Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling, Warner Brothers and its various publishers own Harry Potter. No money is being made and no copyright infringement is intended.
A/N: Time to finish this story before HBP makes it alternate universe.
In the interest of posting this chapter today, I decided not to write individual responses. I do want to thank everyone that reviewed. Reading them makes it all fun.
Chapter 34
The Dragons Siege
On the cliffs overlooking the water, Hogwarts stood massive and gleaming in the late afternoon sun. From Dumbledore's window, Ron could see the water dashing itself against the rocks. It should have been all sparkling waves and shining white foam, but the deep blue green of the water had darkened to dull grey as the skies over Hogwarts filled with menace.
Ron angled his head against the glass for a better view of the grey haze building over the castle. Squinting into a dense cloud, he spied movement. Shrouded in soot and smoke, shadowed forms came towards the school low and fast -- too low and fast. Through the rapidly growing fog, they grew ever more distinct, writhing and clawing the air as they flew.
"Dragons," Ron whispered, putting his hand against the pane.
The swarm of beasts circled above the castle, roaring and snarling. A lone dragon broke free from the formation and raced towards the Quidditch stands. The massive black-scaled creature made quick work of the mostly wooden structures, lashing his heavy spiked tail against one spectator box after another, thrashing fiercely as if the stands had initiated some sort of an attack. His great maw, ringed with gleaming fangs, widenedas he spewed white hot blasts of fire, igniting the rubble. Then with a graceful twist, the dragon took to the air again, flying back to the swarm and disappearing into the company of other dragons.
Stomach clenching and heart pounding, Ron saw a second wave of dragons appear and then a third, Chinese Fireballs and Irish Greens. For what seemed like ages, he watched, his frustration growing as they circled over the castle, roaring and rending the sky with their claws as they massed above. An occasional renegade swooped down from the throng and rained fire on rooftops and outbuildings. The sound of the onslaught reverberated through the castle, although the stone structure held firm.
At last he turned from the window, putting his back to the attackers, hands clenched at his sides. Standing and watching was too hard, he wished he could be out there doing something.
Neither Hermione nor Professor Dumbledore seemed the least bit concerned about the Quidditch stands, although Ron was pretty sure they'd seen it when it happened.
Dumbledore had been busy, sending Moody and the other members of the Order out to guard the various common rooms and to shore up the castle wards. Now he had settled behind his desk, writing furiously on a length of parchment. Light from the window fell across his white hair and beard, casting the old wizard with a radiance that seemed infused with power.
The portraits in the room were silent, but Ron noted that none of them were feigning sleep. He left the window and joined Hermione who'd been sitting by the Headmaster's desk since they'd arrived earlier that afternoon. She nodded absently and patted his fist. He wanted to take her hand in his, but didn't quite dare while Dumbledore was in the room.
Since the others had left, Hermione hadn't taken her eyes off the model of the castle and grounds stretched across Dumbledore's desk as if by sheer strength of will she could somehow keep Hogwarts safe. She probably couldn't tell any better than Ron how the model worked, although the tiny mound of rubble where the Quidditch stands had been was something of a clue.
Professor Dumbledore set down his quill and removed his half moon glasses. Closing his eyes, he slowly rubbed between his brows with his thumb as if clearing his thoughts. Then he put his glasses back on and beckoned to Fawkes.
Unable to hold it in any more, Ron blurted out, "I suppose that's the end of Quidditch this year."
Hermione shot him a disgusted look that clearly told him she didn't think he should be thinking about Quidditch at a time like this.
He stared back defiantly. He didn't care. Sometimes Hermione could lose sight of the important things in life.
She shook her head at him and almost smiled. Speaking softly so Professor Dumbledore wouldn't hear, she said, "I think Hogwarts has a lot more to worry about than losing the Quidditch stands. You can play after we survive this attack."
Professor Dumbledore fastened the parchment he'd been writing on to Fawkes and said something to the phoenix in a low, soft voice that Ron couldn't quite understand. When Fawkes disappeared, Dumbledore turned back to Ron, a trace of amusement flashing across his face.
"There's still a chance that the Quidditch season will continue, Mr. Weasley. The castle cannot be harmed by these creatures in any significant way…although they are most likely only the beginning."
"Then, er -- You Know Who must really be behind this…I mean, Malfoy told us he was planning to attack," Ron said hesitantly, a little embarrassed not to be bold enough to say Voldemort. Harry and Hermione always did.
Shrugging her shoulders, Hermione asked, "But Voldemort must know the dragons can't break through the wards, so why even use them?"
"Can you think of no other purpose?" Dumbledore answered, keeping a thoughtful eye on Ron.
"Well, he can't be after Harry. His disappearance has been widely discussed in the Daily Prophet." Hermione said, as if musing to herself. "He must be after you, sir."
The wizarding newspaper had reported Harry's mysterious disappearance a few days after he'd gone missing. Since then, they'd printed several articles claiming to have solved the mystery. One said he'd been spotted in Ibiza with a Muggle supermodel. Another story, quoting a reliable Hogwarts source, said Harry wasn't missing. He'd just been permanently changed into a newt in a Transfiguration accident.
Pushing those thoughts aside, Ron likened the situation to a chess game where Dumbledore and You Know Who were the kings. The dragons and whatever other creatures preparing to join the fight were simply being shuffled around the board in a show of strength, positioning for attack -- perhaps to force Dumbledore to spread his defenses too thin. The real fight was between the Headmaster and You Know Who. Before he could put any of his thoughts into words, Hermione, as always, had an answer for the Headmaster's question.
"It's like with the chamber…he wants to do something so horrible -- something so frightening, that the parents will insist their children go home." She paused, looking to both of them in turn. "He wants to close the school. Or force the Ministry to replace you as Headmaster with…someone else…is that it, Professor?"
Just then, Fawkes reappeared. Shoulders slumping for a moment, the Headmaster removed the undelivered parchment from his leg and patted his head before he flew back to his perch.
Several portraits gasped softly, as if they understood the significance of the unopened letter. Phineas Nigellus began to grumble, but Dumbledore silenced him with a look.
"We mustn't let it come to that, Miss Granger," Professor Dumbledore said, sounding grave as he vanished the parchment in his hands. "Even the best laid plans cannot account for every possibility. We can only do our best to defend the castle and hope that if our efforts are not equal to the task – by chance something unexpected may yet transpire to save the day."
In a flash of light, Aurora dropped Harry and Ginny onto a mound of tall grass. Too close to maintain their footing, they toppled to the ground, legs hooking over ankles and elbows poking where they shouldn't. Oblivious, Aurora sang her way toward her nest high in a nearby tree.
Untangling herself, Ginny sat up a few inches from where Harry lay sprawled in the grass. She winced as she felt the back of her head where she'd crashed into the ground, but a low laugh escaped as she noticed their surroundings. They were in the same place Aurora always took Harry when she thought he was in danger.
Harry blinked up at the clear blue sky. His side ached where an unlucky roll had rammed him against Ginny's elbow, but otherwise, he felt all right. The air around him smelled like the forest, fresh with grass and pine. He rubbed his side and looked up at Ginny.
"I don't want to move," he said, his words almost a groan.
Ginny didn't answer. Instead, she stood up and adjusted her clothing. Rather like she was in a hurry.
Giving in, Harrycame to his feetnext to her and waved his arm at the woods excitedly. "You'd never guess it, but this is Hart Fell! And that's not all. It was a – a vision or something – I found out loads of other things in that cave. Things I've wondered about – "
Her silence drew his attention and he looked at her closely, trying to take it all in at once. Somehow during the struggle through the cave, her white shirt and dark skirt had torn. Dirt and grass stained her knees. Sweat and grime streaked her face. Her hair was wildly tangled.
She looked lovely, but she didn't seem relaxed. Her eyes were shut tight and she was biting her lip as if holding something back. This wasn't the reaction he'd expected. He thought she'd be as excited as he was about the visions in the cave, but he could see she was still overwhelmed by their narrow escape, or maybe she reckoned he'd gone a little mad from being locked up for so long. Maybe he had.
Stepping closer, Harry lifted a lock of Ginny's hair, carefully wrapping it around one of his fingers.
"When did you become so fearless?" he asked, his voice sounding rough as he pulled her to him.
Despite her sudden bashfulness, she came into his arms easily enough. Into her hair, he said, "I don't know how you managed it, but thanks for being so brave."
Ginny pushed him away and stared at him with wide, frightened eyes. "We don't have time for this, Harry."
"Wha – "
Forging ahead, Ginny said, "Hogwarts was being attacked when I left. A bell was sounding an alarm that I've never heard before and – and something crashed into the greenhouse and set it on fire."
Holding her at arms' length, Harry began to question her. "What set the greenhouse on fire? Was anyone hurt? Who was it?"
Ginny shook her head vehemently. "I just don't know," she said. "I…I left with Aurora. It didn't seem like there was any time to lose. I had to find you."
"But that must have been hours ago," Harry said, closing his eyes.
In his mind he saw it as he had in the cave.
A castle surrounded. Fire streaking across the sky...and the stench chokes the living—
"I know," Ginny said, grimacing.
Harry pulled her to him again.
For a brief moment, they stood there quietly, Harry still rubbing circles absent mindedly on her back while his heart pounded and his mind raced around the problem confronting them.
Finally he let out a breath and said, "Well – we can't just pop back to the castle. Anything could be happening. And we won't be much use if the castle has been overrun."
She raised her eyes to his. "But we can't just stay here either."
Harry nodded. Taking her hand, he pulled her with him, moving purposefully toward Aurora's tree.
Ginny tugged back on his hand to get his attention. "There's more, Harry. Draco Malfoy showed up yesterday, disguised as you. He said it was part of a plan to attack Hogwarts. So you see – "
That clinched it for Harry. Grasping Ginny tightly around her waist, Harry signaled Aurora. As the phoenix flew towards them, he said, "I do see…you can explain on the way. I think I have an idea."
Forehead knitted together, Harry grabbed Aurora's tail and said something to the bird. After his muttered words, Aurora dutifully took off, and they were soon flying over the tops of trees. Keeping a firm grip on Ginny's waist, he wondered if he was doing the right thing going after the tanglewood tree. It could turn out to be a myth. His vision in the cave could turn out to be a mad hallucination. He might be grasping at an illusion, but he had to risk it. If the torch story was true and he succeeded, then Hogwarts, his home, and all the people in it, would be completely safe at last.
Keeping these thoughts to himself, he listened instead while Ginny told the story of all that had happened at Hogwarts while Harry'd been gone. She told him about Draco Malfoy and his plans to publicly defect disguised as Harry. She told him about Rhys and her suspicions about the Welshman.
Listening to her story, he felt proud. He couldn't think what he'd ever done to deserve her. She was so strong and so loyal. He held her close while Aurora continued to fly them effortlessly over the trees.
The turmoil continued to press down on the outside of the castle, but inside, the room was silent except for the occasional report from the various portraits keeping an eye on different parts of the school. Professor Dumbledore kept a sharp watch on the model of Hogwarts on his desk, probably turning over all the possible configurations for the oncoming attack, figuring how best to defend the castle. That's what Ron would do if he had more information. As it was, he sat there, feeling useless.
In the chair next to him, Hermione cleared her throat nervously. She was turning the silver ring on her right hand with her thumb and chewing on her lower lip, both signs that she was working up the nerve to say something.
Before she managed it, however, a familiar voice called from the hearth, "Albus? Are you there?"
All heads turned to see Professor Snape's face hovering in the fireplace across the room.
Dumbledore smiled at him and said, "Ah…you're awake. I do hope you're feeling better, Severus."
With thinly veiled annoyance, Snape said, "I'm not calling to discuss my recovery, Headmaster. It appears that something is amiss here in the infirmary." He arched an eyebrow as if he couldn't help reproaching even the Headmaster. "I woke to the sound of those fire breathing monsters outside my window, and Potter, making an unearthly noise -- groaning and thrashing about -- it didn't appear that Madam Pomfrey would be attending him anytime soon. In fact, she seemed to have disappeared. So I went to attend the boy myself."
"And what did you find?" Albus asked, his voice pressing for a speedy answer.
"Neville Longbottom – ranting impossibly and completely entangled in his bedclothes. He'd just come around, you see. It appears he'd been stunned after something of a struggle, but there's no sign of his attacker." Snape shot Ron and Hermione a look of disgust, as though Neville's misfortune was typical of all Gryffindors.
Dumbledore's only response was a sage nod of his head.
Foreheads crinkling in unison, Ron and Hermione looked at each other in shocked silence. While Ron considered the possibilities, he felt Hermione work her small fingers into his.
"Ask him where Ginny is!" Ron shouted across the room, rising from his seat without letting go of Hermione's hand. He crossed the room, dragging her along behind him, and knelt before the fire. "Where's my sister?"
Tightening her grip on Ron's hand, Hermione said, "Ron, this really isn't helping."
"Despite my great concern for your sister," Snape began, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "I am not her keeper. Five points from Gryffindor for interrupting my conversation with the Headmaster and for your complete lack of respect. I haven't seen Miss Weasley, but Mr. Longbottom was lucid enough to explain that it was Mr. Potter who took his wand and then stupefied him with it. Naturally he has no clue about Potter's whereabouts, although the action speaks for itself. Clearly the boy thinks it's time for another one of his heroic rescues."
Snape sniffed derisively, as if the very thought of Harry coming to the rescue was ludicrous.
Through gritted teeth, Ron began, "All right…"
"Professor Snape," Hermione cut him off before he could finish. "It was Draco Malfoy in that bed. He must have been the one who stupefied Neville. Some sort of charm made him look and sound like Harry, but it's not -- he's not. It's an illusion. The real Harry is still missing."
Hermione dropped her eyes as she mentioned Harry being missing. Ron wondered if she wasn't silently acknowledging that the real Harry was probably dead.
Ron imagined that a shadow of understanding flitted across Snape's face. His lips drew into a thinner line, but he didn't make any comments.
Hermione recovered and continued her explanation, her voice becoming increasingly urgent, as she tried to make Snape understand. "We left Ginny there to guard Malfoy. Please, sir. Is there any sign that she's been there? What about her rucksack?"
Not so subtly, Snape looked at Dumbledore for approval before answering. "I'll take a look around."
In a low voice, Ron said, "She wasn't very happy about Malfoy. You don't suppose…"
Hermione pulled him up so they were both standing in front of the hearth. Leaning her head back to look at him in the eye, she said quietly, "I didn't think about it at the time, but…she did keep the map…and his cloak."
A soft chuckle behind them made Dumbledore's presence known. Ron looked up to see the Headmaster's amused expression. "What are you suggesting?" he asked.
"Is it possible to leave the school right now?" Ron asked, inadvertently looking out the darkened window. "Aren't the gates blocked?"
"Not at the moment, Mr. Weasley. Hogwarts is locked down, that's true. There is no way to leave the castle, but it's possible to leave the grounds if your sister found a way out of the castle before the wards were triggered. The gates are warded to keep our enemies out, not to lock us in," Dumbledore said, following his gaze and nodding. "But I imagine that it's only a matter of time before we are surrounded by even more sinister company."
Considering what Dumbledore meant, Ron's stomach plummeted. Was he talking about Death Eaters or You Know Who himself?
Hermione nodded and asked, "Wouldn't leaving be difficult with the dragons flying in circles over the castle?"
"There is no way for us to know how they are being controlled." Dumbledore paused as if lost in thought before continuing. "Their behavior today is quite unnatural – and therefore decidedly unpredictable."
"They can't land on the castle. Isn't that right, Professor?" Hermione asked politely. She was thinking of last Halloween when the dragons had first come to Hogwarts. They'd tried and failed to land on the battlements.
As though explaining the situation would put it straight in his own mind, Dumbledore said, "The dragons have been sent to weaken our defenses, and by whatever dark means, they are being controlled by someone. It's likely that a second and third wave of such creatures…perhaps trolls or even giants…will be unleashed before the real attack begins. They will press against the wards until they find a weakness, or create an opening. Once they do…"
He looked sharply through his half moon glasses and added, "Under ordinary circumstances, even Hagrid would have a difficult time controlling these creatures. They have a wild and dangerous nature. I fear some force has agitated them, perhaps placed in their mind the thought that the castle harbors some sort of prey or enemy."
Dumbledore paused again. It was odd seeing him so preoccupied. It made Ron uneasy.
"What can we do?" Hermione asked breathlessly.
Ron heard Hermione breathe a sigh of relief as Dumbledore appeared to return to his normal self and answered with a bright smile, "I assure you, the matter is under control. That's where the Order members have gone. They are repairing and strengthening the wards."
Hermione smiled in return. "Couldn't we help?"
Shaking his head, "It's not Hogwarts policy to put students into dangerous situations. You and Mr. Weasley have already helped by bringing Mr. Malfoy's deception to light. It is unfortunate that you cannot return to your common room, but the castle defenses have been activated and until the wards release the staircases…even if you were to somehow reach the tower, the Fat Lady would not be able to open the door. There is no way for you to return to Gryffindor. You'll have to wait out the attack here."
With the energy of a man much younger than his years, he moved to a cabinet near his desk. He returned with a golden object, about the size of an orange. Ron figured it must be some kind of instrument to measure things. What it was meant to measure was anyone's guess. Dumbledore set it down on a small table and tapped it with his wand. It began to spin and sizzle, rising up a few inches at seemingly random intervals.
Ron kept his eyes on the mysterious contraption although he had no idea what it could tell them. He startled slightly as Snape came through the hearth and joined them.
Despite Hogwarts' desperate circumstances, and the urgent need to locate Ginny, Snape had taken the time to change out of his hospital dressing gown. Every one of the myriad of buttons on his formal black robes was neatly fastened and not a greasy hair was out of place.
Ron couldn't help but roll his eyes.
"Miss Weasley's things are nowhere to be found," Snape said, slightly out of breath. "But Poppy is attending to Mr. Longbottom. She'll send word if there's any change."
"It seems that Miss Weasley is not in the castle," Dumbledore said, without looking up. He gave his whirly gig contraption another poke. "However Mr. Malfoy appears to be attempting to enter the Slytherin common room."
At this announcement, a buzz of questions and wild speculations whirled through Ron's head – starting with the suspicion that Malfoy had done something to his sister. A sound filtered through to him and he turned to look at Hermione who was mouthing something.
"Ron…are you all right? Don't worry. We'll find her…"
"How do we know what that bloody minded git's done to her?" Ron asked quietly, recovering enough to give Dumbledore a worried glance.
In his usual impatient tone, Snape demanded, "If you have some information about your sister's whereabouts, then I suggest you share it, Mr. Weasley."
"Tell him about Malfoy, Ron." Hermione eyebrows knit together. "Maybe he'll help us…we have nothing to lose."
"Now is not the time for subterfuge." Snape's voice dropped an octave with a silky warning note. "She is most likely in grave danger."
Thinking Hermione must have gone mad, Ron stumbled over his next words. "It…uh…may not…er…"
He was saved from utter incoherence by the sound of a commanding voice calling from the hearth.
"You might want to come up here, Dumbledore." Moody's gravelly voice came from somewhere unseen. "I think we need your help. The wards are draining faster than we can restore them and we're about to get more company. The castle gates are surrounded."
All heads turned to the window. Ron moved back to his original vantage point. The lake was churning with white caps as though some hidden struggle down below had agitated the water. Small birds skittered low across the hillside in large numbers, escaping from some unseen enemy. Ron could only think of Dumbledore's prediction that other dangerous creatures would soon join the attack. Something was working its way through the forest.
After a quick glance over of the model on his desk, Dumbledore sprang to the hearth. For a moment he stood, floo powder in hand, and said, "Perhaps you could see about locating Mr. Malfoy, Severus. It won't do for him to wander the corridors impersonating Mr. Potter. I'll be back as soon as possible." Then he disappeared in a flash of green fire.
"Oughtn't we to come with you, Professor Snape?" Hermione asked, in that bossy tone of voice that Ron usually hated. "I mean Malfoy is -- "
"With the wards in place, Mr. Malfoy won't be able to so much as open the front door," Snape said, his expression stony. "And you look positively green, Weasley. Perhaps you should sit down."
"That's just it." Hermione stared determinedly back at him. "We heard Malfoy admit that he plans to turn himself over to Voldemort, disguised as Harry to make it seem to everyone that Harry has switched sides. And Moody just said the wards might fail."
Snape's only reaction was a slight tightening of the jaw, but Ron reckoned he might have only imagined that.
"I don't suppose I can convince either of you to wait patiently while your elders sort this out," Snape said, voice dripping with disdain. "Perhaps you think the Headmaster needs more to worry about…or you're trying to fill the void created by Potter's absence by making yourselves as much of a nuisance as possible?
Ignoring the screech of a dragon flying very close to the Headmaster's window, Snape silenced the golden whirly thing on Dumbledore's desk with a quick tap and moved toward the hearth. Without further comment, the Potions Master disappeared into the floo system.
"Come on, Hermione," Ron said quietly, grabbing her hand and leading her toward the hearth. "We have to get to Malfoy before he does. He must know what happened to Ginny."
"Maybe…just let's stay together."
"Do you reckon we've waited long enough to follow Snape?" Ron asked.
Hermione nodded. Grabbing a handful of floo powder, she stepped into the hearth. Ron stepped in with her and wrapped his arms tightly around her small form. Dropping the powder, Hermione repeated Snape's words. With a green flash, the room was empty.
A quick whirl through the Hogwarts floo system and Hermione and Ron were scrambling out of the fireplace in the Potions Master's office, relieved to find the room already vacant. They could hear shouting through the open door of the classroom.
Ron held a finger to his lips, waiting until Hermione had nodded before lowering his hand. Together, they crept toward the door.
Before they'd reached the threshold, Sophie Moon's voice reached their ears. She sounded groggy, as if someone had just woken her up. "I…um…we…were…er…late getting back to the common room and – "
Another voice — Blaise, this time -- interrupted her. "We didn't want to be locked up in the common room," he said. "Not if we could help somehow. So…we hid in here. Then we heard someone -- turned out to be Harry, actually, and…we figured he'd know something."
Ron peered through the crack in the door, Hermione listening over his shoulder. In the Potions classroom, he could see Sophie holding her head, sitting with her back against the wall, and her legs stretched out. Blaise knelt by her side, one hand on her arm. Professor Snape loomed above them like a predator, his hands at his hips, and long robes arrayed behind him.
"But he stunned her!" Blaise said, sounding like he still couldn't believe it. "Before we had a chance to say anything…and…and then he ran."
Leaning down, Professor Snape said something too softly for Ron to hear. Then he straightened up and gestured to Sophie. "You can use the floo in my office. Madam Pomfrey should be there."
Then, his robes billowing, he strode out of the classroom.
"I will, Professor," Blaise called after him, as he helped Sophie to her feet.
Hermione gasped as Ron broke past the doorway, rushing to follow Professor Snape.
"What in Merlin's --" Blaise clutched Sophie's arm, gaping as Ron thundered past them both.
"Blaise. Sophie," Hermione nodded as she chased after Ron.
"It wasn't Harry!" she called over her shoulder.
"What?" Sophie yelled at Hermione's retreating back. "But we saw him…"
"Malfoy!" Hermione shouted back. "It was Malfoy in disguise!"
Hair flying, Hermione raced down the corridor, taking the corner just in time to see the sole of Ron's trainer turning right.
"Boys," she muttered, taking a gulp of air before setting off again.
She increased her pace, clattering down a short flight of stairs, and finally caught up with Ron.
"This way," she said, tugging on his arm.
She pulled him into the alcove behind the statue of Ceneu the Red Neck, the seer who'd worn a snake wrapped around his neck for a year.
"Where are we going?" he asked.
"I know a shortcut…" Hermione said without slowing down. "We have to get to Malfoy before he does, or we'll never get to question him."
"A shortcut to where exactly?" Ron asked. "And how do you know about it?"
"You'd be amazed what you can find in a library," Hermione said, her eyes sparkling as she glanced over her shoulder at him. "And we're going to the entrance hall. Malfoy must be trying to get the door open so he can go rejoin the Death Eaters…that was his plan, yeah?"
Hermione skidded to a halt, forcing Ron to stumble into her back. She panted, completely out of breath as she quietly uttered the password. "Prefectura!"
The back end of the alcove rumbled, detached, and then slid to the side. Hermione grabbed Ron's arm again, and led him into the secret passageway.
The space behind the wall was dark, and cold. It smelled faintly of candle wax. As they stepped further inside, candles ensconced on the walls lit, setting fire to strings of cobwebs linking each wall sconce. Ron ducked his head, but no ash reached the ground. It disappeared as it fell.
"And I thought you only read wholesome things," he muttered. "Regular snoop, you are."
"This way," Hermione hissed.
She led him to dual staircases, sharing one base, and then splitting in opposite directions. Candles flared at the first touch of their feet on the steps. Hermione gripped his hand, and they began to run, dust swirling around them. She pulled him towards the left hand staircase, and up through another tunnel dotted with candles that lit and died as they ran past.
"Not much farther," Hermione said, panting. Her hair clung to her forehead.
Ron was too winded to do more than nod. The candle above his head sputtered, and went out, and then he and Hermione were at a stone wall.
"Prefectura!" Hermione repeated, and the wall moved aside.
They stepped out onto the landing of the marble staircase above the entrance hall. The sound of furious shouting rose from below. Flattening herself against the wall and yanking Ron to her side, Hermione conjured a tapestry to hide behind.
Ron strained to hear, but the sound was too muffled by the tapestry. He batted it aside — ignoring Hermione's hiss — and stuck his head out. He could recognize Harry's voice, sounding desperate as he shouted all sorts of spells. "Alohomora! Bombarda! Patefacio!"
Ron wavered. Could this be Harry? It sounded so much like him. He stepped out from the tapestry, and walked to the edge of the landing. He glanced around, and then ducked down behind the stone banister for cover.
"Well?" Hermione asked.
Ron looked behind him. Hermione had her head poking out from the tapestry, its fringed edge clenched in her hand.
"Hold on," he whispered, and looked down below.
Harry had his wand clutched in one hand, and with the other, was pounding on the heavy wood of the main door to Hogwarts. Then he began to jerk at the thick iron ring that served as a door pull.
Ron bit his lip. If he didn't know Malfoy was running around impersonating Harry, he'd be convinced. It certainly looked like Harry, but then why would he be trying to get out of Hogwarts when…but there was something familiar about the wand in his hand.
Looking closer, he realized something. That wasn't Harry's wand -- that was Neville's! And for someone who'd been missing for weeks, he'd certainly managed to take great care with his clothes, a feat Harry wasn't able to do even with help from the house elves. He'd even knotted his tie properly!
"Well, Ron? Well?"
He jumped at the voice suddenly so close to his ear. Hermione steadied him. She'd come out from the tapestry, and was now kneeling next to him, peering carefully at the scene below.
"It's Malfoy," he said, pulling her down so they were better hidden. "Stake my life on it. He is trying to open the main door!"
"But what about -- "
"Expelliarmus!" cried a familiar voice, and Ron and Hermione rushed to look.
Snape stood across the way from Malfoy, wand at the ready. As they watched, Neville's wand flew away from Malfoy and landed near the entrance to the Great Hall.
Malfoy glared darkly at the Potions Master. "Give me back my wand! Summon it here at once!"
Snape stalked forward until his shadow fell across Malfoy's form. Ron shuddered at the snarl disfiguring Har —Malfoy's face. It was disconcerting to see and hear Harry, knowing that Malfoy's twisted brain lurked behind his friend's captured face.
"You might as well give up this charade, Draco," Snape said. "Did you really think you could pass yourself off as Harry Potter, and no one would notice?"
"Worked on you, didn't it, Professor?" Malfoy sneered. "Or was that apology actually intended for me?"
"You insolent little -- "
Malfoy kicked out, striking Snape in the arm, and crushing his wand hand back to his chest. Snape twisted to the side, tumbling Malfoy to the floor, but losing his wand in the process. It dropped to the floor, skittering across the stones and under a statue next to the heavy main doors. As he lunged for it, Malfoy kicked again, striking at Snape's ankles and rolling to his feet.
Charging ahead, hands in fists, he collided with Snape and they fell to the ground, locked in struggle. From above, Ron and Hermione couldn't tell who was winning. Snape had experience and strength on his side, but Malfoy had youth and a willingness to fight dirty.
Taking the fight as their cue, Ron and Hermione leaned over the banister, wands ready. Both of them tried to stun Malfoy, but neither could get a clear shot.
A stream of red light flashed across the entrance hall. Narrowly missing Snape and Malfoy, the shot shattered a wall sconce near the Great Hall instead.
Harry's fencing instructor, Rhys something or other, had arrived, just in time to join the fray. Ron couldn't remember the man's last name, but he was glad to see him.
Snape's head twitched sideways to look at Rhys, and even that split second of distraction was enough. Draco twisted in Snape's grip, and rammed a knee into his stomach, pushing the older man off of him.
Dodging Rhys' next blast, Draco crashed into a statue and fell, laying still with his back to them.
"Come on!" Hermione said, grabbing at Ron's sleeve.
Relief written all over her face, she hurried down the stairs. Ron followed closely on her heels.
Snape slowly came to his feet with Rhys's aid, jerking away with an irritated growl.
"Are you all right, Severus?" he asked.
"Perfectly," Snape said. "What business is it of yours?"
"Stupefy!"
A red light surprised them all and dropped Snape like a stone.
Ron pushed Hermione down behind the banister on the last step. Rhys whirled to face Malfoy who was now crouched behind the base of a statue.
"Very careless to leave a wand lying about," Malfoy drawled. Then he stood up and walked toward Rhys, dangling the wand in his hand. It was Snape's own wand.
The howling and rumbling of the maelstrom outside continued to reverberate through the castle during the struggle. If anything, the noise had grown louder.
Ron remembered Harry telling him that his fencing instructor was a terrific at all kinds of duels, not just fencing. He'd sort Malfoy out soon enough.
Rhys kept his eye on Malfoy as he approached him, his dark features drawn into grim lines that Ron had never seen before.
"You should know," Hermione called out from behind the safety of the banister. "This isn't really Harry."
His eyes narrowed in her direction, but that was the only indication that Rhys had even heard her.
Malfoy didn't seem at all anxious about facing the Welshman. In fact, for a moment he just stood there with his arms folded in front of him, a corner of his mouth turned up in a small smirk.
The next words out of his mouth explained why. "It's about time you showed up," he said, unfolding his arms and walking toward the sealed front door. "I'm late. You better help me get this open – now!"
"Don't threaten me, Malfoy," Rhys said darkly. "I know where the body's buried."
Rubbing his left arm, Malfoy held his hand out impatiently. "Well…just give me my wand. Longbottom's wand was as useless as he is."
When Rhys didn't move, a dark look took over Malfoy's face. It was a look Ron had never seen on his friend Harry and it struck him as insane. Even Harry at his angriest had never seemed so possessed by evil. Yet here was that look on Harry's face.
"What have you done with my sister!" Ron shouted. Breaking cover and racing toward him, he cast a stunner at Malfoy.
"Lose her somewhere, did you?" Malfoy said, deflecting Ron's spell easily. "Have you checked the broom closets? Or maybe that greenhouse your loony friend likes to use?"
Malfoy's next shot went wide as he ducked to avoid Hermione's, "Stupefy!"
After casting an unsuccessful disarming hex, Ron was able to reach Malfoy and put him in a head lock. His lips near the Slytherin's ear, he said, "You were the last one to see her…tell me what happened…I'm not a patient person."
"I…I…ca—can't breathe…" Malfoy said, his face turning reddish purple and swelling up.
As Ron loosened his grip, Malfoy took advantage of his proximity and landed a sharp elbow in his stomach. Ron staggered back a few feet, but it was enough for Malfoy to cast a spell. It all happened very quickly.
As Ron battled to regain his footing, Malfoy's face contorted with dark rage and he shouted, "Incido!"
Ron watched as a purple streak lashed out the end of Malfoy's wand. They were standing too close together for him to do much more than stagger further back.
But before the light reached Ron, Rhys leapt in front of it, knocking Ron down and out of the way and bearing the brunt of the spell across his back.
Almost at the same moment, Hermione, who finally had a clear shot, stunned Malfoy so hard that he flew through the air across the entryway. His body made a sickening thud as it hit the stone wall, knocking over a suit of armor in the process. The axe propped against the armor landed squarely on Malfoy's arm, creating a nasty gash.
Turning to Ron, she said, "I'd heard enough."
Hands up in surrender, Ron said, "He wasn't going to tell us anything anyway. We'll have to find Ginny on our own."
Rhys was unconscious. He had fallen across Ron, pinning him down. Blood streamed from a deep, sickening incision across his back where Draco's spell had struck him.
Rushing over, Hermione kneeled down next to them. "Don't move, Ron."
"Is he…dead?" Ron asked, shocked at the blood soaking his clothes and gathering in a pool around them. He didn't know what was more distressing, the blood or the fact that Rhys had taken the hit for him.
"I…um…" Hermione ran her wand along the deep incision on Rhys' back, casting a first aid spell that she hoped would hold back most of the bleeding until they could get help. She held her fingers against Rhys' neck, feeling for a pulse.
Smiling softly when she found it, she nodded to Ron. Then her expression saddened. Tears brightened her eyes, and she asked, "So…where do you think the body's buried?"
The phoenix showed no signs of tiring as she flew them over the trees. They'd already flown a fair distance into the forest. Several miles back, Ginny had finished catching Harry up on what had been happening at Hogwarts. Risking a glance toward his feet, Harry watched the rolling hills and trees racing by underneath.
"Where are we going?" Ginny asked softly, still pressed close to Harry as the phoenix flew them low over a pretty clearing.
"We're on our way to find a tanglewood tree."
A puzzled grumble from Ginny prompted Harry to explain. "One of those visions…it showed Myrddin constructing the torch, the one that protects Hart Fell…Aurora was there."
"So – just like that – you asked her to take you to find it? I guess we should have thought of that a long time ago." Ginny's soft laugh tickled against the sensitive skin of his neck.
"Just like that…" Harry echoed, thinking of all that he'd gone through to get them where they were, Ron and he exploring the cave, Hermione researching for countless hours, searching for Hart Fell in the snow, poor Neville trying to graft a tangleberry bush onto a tree.
The phoenix suddenly dove toward a grove giant oaks. The trees grew together in a thick stand. Without slowing down, Aurora flew under their dense canopy and continued, keeping up a breakneck pace so close to the ground that their feet could almost drag along the forest floor.
Her hands slipping at the unexpected drop, Ginny stifled a squeal and buried her face against Harry's neck.
"I've got you," Harry mumbled, tightening his grip.
"Where are we?" Ginny asked, her voice muffled against him.
Pulling back slightly so that he could see her face, Harry said, "I'm not sure exactly…deeper into the forest anyway."
The canopy of trees became denser and darker, blocking out the sun almost entirely. Their ancient trunks were thick and tall, leaving plenty of room for their flight.
Ginny opened her eyes, "I've never seen trees like this…they're huge!"
The air grew colder. Massive exposed roots covered the ground below with giant mushrooms nestled in their folds. Darkness surrounded them accompanied by an eerie sense of entering an ancient stronghold.
"What's that?" Ginny asked, pointing ahead this time. In the distance, he could see a patch of bright green and gold light.
As they approached, the light became a small clearing. Ferns and flowers filled the meadow and in the very center was a small tree. Aurora slowed, but didn't stop until she'd entered the clearing. Unceremoniously pitching Harry and Ginny onto the soft ground, she flew to perch on a low branch nearby.
Tumbling forward to gain their balance, they landed in yet another tangle of limbs, this time in a bed of feather soft ferns. Hastily sorting themselves out, they stood up and looked around, awed by what they saw. Ginny said something about working with Aurora on her landings, but Harry didn't catch it, he was already moving, picking his way through the ferns. His gaze remained fixed on the small tree growing in the center.
The tree grew low to the ground with finely turned limbs that were as tangled as the tree's name promised. Sunlight shone on bright golden leaves. They weren't gold in the sense of leaves turning to gold in the autumn, but a metallic gold, shining all the brighter because of the sun filtering through.
"It is a tanglewood tree, isn't it?" Ginny asked, sounding awed. "I thought they were just a myth."
"It's beautiful," Harry said.
Before she could answer, Ginny dropped to the ground suddenly, grasping her leg. "Ow…what is that?"
Twisting and crawling, Ginny made a hasty retreat from the ferns surrounding the tree. Once free, she sat down on a thick bed of pine needles of forest floor.
Rushing to her side, Harry dropped down and gently pried her fingers away. "Oh…it looks like a bite or something. Does it hurt?"
"It was a snake or something," Ginny said, sounding alarmed. "I…I feel dizzy, Harry. Do something…"
"What?" He didn't know anything about bites.
Ginny didn't answer. In fact, Harry barely had time to catch her as she fell back unconscious on the forest floor. The dusting of freckles across her nose stood out in stark contrast to her pale skin. Shaking her gently, Harry called her name, but she didn't respond.
Anger boiled up inside him. He'd let his guard down. He should have realized that such a precious tree would not be here defenseless.
"Snake!" Harry shouted. When there was no response, he closed his eyes and imagined the snake he'd spoken to in the zoo so many years before. With that image in his mind, he shouted, "Show yourself, snake!"
A large, green head slithered to edge of the ferns. "What does the human want?"
Harry realized they were speaking snake language now. It gave him hope. "What have you done to her?"
"The female has no right to come close to the golden tree."
"So you attacked her! Without any warning!" Harry shouted back.
"She is only sleeping. I haven't harmed her."
Tremendous relief flooded through him. Somehow Harry knew he could believe the snake. Hands shaking, he conjured a pillow under her head.
"Sss…so…you've come for a tanglewood branch." The snake did not sound hostile to Harry, just curious. "How did you find us?"
"Owain and Merlin showed me the way," Harry said, hoping if he dropped their names, the snake would let him pass. "I have no time to speak with you…people are in danger. I need the branch to protect them."
"As is your right," the snake said, looking back at the tree. "You may pass."
Leaving Ginny's side for a moment, Harry walked as quickly as he could toward the beautiful tree.
Turning back toward the snake, he sighed heavily. "How am I supposed to break a branch off?"
Deciding that a quick severing charm might be the best thing, Harry stepped forward and took hold of one of the twisted, clawlike branches. Speaking aloud, his tone apologetic, he said, "I need a branch to light the torch."
Before he could pull on the branch or utter the severing charm, the limb fell into his hands. The snake slithering around Harry's feet, gathered the gold leaves as they immediately fell away.
Uttering a quick thank you in Parseltongue, the snake disappeared into the thick ferns.
For a moment, Harry stood motionless. He looked the branch over carefully. Without the leaves, there were several twisted prongs free on the end of the limb – the perfect holder for one of the crystals from the cave. It seemed to him all of this was happening for a reason, as though he were stepping along a path he was meant to follow. He had to press forward with his plan, but what could he do for Ginny.
Glancing quickly around the clearing, Harry walked over to the sleeping Ginny and tucking the tanglewood securely into his belt. Lifting Ginny gently into his arms, he signaled to his phoenix. At his signal, Aurora flew to his side. He asked her to Apparate them back. They weren't searching for something now. The phoenix answered by gripping him with a golden talon and taking flight. Apparently Apparating wasn't possible, even for a phoenix.
Time seemed to be more important now. He'd been out of touch with it for so long, not even knowing whether it was night or day in the cave. But if what all the things Ginny had told him were true, he needed to get back to Hogwarts before it was too late.
Harry held Ginny carefully as they landed once again in Aurora's meadow. Conjuring another pillow, he made her as comfortable as he could. Aurora hovered over them.
Harry stood up and spoke to the phoenix. "I can't leave her like this. You'll have to stay with her, Aurora. Help her however you can when she wakes up."
The phoenix landed near Ginny and tilted her head over her leg, dropping her tears into the wound there.
Harry didn't stop her. He was mentally kicking himself for not thinking of it first.
As Ginny woke up blinking against the bright light, Aurora sang happily and sailed through the air toward her nest.
"Ginny!" Harry said, relieved that she'd recovered. "You're all right."
"How did we get back here…what happened?" Ginny mumbled her questions, still sounding sleepy.
"There's no more time, Ginny." Harry said, standing up. "I have to go…"
"Wait. What? Don't you mean…we have to go?" Ginny asked, scrambling to her feet and looking him straight in the eye.
"Anything could be happening back at Hogwarts," Harry said, meeting her gaze. "Something triggered the wards. Something set the fire. It's not safe."
A flash of what he'd seen in his visions came back to him.
A dragon, red as blood and pitiless as plague, roaring its way into camp…
Harry looked at her, silently pleading with her to just agree, as he signaled Aurora once again.
Ginny's jaw dropped and her face reddened as she realized Harry was seriously planning to leave her behind. "If I'd decided to play it safe today, you'd still be trapped in that cave. What will you do if there's trouble?"
"If there's trouble, I'll come back…or I'll send Aurora back. She'll take care of you. I promise." He looked away, knowing he would probably give in if he saw her expression.
Her voice took on a dangerous tone, "Oh, no, I'm coming with you. You can't just leave me behind while you rush off into danger."
Pulling his rucksack out of his pocket, Harry enlarged it and started rummaging around inside.
"Ginny, there's no time to sort this out. You've been through enough already. Anyway, I have to construct the torch by myself -- "
She knew all about the torch. They'd discussed it many times. The torch spell was complicated. He couldn't have any distractions, or it might not work.
"And who'll be there to watch your back?" Ginny asked, scowling at him.
Harry realized she'd never agree. She could be so stubborn. He found was he'd been looking for – a large crystal from the cave. Briefly holding it up to the light, he slipped it into his pocket without explanation. Then shrank his pack and put it away, too.
Shaking her head in disbelief, Ginny watched the whole process.
Harry sighed and tried again. "There could be danger -- "
"It's my choice, isn't it?" Ginny said, grabbing the front of his shirt. "I have just as much right to defend Hogwarts as you do. You can't make decisions for me."
Harry didn't answer her. Now that he had the tanglewood branch, he knew he had to try…and he had to try alone. He'd seen it in the cave.
Fire and smoke and the broken lines, men deserting their posts, falling over each other to escape. A wizard with long white hair and a beard standing, holding his twisted staff over his head. Light bursting forth as—
Ginny glared at his sudden quiet. "I'm going, Harry. And that's final."
Taking her hands in his, he tried to think of a way to make her understand, but nothing came to him.
Ginny was about to speak, but before she had a chance, Harry said, "I'm sorry…but I have to do this alone."
With that he took hold of Aurora's tail feathers and disappeared in a flash of fire.
Ginny blinked at the empty spot where Harry had been. She took in the peaceful surroundings of the clearing, the sound of birds chirping in a nearby thicket, the smell of fresh grass and the golden glow cast by the setting sun.
"Oh, you utter…git!"
The birdsong cut off abruptly. She dug into her pocket, pulling free a butterbeer cap. She'd been carrying the Portkey around for ages -- ever since Harry had given it to her on their way to Hogsmeade. Looking down at the bent piece of metal in the palm of her hand, she closed her fingers around it.
"Refuge!" she whispered.
Ginny felt the tug of the Porkey as the clearing dissolved, replaced moments later by the Hogwarts infirmary.
To Be Continued…