried to call over the deafening roar of the lemon drops.
When Hermione didn't answer, Ginny grabbed the young woman and dragged her down. Ignoring the laughter of the others, she picked the yellow candies out of Hermione's hair, and then turned to her tablemates. The only person not laughing was Harry. With narrowed eyes, she watched as he looked out at the hall, smiling smugly.
"Harry, did you do this? she sent him.
"Who me? he asked in wide eyed innocence.
"Oh Merlin, you did! Why?
"I can't let you two have all the fun," he sent with a smirk. Then, closing his eyes, she saw his lips move, but was unable to hear him over the sound of the candies being ejected from the fountains and bouncing onto the floor.
The silence was absolute, and sudden. Ginny peeked out from under the table just in time to see the twins' costumes replaced by their normal attire. When their wings disappeared, they dropped like stones to the floor of the Great Hall. They looked around, dazed for a moment, before standing up.
"Umm, Harry?" Ginny sent him as she climbed out from under the table.
"What?" he asked as he regained his feet and glanced about.
"Are these the Headmaster's lemon drops, or did you conjure your own?"
He looked at her with an expression of dawning horror. "Oh, bloody hell!" he exclaimed aloud.
Ginny broke down in a fit of giggles.
"Ron, language," Hermione said, climbing out from the table.
"Hey! That wasn't me, it was Harry," Ron said indignantly as he helped her to her feet.
"Sorry, habit," she said, brushing off her robes.
The twins looked around in puzzlement. Spouting love poetry to Snape was embarrassing, but the prank was a good one. However, they didn't understand the point of the lemon drops. They watched students and teachers stumbling around the hall, slipping on the candy and shrugged to each other. Since no one else was going to do it…
Each drew his wand and, together, they shouted "Evanesco!"
The excited babbling of people stopped once more as the lemon drops in the hall doubled, then doubled again. The twins gapped at each other.
"Amateurs," Severus muttered, drawing his own wand.
Serena, hearing his comment, dove out from under the table with a shouted, "No!"
It was too late. Once again, the number of lemon drops increased. Severus stared at his wand as if it had suddenly turned into a turnip.
"Severus, don't! I'll explain later, but you can't banish them," Serena said, grabbing his arm.
"No one cast anything!" someone yelled. Everyone spun around towards the sound of the voice to see Harry Potter standing on top of a table. "You can't banish the candy. It will only cause their numbers to increase."
Several people jumped when loud popping noises where heard throughout the hall as house elves appeared. Many sent dark looks in Harry's direction, causing the emerald-eyed man to smile sheepishly.
Dumbledore watched gloomily as the candies were boxed up and removed. Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione joined him a few minutes later as Dobby approached and gave Dumbledore a piece of parchment. Everyone moved a bit closer to read.
Headmaster's Lemon DropsOld total: 4 Million
New total: 32 Million
Harry groaned, Ron and Ginny laughed. Hermione moaned and fell to her knees.
"Oh, bugger me," Dumbledore said in despair.
Ginny's laughter increased when, from behind them, McGonagall's strident voice rang out. "Albus, language!"
Girls Dorm, later that night…
"It has to be here somewhere, Ginny!" Hermione exclaimed, going over her notes once again. She was sure the answer to what went wrong with her prank had to be there.
They sat on Hermione's bed, curtains drawn and silencing charm in place. The older witch was trying frantically to find out what had gone awry. No one had been harmed, other than the Headmaster of course. But she was worried. If something as straightforward as this could go so wrong, it cast doubts on many of she spells she'd helped create for the Brigade.
"Ginny, help me!" she hissed.
"I'm sure it's nothing," Ginny said, trying not to laugh. "Sometimes these things happen."
"How can you be so calm about this?" Hermione asked, scanning her notes.
"Because it's not that big a deal. Sure, the Headmaster has a few more lemon drops to give away," Ginny said, grinning outright, "but it's not the end of the world. You haven't found any mistakes in your notes and I doubt you will. Sometimes outside forces affect the spells we cast, you know that."
As the words sunk in, Hermione froze. Raising her eyes, she stared at the redhead for a moment. "It was Harry," she growled.
Ginny frowned as if in thought. "No, I don't think so. Besides, why would he use the Headmaster's lemon drops, rather than conjuring his own?" she asked logically.
When Hermione looked back at her notes, Ginny slipped from the bed and said goodnight. Reaching her own bed, she pulled the drapes for privacy and cast a silencing charm around it. Lying back on the pillow, she grinned and finally let go of the laughter she'd been holding in for the last half hour.
Bushy Haired Wizards…
George climbed out of bed the next morning and stretched. There was a lot of work to be done today, not least of which was finding out who had pranked them!
"Oy, Fred! Get up," he said, glancing over at his sleeping twin. When the lump in the bed across from him started to move, he grabbed his clothes and changed.
Tying his shoes, he looked over as Fred sat up. His jaw dropped as he stared at his twin. Finally finding his voice, he shouted, "What the bloody hell did you do?"
Fred's head whipped up at the shout and he felt his own jaw drop. "Me? George, what's wrong with your hair? And what's with the teeth?"
"Teeth? You're the one whose teeth have grown!"
The two gawked at each other before they both rushed to the bathroom, getting stuck in the door for a moment as they tried to enter at the same time. Gazing into the mirror, they stared, dumbfounded.
Red, straight hair had been replaced by bushy, uncontrollable brown hair. As one, they pulled their lips back and grimaced at their now overly large front teeth.
Turning to face each other, they both gasped, "Hermione?"
Great Hall, Lunch…
"The third prank should be over," Ginny told Hermione as she sat beside her at lunch. "The final prank should start any time."
"If Harry doesn't mess it up," Hermione muttered darkly.
"Hermione," Ginny started.
"I know it was him, Ginny. I also know you're not going to tell me."
Ginny shrugged and turned back to the table to fill her plate.
Itchy and Scratchy…
When lunch was over, George stacked their plates on the tray the house elves had left and Fred to the bathroom. Setting the tray on a small table near the door, George went back to his notes. He picked up his quill and jotted down a few comments. Dipping the tip in ink, he had just touched the quill to the parchment before him when a loud yelp from Fred caused his hand to jerk. With a curse, he stared down at the black line he'd just drawn through his notes.
When another loud yelp emanated from the loo, he stood and threw down his quill. "Fred, would you stop? I'm trying to work out here!" he bellowed.
Shouts, curses and slaps were his only answer. Concerned, he drew his wand and walked to the bathroom door. "Fred?" he called.
Receiving no answer, he reached out and turned the knob. When the door swung open, he found Fred standing with his pants around his ankles, slapping himself frantically. George looked around the room quickly, but saw nothing to explain his twin's actions.
"Fred, what are you doing?" he asked.
"Get them off!" Fred panted.
"Get what off?"
"Can't you see them? Get them off, they're biting me!"
"Fred, there's nothing there."
Jerking his pants up, Fred shoved George aside and charged out of the bathroom. Once he crossed the threshold, the biting stopped.
"Fred?" his brother questioned.
"I don't know. I went to use the loo and as soon as I sat down, a swarm of mosquitoes appeared and started biting me. They're gone now," he said, staring at the bathroom.
"There's nothing in here."
"Oh really? Then what's this?" Fred asked, as he held out his arm, now covered in bites.
"It's ugly, that's what it is," George said, walking over to look at his brother's arm.
The next half hour was spent trying to detect any curses, charms or other spells that may have been cast on the bathroom. Finding nothing, they went back to work.
Unfortunately for George, his turn came not long after. When he hobbled from the bathroom with his pants around his knees, Fred cackled in merriment.
"But there's nothing there, brother mine!" he shouted. "Oh, and pull up your pants. I really don't need to see that."
Glaring, George belted his pants around his waste and turned to stare at the bathroom once more.
"Maybe we should use the bathroom in our private quarters," Fred commented.
"Good idea," his twin said, and then reached out and pulled the bathroom door shut.
Over the next several hours, the twins found that no bathroom was safe from the blood-sucking hoard. Covered in itchy bites, they scratched furiously at themselves and contemplated their situation. They had given up casting healing charms on each other, as that only increased the itch. Things were becoming desperate and, short of reverting to nappies, they needed help.
"Hermione's going to pay for this," Fred muttered as he sprinted for the castle, George at his side.
Hogwarts Infirmary…
"This is the last of the blood replenishing potions, Poppy," Serena said as she unpacked the last box. "I'll brew more tomorrow after class."
"Thank you, Serena," the medi-witch said, closing the potion cabinet and sighing. "We need more calming draughts as well."
"I can start those tonight. Is anything else needed?"
"No, I think that's it," Poppy started when the doors to the infirmary burst open.
Whirling, the two women frowned as the Weasley twins stumbled in.
"Oh Merlin, what have they blown up now?" Poppy muttered, moving quickly towards the twins.
"The castle didn't shake and they're still in once piece, so it couldn't have been that bad," Serena said cheerfully, following her.
"Madam Pomfrey," George gasped.
"We need your help," Fred exclaimed, digging at this arm.
"What happened?" she asked.
"Mosquito bites," they both burst out.
"We're covered in them," Fred said.
Moving the young men to the nearest bed, Poppy and Serena listened as the twins explained what had happened. When they finished, they glared at the two women standing before them. Madam Pomfrey's lips twitched with amusement and Serena Snape grinned widely.
"It's not funny," George muttered. "I've got bites in places no bug should ever be!"
Poppy snorted in amusement and bustled off to the cabinet she's so recently left. Returning, she opened the jar she'd retrieved and, with Serena's help, spread the anti-itch cream over the twins. Finished, both women straightened.
"Strip," the medi-witch commanded. When both twins only gaped at her, she sighed. "We need to do your legs as well," she said patiently.
"And anywhere else you may have been bitten," Serena said, her amusement evident.
"We can do that," Fred said, grabbing the jar from Madam Pomfrey.
"Really," George assured the women anxiously.
"Are you sure?" Poppy asked, her eyes dancing.
"Yes!" both twins nearly shouted.
Stepping back, the medi-witch pulled the curtain around the bed. Turning, she met the other woman's eyes and they both grinned devilishly.
Behind the curtain, both men had stripped and were applying the cream quickly. Neither trusted the women not to offer their help again.
"You realize Hermione has to pay for this," Fred said.
"I don't know. She was only paying us back for what we did to her and Ron."
"True, but that was only one thing. She went overboard with her revenge."
"No, not really. Remember, we did broadcast it to the whole school," George reminded him. "Besides, do you really want her doing something like this to us again?"
"Good point," Fred muttered, pulling up his pants.
When the twins finally stepped out from behind the curtain, they found the women waiting for them.
"Thank you, Madam Pomfrey," George said, holding out the jar of cream.
"Keep it," Poppy said. "You'll need to apply it again, come morning. Besides, you may very well have more bites by then."
"It has to stop sooner or later. No prank goes on forever," George said.
With a frown, Serena stopped forward with her wand drawn. "Finite Incantatem," she said.
Both twins gaped at her stupidly.
"Bloody hell," Fred muttered.
"Never thought of that," George said sheepishly.
"But does it work?" Fred asked his brother.
"Only one way to find out," George said with a shrug and headed for the bathroom.
A few minutes later, the bathroom door burst open and George jumped out, arms spread wide. "No nappies for this redheaded lad!" he shouted happily.
With a loud whoop, Fred shoved his brother aside, entered the bathroom and slammed the door closed. Poppy rolled her eyes and Serena burst into merry laughter.
Viktor Krum…
Krum waited in one corner of The Three Broomsticks, his face hidden by his hooded cloak. Slowly, the students from Hogwarts came in, taking seats and conversing among themselves.
All he had to do was wait for his target to come in.
Hermione…
Hermione and Ron sat enjoying a butterbeer in The Three Broomsticks. It was the last Hogsmeade weekend they would be enjoying for a while, and the early March weather was almost spring-like for a change. Hermione sighed a little. She knew Ron enjoyed the more down to earth places like The Three Broomsticks and that would be something she'd need to accept. She had been pleased when, on their last trip to Hogsmeade, he had taken her to Madam Puddifoots. Ron apparently thought that 'romantic' occasions were special treats.
Hermione didn't mind all that much. He was improving considerably. He was making a concerted attempt to swallow his food before he said something. She knew she really couldn't change him, but she could help him change himself for the better. And she had to admit to herself that, sitting here in The Three Broomsticks where friends constantly stopped by to chat, was fun.
"Would you care for another Butterbeer 'Mione? I'm thinking of getting one for myself and maybe a platter of chips we could share?" Ron asked her over the din of the crowd. She nodded and smiled at him. With the place so crowded today, a nod was as good as a shout.
Ron got up to make his way to the counter and place his order.
Hermione smiled and waved to several people around her table when suddenly a euphoric feeling washed over her. Her eyes widened as she recognized the spell and her mind raged as she got up and headed towards the exit.
Viktor Krum…
There! She was alone now and he had a clear shot. In a flash his wand was out, the spell was cast and the commands given. Since he was next to an exit he stepped out of the building and waited for her to show up.
Ron…
Ron turned from the counter and gaped in surprise to see that other people were now filling the table he and Hermione had been sharing. He looked towards the exit in time to see someone who looked like Hermione turning the corner and vanishing from sight.
Curious and more than a little alarmed, Ron pushed his way through the crowd towards the exit. Unfortunately, the crowd thickened as more people entered, which only made his actions more frantic. Something was wrong!
Finally making it to the exit, he yanked the door open. He stepped out of the building and ran around the corner, following the girl that looked like Hermione. Rounding the corner and heading to the back of the building, he skidded to a halt. There was a flash of light and he spun around as something hit him hard. Then the world tilted sideways and he fell to the ground. Looking up he saw Hermione, her wand out, pointed at him and a man standing beside her.
"'Mione?" he croaked. He gave his ring a twist, and then tried to reach for her before his arm fell limply to the ground and darkness claimed him.
Hermione…
Hermione was aghast! She knew she was under an Imperious curse, but she couldn't break out of it. Ron, her Ron, was on the ground, cut down by her cutting hex. She fought for control to no avail. Dumbly, she watched as Viktor Krum smiled evilly at her and took her wand from her hand. Tears started streaming down her face.
"Now Herm-own-ninny, you must not veep, he vas a mudblood lover. He vill die, now or later. My master vill be most pleased vit me," he sneered at her. "But first ve have fun, ja?"
Krum ripped open the front of her blouse and pawed at her breasts, squeezing one painfully. She couldn't even close her eyes to block the sight. She fought an internal battle with herself. Part of her, the part controlled by the Imperious, was blissfully happy about what Krum was doing. The rest of her struggled to break free, to scream, to do something!
She blinked for a moment and started to raise a hand towards him. He backed up enough to hit her with another Imperious curse. Then he backhanded her, hitting her cruelly across her cheek. He punched her in the stomach as hard as he could, enjoying the fact that, under the curse, she had no choice but to stand and take the beating.
The Phoenix Brigade…
Members of the Brigade surged out of The Three Broomsticks. The scene was repeated from every building in Hogsmeade. Several students boiled out of Hogwarts, running for the gates to apparate to town.
"Search the town!" Blaise shouted from his position in front of The Three Broomsticks.
In Madam Puddifoots, Harry felt the command pulse from the ring and stood up, knocking his chair over. Ginny was already heading for the door. Harry transformed into Wings and vanished.
Reappearing high above Hogsmeade, he looked over the town carefully. Spotting the trouble he screamed. Then, folded his wings, he dropped into a steep dive, his talons outstretched.
Blaise, hearing Wings' scream, looked up in time to see him dive behind The Three Broomsticks.
"Everyone follow me!" he shouted and sprinted around the building with twenty brigade members on his heels.
Rounding the corner, he saw a man struggling to get an aim on the phoenix that was attacking him. Blaise waited until he had a clear shot and he took the man down with a Reducto to the center of his back. The man fell without making a sound.
Wings swooped down over Ron, hooking his talons into his shirt, and lifted him bodily into the air. With a flash of flame, he vanished again.
Hermione…
Freed of the curse, she collapsed back against the rear wall of The Three Broomsticks, weeping. She was so distraught that she never noticed her nakedness. Blaise dropped to his knees next to her and peeled his jacket off to wrap around her.
Susan knelt next to him and pulled Hermione into an embrace. In another moment, Ginny arrived from Madam Puddifoots.
"Hermione! Where's Ron?" she cried after spotting the large puddle of blood.
Blaise turned to her. "Harry took him. He's probably taking him to Madam Pomfrey right now."
Ginny's eyes widened. She stared at Hermione for a moment, then she apparated to the gates of Hogwarts.
Hogwarts Infirmary…
Madam Pomfrey was enjoying a nice cup of tea when she was startled out of her seat by the sound of a screaming phoenix. She rushed from her office in time to see Wings lower Ron Weasley to one of the beds before landing on the motionless young man. He dropped a few tears into the wound before springing aloft again and vanishing in another burst of flame.
Rushing over to Ron, she quickly ran a few scans before running to the floo.
"Serena, I need your assistance in the infirmary right now," Madam Pomfrey yelled into the Snapes private quarters.
Madam Pomfrey turned, ran to a cabinet and started pulling out potions. The floo flared and Serena stepped out. Her eyes widened at the sight of Ron Weasley lying on a bed, deathly pale.
"Serena, this isn't a tour stop! Get the syringes from the other cabinet and start filling them with blood replenishing potions," Poppy snapped.
She then stepped to Ron and murmured, "Suspensor Vitalus." Her wand glowed blue and the light extended to encompass Ron. "Give him four units, two to each arm, Serena. Harry healed the wound, but he's lost a lot of blood," she said tensely.
The doors banged open as the two women worked on Ron. Ginny stood in the doorway, her chest heaving as she breathed raggedly.
Grimmauld Place…
Wings appeared in the Map room of the Order of the Phoenix. Several people gasped as Wings transformed.
Harry quickly started thumbing through the assorted maps. He was looking for several specific things.
No one approached him. He was surrounded by a nimbus of light and his eyes glowed like search lights. The magic rolled off him in waves and the building shuddered as each wave pulsed through it.
Remus ran into the room and skidded to a stop when he saw Harry.
Finding what he wanted, he stuffed the maps into his pocket and looked up. When Remus looked into the younger man's eyes, his breath caught at the rage and pain he saw in those emerald eyes.
Without saying a word, Harry apparated from Grimmauld Place with a loud crack.
"Shit!" Remus exclaimed with an explosive breath. Whirling, he ran for the floo.
Harry and Hermione…
Blaise gasped as a glowing Harry appeared behind The Three Broomsticks. He frowned when he saw that Hermione had not yet been moved. Before anyone could say anything, he snapped to Blaise. "Leave the body, I'll be back for that. I want to… send a message," he said in a voice as cold as a freshly dug grave.
"Hermione" he said as gently as he could, "we need to get you up to the school."
When the girl didn't say anything, he knelt next to her. "'Mione, we need to get you to Madam Pomfrey," he repeated. Her eyes remained fixed on the puddle of blood. Gathering her gently into his arms, he apparated to the edge of Hogwarts wards with another loud crack.
He carried her at a trot all the way to the infirmary. As he did, his anger fed his determination and his magic swelled. The double apparation should have exhausted him, but the moment he passed the gates of the castle, he could feel the energy pouring back into him.
He pushed the doors of the infirmary open. Trotting past Ginny, he laid Hermione down in the bed next to Ron. Madam Pomfrey paled when she saw Harry bringing in another patient. Wan Chang, who had arrived while Harry was gone, rushed over to help with Hermione.
Harry stepped back from the bed and turned to leave. Ginny placed a hand on his arm.
"Where are you going?" she asked in a quavering voice.
He gave her a smile that never reached his eyes. "To send a message," he said in a frigid tone.
Dumbledore was just entering the infirmary when Harry changed into Wings and vanished from sight.
The Three Broomsticks…
Wings reappeared in the back of The Three Broomsticks and transformed. Harry then pulled a map from his pocket and scanned it briefly. With a grim expression, he nodded to Blaise and apparated away.
Muggle London…
The Death Eater was hiding in the shadows, waiting for his contact to arrive. He froze as he heard a cold voice from behind him.
"Looking for someone?"
He started to turn when the voice said, "Petrificus Totalus."
A hand reached out from the shadows and grabbed him by the collar. With a loud crack, they vanished.
The Three Broomsticks…
Blaise jumped again as Harry reappeared, this time with a man he didn't know. Clearly the other man was under some sort of spell. Harry held him with one hand and his eyes darted about wildly. He was trying to speak, but couldn't.
Harry lifted the man bodily and threw him so he covered the dead Viktor Krum. With an outstretched hand he muttered, "Corporis singularis" under his breath. The live Death Eater's eyes bulged outward in pain as his back fused to the back of the dead Viktor Krum. Harry kept the spell on him for a moment longer, and then stopped it.
Reaching down, he grabbed the man again by his shirt collar. When he apparated away with his double burden, it sounded like a crack of thunder.
Riddle Manor, Little Hangleton…
Harry looked at Riddle Manor. The drab dreary building was, according to the Order, currently holding forty Death Eaters. The building was supposed to be heavily warded. He was about to put that theory to the test.
Now to get Tom's attention, Harry thought. He raised one glowing hand towards the building and said, "Et pulvis concido".
Harry's hand flashed a violent purple and a beam extended out from it towards the building. It hit the wards but didn't slow. When it hit the side of the building, it seemed as if the building were contracting in upon itself. Harry could hear shouts of alarm from within, but it was too late. In a stupendous roar, the building exploded in a purple fury of flame.
Harry blinked at the bright light and smiled as the smoke cleared away, leaving a thirty-foot deep crater. Voldemort's ancestral home was no more The Death Eaters inside were but a memory.
He leaned down over the moaning Death Eater. The terrified man flinched back from the fire burning in Harry's eyes.
"Go back to your half blood master and tell him that if he wants to play, he's going to have to do better than sending assassins after my friends," Harry sneered. "Go back to Tom and tell him that Harry Potter laughs at his feebleminded efforts. I invite him to climb out of whatever sewer he's currently cowering in and come at me directly, if he has the guts. Do you understand me?"
The frightened man nodded jerkily. Harry's glow was clearly visible, even in the bright sunlight and he was terrified by the power he had just seen.
Satisfied, Harry stood up and transformed back into Wings. In a flash of fire he was gone from Little Hangleton.
Hogwarts Infirmary…
Wings reappeared in the infirmary. When he noticed the small crowd gathered there, including some that were not part of his group or of the Order, he glided out of the infirmary and into the nearest classroom. There, he transformed back to his human form. He concentrated for a moment and his magic snapped back to normal levels, eliminating the glow. Once that was complete, he walked back to the infirmary.
Slipping in through the doors, he noted a number of strangers and several Order members, including Kingsley Shacklebolt. Dumbledore was nowhere to be seen, but Remus and Mrs. Weasley were present.
When Harry arrived, Ginny let go of her mother and sprinted over to him. He wrapped both arms around her, while she sobbed softly in his shoulder.
Kingsley turned to Harry. He was in a bind. By law, he was bound to investigate and bring in all guilty parties involved. As an Order member, he was intimately aware of Harry's activities.
"Mr. Potter, I'm afraid I must ask you to surrender your wand for testing," he said.
Harry handed his wand over with a smile. He hadn't used his wand since class, two days ago, and that had been to help a third year clean her robes after the class had ended.
Shacklebolt handed the wand to another man who ran the test. Frowning, the man ran it again, and then once more. Finally, he handed the wand back to Shacklebolt, who arched an eyebrow in question at him.
"Scourgify, Director. This wand hasn't been used in two days," replied man.
Shacklebolt turned back to Harry. "Tell me, Mr. Potter, have you ever been to a town called Little Hangleton?"
"I was there three years ago, Director. If you recall, I was kidnapped and used in a ritual which gave Voldemort his body back," Harry replied evenly. A number of the Aurors present flinched when Harry mentioned the name.
"And were you in that area today, Mr. Potter?"
"That is enough, Director!" said an icy voice.
Shacklebolt whirled to face the Minister of Magic, Amelia Bones, with the Hogwarts Headmaster at her side. "Director, under Ministry Emergency Directive 812a, I am ordering you to halt this investigation," Bones said firmly.
Shacklebolt's eyes widened. The Minister had just cited a new emergency directive concerning military and security operations. Shacklebolt shot the Minister a grateful look and nodded. This was one operation his counter parts in MI5 would call wet and black, very black.
His Aurors looked at him in surprise and he motioned for them to leave. He knew that, back at the Ministry, he would have to carefully explain ED812a to his people. He handed Harry's wand back and gave him an apologetic look, before following his Aurors out the door.
Dumbledore stepped forward, looking at Madam Pomfrey. "Poppy, how are your patients?"
Madam Pomfrey looked up from checking Hermione over. "Ronald will be fine, Headmaster. He arrived severely wounded and nearly dead, but Harry gave him some phoenix tears, which healed most of the major damage.
"My greatest concern right now is for Miss Granger. While her injuries are far less serious than Mr. Weasley, her mental state upon arrival was bordering on catatonia. She was put under at least two Imperious curses, forced to wound her fiancé and has been molested sexually. I've given her a dreamless sleep potion for now so she should be asleep for at least eight to ten hours.
"I've no doubt that Mr. Weasley will be released in time for dinner tomorrow. But, with your permission, I think I would like to keep him here in the hopes that he can help ease her through this crisis," she concluded.
Mrs. Weasley moved over to stand next to Harry. She wrapped an arm around him, and then reached for Ginny. She held them both in a tight hug for a few moments before releasing them.
Dumbledore nodded in acceptance of Poppy's wishes. Molly said she intended to remain with them through the night.
"Harry, might I ask you and Miss Weasley to come to my office? We have something that needs to be discussed. Amelia and Remus will be joining us," Dumbledore said.
Harry nodded, knowing full well he was about to be yelled at. Resigned himself to that fact, he followed Dumbledore out of the infirmary.
Arriving at the Headmaster's office, Harry took a seat facing the desk and waited for the yelling to start.
"Harry," began Dumbledore. "You cannot simply run around blowing up buildings," he said firmly.
He was about to continue when Harry held up a hand. "Headmaster, with all due respect, it was a valid enemy target. There were no innocents anywhere in the area. Besides, I wanted to send Tom a message, one which would both enrage him and redirect his efforts."
Dumbledore leaned forward in his seat. "A message, Harry? What kind of message?"
"I left Hangleton with one Death Eater still alive to deliver my message to Voldemort. I told him that if he wanted to continue to play feeble games, I'd be more than happy to oblige him. I called him a few names…feebleminded, half blood…I called his hideout a sewer, that sort of thing"
As Harry spoke, everyone in the room turned pale. "Harry, you realize that by taunting him, he will focus all of his efforts on you?" asked Amelia intently.
Harry looked at her with a grim smile that did not reach his eyes. "Yes Minister, I'm aware of what it will do. But in the past few weeks he's set out to systematically attack people directly involved in my life. My brother, the woman I love like a sister, my familiar. I am even aware," he said, turning back to the Dumbledore, "that you, Headmaster, have been withholding information from me concerning the death of Dudley Dursley and his aunt Marge."
"Harry," Amelia said softly. "I can understand what you're trying to do. But I want to make a request of you. The next time you decide to level a building, please do not go alone. Last month we enacted Emergency Directive 812a, which allows all members of the Ministry Militia, including you and your brigade, to operate outside of what is considered normal legal boundaries. But we cannot afford to lose you at this time."
"Alright Minister, I'll agree to that. I'll admit that what happened was a spur of the moment thing and I don't expect to repeat it. But I wasn't about to allow any more attacks on my family go unpunished. If it'll help, I'll give you my wizard's oath that I won't repeat this," said Harry in an even tone.
Amelia smiled in relief. She actually thought for a moment that Harry was about to embark on a vendetta. "I don't think your oath is necessary, Harry. Your word has been sufficient in the past, and still is in my book."
Amelia nodded to Dumbledore and then used his floo to return to the Ministry. After she left, Harry reached into a pocket and, removing the two maps he'd borrowed, gave them back to Remus. He did have the grace to look sheepish about it.
Remus tucked the maps into a pocket and started to laugh. "Somehow Harry, I think Sirius is probably howling in laughter right about now. Only you would blow up Voldemort's ancestral home and insult him at the same time," he said, shaking his head.
Dumbledore coughed politely to gain their attention. "Harry, one thing puzzles me. You know about what happened to the Dursley boy and his aunt, but it doesn't bother you that I've withheld information? And just how did you manage to find that out?"
Harry chuckled, saying, "Headmaster, I am not angry because it's the only piece of information you've held back from me. And to answer your second question, I'll give you a hint. You messed up and created a case of dual allegiance. If you haven't figured it out in a couple days, I'll tell you. But it will cost you a detention of… oh, say a week, eating at one of the first year tables," he replied with a wide grin.
Dumbledore laughed. "Very well, Professor. I'll take you up on your offer, but if you lose, you pay the same detention. In the meantime, I suspect your fiancée has some words she wants to say to you. I suggest finding a nice, sound proof place to hold that conversation in."
Harry glanced over at Ginny. She stared at him, her eyes flashing with anger and he winced. Her features softened at his wince. "Oh, come on Harry. I'm only going to yell at you a little bit," she said, grabbing his hand and pulling him from the room.
Hogwarts Infirmary, just after midnight…
Molly Weasley was dozing on one of the spare beds. Ron had awoken a few hours ago and she'd explained what had happened to him and Hermione. She managed to get a light dinner into him before he drifted off to sleep again.
Hermione opened her eyes and looked around, then she remembered. She bolted upright and screamed.
"RON!"
Ron leapt out of his bed and sat on hers, grabbing her. She looked shocked to see him alive.
"Ron?" she asked quietly, her lower lip trembling.
"Shhh… 'Mione, I'm fine. Harry used his phoenix to heal most of the damage and Madam Pomfrey took care of the rest," he whispered back.
She buried her head into his shoulder and sobbed. "I thought I k-k-killed you," she cried.
He tugged on her chin until she was looking at him. "Nope, I'm still here 'Mione, and you're still going to be a Weasley. We all know you weren't in control when you cast that spell," he said, before kissing her gently.
Molly got up and walked over to the couple. "Hermione dear, you're still tired. Why don't you lay back down. Ron and I will keep you company love, he's not going anywhere," she said.
Ron got out of the bed and helped Hermione lay back down. He then straightened out her blankets and tucked them tightly around her before lying down next to her.
"Oh Ron, I'm not going to yell at you if you climb under the covers with her," Molly said with some asperity. "She needs you to hold her tonight and neither of you has the energy to do any more than that!"
Ron sheepishly climbed under the blankets with Hermione. She snuggled in close to him as he wrapped an arm around her protectively. Within moments, both were asleep again. Molly smiled at the pair and leaned down to straighten out the blankets again before returning to her own bed for the night.
Authors notes:
OK this is the place were we comment occasionally about what people are writing in the reviews. Sometimes however, we just make stuff up and let all you people wonder what the hell we're talking about. Go figure.
We have a slightly longer chapter this time around. We had a lot of things to cover. But somehow, we doubt you'll mind too much.
We thank every one for pointing out the miztaikes in our riting! Seriusly! Hehehe. Hmmm let's see, the last chapter was slightly more than 13K words, so six or seven mistakes isn't too bad a ratio. We could stop, go back, correct and reload, but that would add more time between chapters. If you really want, we'll take a couple of weeks to correct those mistakes before we continue the story. No? We didn't think so!
For those that think Harry's experience with Animagus is making him super Harry, I'll refer you back to his copy of the Marauders manual from Dumbledore's Army, where he could draw on the combined experience and years of practice of three different animagi. He's not pulling this stuff out of his butt folks. He read what the Marauders did.
As for Neville's Marauder name? He won't have one, as he's not actually a Marauder. That may change, or it may not. Remember, the only members of the current (Or New Marauder's) are Moony (Remus), Trips (Tonks), Wings (Harry), Spots (Ginny) and Hunter (Luna, who almost became "Horny", but less perverted minds prevailed!).
Wormtail and the Map are addressed in this chapter. Next!
The stress issue is quite real and needed to be dealt with. Sending them to the Bahamas seemed like a nice way of letting them blow off some steam and open us up for a few more minor items. For all you rich people out there, if you'd like to send us to the Bahamas, we'd be happy to put together a more detailed chapter on Potter and Company there.
Kill Harry? Would we do that? Evil Cackle
We had a very long, drawn out prank on the twins in this chapter. We debated it for a bit, but Hermione insisted on it. We couldn't refuse the poor girl, considering what we had in store for her later on.
Jack and his hookers? NO COMMENT!
NOPE, I'm not Special Forces. While I have a great deal of respect for anyone who serves in uniform, I never felt that particular obligation. I did work for the US Navy for a number of years as a civilian consultant, which exposed me to a fair amount of what military life is like without wearing the duds.
Authors Pet Peeves…
LYRICS! Oh wait I get it, you include hundreds of lines of lyrics which supposedly gives you some idea as to how you feel when you're writing the chapter? I don't get it. How does the lyrics from CONVOY make you feel? I know, Harry loves his Rubber Duck?
