Chapter 29

James and Sirius lead the way through school, it was just typical that they would be stuck at the lowest point in school needing to get to one of the highest.

They kept close to the walls and listened acutely for any noise, sliding across the floors as they had taken off their shoes to make them quieter. They felt a lot safer after they passed the great hall as they knew that that was where the impostor was waiting, waiting to announce someone's return into the wizarding world and rule by terror. This is all the children had picked up from the fake Dumbledore's rambling.

They slipped up the stairs, literally, and ended up outside Dumbledore's office.

"Ok," said Lily, "Who knows the password?" the others looked at each other stumped. "Oh you are kidding me! You're up here enough times all of you! Don't you listen in?"

"No, we're more interested in how to get out of the mess we just put ourselves in!" said James bitterly.

"Pssst!" came a noise from behind them, they all turned around and saw Remus Lupin coming towards them. "Guys! It's Cat Star isn't it! She was stood outside the school when I…I mean when that attack happened! Oh and the password is 'butterbeer'" at once the stairway appeared behind the statue.

"Dude! How did you know that?" Sirius asked amazed.

"I overheard Dreamstone say it once when I was up here on some…business" Remus answered, rather shiftily and Sirius decided to leave it.

James lead the way up the stairs and they burst into Dumbledore's study, there was no one there.

"Oh you are joking!" said Katie, "It's empty!"

At that moment they heard a scuffle coming from one of the cabinets, James rushed over and flung open the doors to find that Dumbledore had been shoved in there with his hands bound and his mouth gagged. He wriggled his way out and stood up. James went to untie his hands but Dumbledore stopped him and mumbled something to him.

"I don't understand what you're saying sir!" said James desperately.

"James I think he's bound by magic, erm….let me try this" said Remus stepping forward, "diffindo!" he yelled pointing his wand towards Dumbledore. In an instant the bounds were cut and fell to the floor. Remus did the same with the gag around the headteacher's mouth.

"Thank you so much!" the headmaster sighed, rubbing his wrists which had rope marks on. "I have to stop that woman before it's too late! Terrible things are afoot tonight children!" and with that he was off, his purple robes flying behind him.

James decided it would be safest if they all stayed in Dumbledore's office and waited the result there even though Sirius wanted to go off and help.

They patiently sat in a circle on the floor of the study, looking around and admiring the headmaster's collection of weird and wonderful things. The silence was unbearable, they were all itching to say something, some words of encouragement or something. Something to break the icy silence of the room and give them hope, but no words came.

Downstairs in the Great Hall Dumbledore was facing the fake Dumbledore in a one on one duel.

"Expelliarmus!" yelled Dumbledore but the other as too fast and ducked letting the spell fly over his head.

"Crucio" yelled the opposing Dumbledore, he fell to the ground. Writhing in pain with a look of sheer concentration upon his face he lay helplessly as the other Dumbledore walked over to him.

"Not to bright are we Albus, when it comes to Dark Magic. You weren't expecting that were you? Didn't think that someone could break into your little school and torture you with spells you had only heard about through scary stories!"

The mask was fading, the grey beard dissolved and was replaced with blonde, silky locks, the posture changed and a woman with dazzling beauty stood in his place.

"Did you know it was me or not? I'm guessing by the rather smug look on your face that you did! Yes Albus it's been me all along, it was me that turned you all to wax and blew apart your precious Quidditch Stadium! And I am merely aiding my master who will take over this world and rule every sign of life upon it!" Cat Star said mockingly over his curled up figure on the ground.

"And do you know who that is Dumbly Wubly Snore? Tom Marvolo Riddle! You always said he would do great things! And you were right! The first great thing he will do is to get rid of you!" she flung her head back and laughed harder than she'd ever done before. But it was a laugh full of malice and evil and it gave Dumbledore chance to knock her over and pin her to the ground.

"Catherine, my dear Catherine. The Minister of Magic is on his way and he should be arriving in 3…2…1…"

"ALBUS! Where is she? Oh I see you've found her!" said Derek Bangtoruble, the Minister of Magic. "We'll take it from here thank you!" Aurors rushed over and grabbed her, forcing her arms behind her back.

"See you in Azkaban Catherine!" said Albus picking himself up off the floor and smiling to himself.

"Evilarsonus!" Cat Star yelled before they silenced her and dragged her off the school grounds.

"HE WILL RISE AND YOU WILL BE LEFT WEAK AND POWERLESS DUMBLEDORE! AGAINST HIM YOU WILL DIE! HE ALREADY HAS POWERFUL AND LOYAL SUPPORTERS! YOU DO NOT STAND A CHANCE! THE WIZARDING WORLD BELONGS TO HIM!"

The voice echoed through the school loud and clear yet soft and feminine at the same time. The thunder and lightning outside had faded to a light drizzle and any candle that had been blown out due to the raging wind was brought back to life.

"Cat Star" whispered Remus to the rest of the group.