Chapter Twenty-Six: The Truce
"Potter! What are you doing?" asked Malfoy in a whispered voice, "Get over here and out of the light!"
Harry strode over to the shadows near Malfoy.
"What do you want?" asked Harry.
"I sent you that note. I have some information you might want," said Malfoy nervously as he looked to make sure that they wouldn't be over heard, "According to my father, the Dark Lord is planning to attack Hogwarts at the end of the year. Be prepared, he's coming for you."
"So, why give me this information?" asked Harry, "What about all your death threats? Are you gloating? It's rather pathetic."
"Look, I thought about what you said. I understand but I don't have time to explain my resent madness, I must be going," said Malfoy as he turned and walked briskly around the corner towards the Slytherin common room.
Harry thought about the confirmation to his suspicions when he suddenly heard a scream. He saw Malfoy sprint around the corner in fright.
"T-Troll! A-Around the corner! It was h-huge. Must be fifteen feet tall!" exclaimed Malfoy as he reached Harry.
"Go to Dumbledore, tell him what you saw. NOW!" yelled Harry.
'Everyone, without causing any scenes, apparate to me here in the dungeons.'
Twenty bodies formed around Harry.
"What is it?" asked Katie.
"A troll, one that stands at about fifteen feet tall. I thought we would allow Ron to take care of it," said Harry casually.
"Does it have a club?" asked Ron.
"But of course," said Harry.
"Pardon me, I've got work to do," said Ron in a bored voice.
Ron walked around the corner and shouted "Wingardium Leviosa!"
"Harry, why would you let him take on a fully grown troll? What if he gets hurt?" asked Katie as the group heard a sick thump.
"Don't worry me and Ron took down a mountain troll in our first year. Oddly enough, that happened on Halloween," said Harry as Ron marched around the corner giving him a thumbs up.
'Professor Dumbledore, where would you like us to stash our rude intruder?'
'I believe that the Forest would be a wonderful place for him. Use him as leverage to form a truce with the centaurs, and then send him to a place with mountains.'
"Ok everyone, we're transporting him to the Forest. Ready?" asked Harry as twenty voices chanted, "Mobilicorpus."
The group marched the troll to the center of the forest with no problems.
"Ok, you all can apparate back to Hogwarts. I'll be along eventually," said Harry.
"But Harry, what about the centaurs? What if they attack you?" asked Hermione.
"I need to have a little talk with them. I'm hoping that we can come to an agreement about the cessation of hostilities against students," said Harry as the group had a mass apparation.
Harry waited about five minutes, pacing around the troll. Suddenly, an arrow whizzed past Harry's head.
"I thank you for the warning shot," said Harry in a diplomatic voice as he raised his arms to show he had no weapons.
"Who are you, human, and what do you want?" asked a centaur with long black hair who stood with two others.
"My name is Harry Potter, Master Magorian. I am here to act as an ambassador on behalf of Albus Dumbledore. All I wish is to negotiate a treaty," said Harry.
"Why should we make a treaty with a lowly human?" asked another centaur, Bane.
"It would be to your advantage. As you may remember, there was a giant among these woods last year. I realize that he has been relocated but you now have another problem in the form of a mountain troll," said Harry as he pointed to the large form.
"We can overcome a mountain troll," said the other centaur, one by the name of Ronan, "I believe that my kinsman asked a rather rude but valid question: Why should we help Albus Dumbledore.
"I understand that you can defeat the troll but not without suffering losses. If you agree to the terms, I will rid you of the troll," said Harry.
"What are your terms?" asked Magorian, clearly annoyed at being strung along.
"They are simple: to cease attacks on humans and, should the time come, to help defend the school against any attacks," said Harry.
"Why should we defend the school?" asked Bane, "It houses the traitor of our herd, Firenze."
"Near the end of the school year, according to our information, there will be an attack by Voldemort. I can guarantee that, should he win, he will run you out of the forest or kill you all. I shall add another positive aspect. I believe that you are aware of the cruel and outdated wizard laws that restrict you," said Harry.
"Such laws are beneath us," said Bane.
"I am aware of that. However, I believe that there are many of you who fear any possible retributions against you should they be broken. I am friends with the current Minister of Magic and I shall do everything in my power to have them repealed so that you and your herd will be free to move about the country and possibly rejoin others. Does this satisfy the head of the herd?" asked Harry as he bowed in hopes of showing his sincerity.
Magorian took a few moments to converse with Bane and Ronan, and finally lowered his bow, "It does. We have an accord."
"Thank you for your time," said Harry as he turned to the troll. He easily banished the creature, "If you would please excuse me, I must return to the school. May you and your herd live to see Mars dim."
The centaurs looked in amazement as Harry had offered a proper centurion farewell and turned his head to the sky to watch Mars.
"May you also live to see Mars dim," said Ronan.
"I plan to, good night," said Harry as he began his trek out of the forest.
'Professor, is our spy with the enemy?'
'He is currently at a Death Eater meeting, Harry.'
'Do you expect him to return to night?'
"He should return around eleven.'
'May I be permitted to observe your meeting?'
'Yes, you may, Harry.'
"Thank you; please alert me when you are ready.'
Harry walked up to the castle and proceeded to the Gryffindor common room. When he entered, he found it completely deserted. He looked at his watch.
'Seven-thirty? The feast is still going on!'
Harry quickly proceeded to the Great Hall and joined his friends. After dinner, they returned to the common room. Most of his friends went to bed at about ten thirty.
"Harry, why are you staying up?" asked Katie.
"Well, you know that troll that I banished? I think it was sent by Voldemort," said Harry as Katie's face fell, "Snape is our resident spy amongst his ranks and he is supposed to return in a half hour to report to Dumbledore on the proceedings."
"Ok. You know, I've been meaning to ask you: what stops him from apparating to you?" asked Katie.
"I have a theory. First, few know the secret around anti-apparation charms. Second, I think to apparate to someone, the person must be willing. Now, if you were just apparating to the room they were in, then they couldn't stop you. Would you like to test my theory?" asked Harry.
"Sure, so I just apparate to you?" asked Katie.
"Yes," responded Harry as Katie appeared on his right, "Okay, give me a minute and try again."
'I don't want Katie Smith apparating to me,' thought Harry as hard as he could.
"All right, try again," said Harry.
Katie's face contorted in frustration as she tried over and over to apparate to Harry, "I can't do it."
'I allow Katie Smith to apparate to me.'
"Try again," said Harry as Katie appeared on his left, "I believe that is sufficient evidence. I think that magic is all about the mind and willpower."
'I don't want Tom Marvolo Riddle, Jr. apparating to me.'
"That is a handy trick," said Katie.
'Harry, he has returned.'
"I think you should come to the meeting," said Harry as he stood.
Harry and Katie briskly walked to Dumbledore's office and saw Snape coming in the opposite direction. Upon his sighting of Katie, Snape walked passed Dumbledore's office.
"Hey Professor, the meetings in here," kidded Harry as Snape turned and looked at Katie, obviously distrusting her.
"Professor Snape, you really need to learn some tact. I believe we have a meeting to get to," said Katie as Harry recited the password.
The three marched into Dumbledore's office.
"Headmaster is it really necessary that Potter's friend be present?" asked Snape as soon as he entered the study, "How do we know she is trustworthy?"
"It is," said Katie before Dumbledore could answer, "As the daughter of the Dark Lord and your possible executioner, I believe it is my duty to attend this meeting,"
"Is this true?" asked Snape.
'Well done, Katie, you really stumped him.'
'Thanks, Harry.'
"It is indeed true," said Dumbledore, "Now, what have you to report?"
"As you all know, a troll was transported onto the grounds without alerting the security wards. Upon arriving at the meeting, I found that the Dark Lord had spontaneously sent it through the connection he shares with Potter. This was surprising, as the Dark Lord rarely acts on spontaneity," said Snape as he drew a breath.
"How can you be certain that it wasn't planned and that you weren't told?" asked Katie.
"I know because most of the other Death Eaters were surprised. The ones who didn't act surprised are ones that can easily hide their emotions, so I doubt that he told them of the plan. However, to have sent something so large without being used to the draining of his magical reserves, the Dark Lord has inadvertently rendered himself powerless. Due to his condition, there has been a twenty four hour watch placed over him. The Death Eaters expect him to return to full power within the next week," reported Snape.
"I felt no such drain on my reserves. This could be used to our advantage," said Harry.
"How? We cannot possibly hope to kill him while he's under guard," sneered Snape.
"Who ever said anything about killing him?" asked Harry, "No, we can't kill him but we can plant false information. We could tell him that my reserves were drained. This could be used to our advantage because if he decides to send a large force to attack the school, he'll expect me to be weakened. He'll grow over-confident and careless."
Both Snape and Dumbledore pondered this thought for a moment.
"That s an excellent tactic, Harry," said Dumbledore, "Severus, you shall report to the Death Eaters that Harry has been placed in the hospital wing due to a drain on his reserves. Harry, I am afraid that you will have to spend the time until Voldemort awakens in the hospital wing."
"That's okay, I don't mind missing class," chuckled Harry, "We had best get back. Good night, Professors."
Harry and Katie left the study and headed down the hallway.
"Good night," yawned Harry, "See you tomorrow."
"Bye, Harry," said Katie.