Chapter 4: Owl's

Disclaimer: Again, I own only the plot and characters that I come up with

Harry sat up holding his forehead gingerly with his right hand. Why did his forehead hurt so badly? Why did his whole body hurt so badly? Oh right… the Cruciat---. His train of thought was cut off by a shrill shriek that he swore shot the roof off the house.

"HARRY!" screamed Mrs.Weasley. "You're alright! Oh thank HEAVEN!"

"ohhhh…." He moaned, as he tried to move to a sitting position, but someone held him down. It was Sirius.

"Sirius? Are you ok?" he asked.

"Yes… a few broken ribs, I think, but what about you? You were under the Cruciatus for about ten minutes." He looked concerned.

"I… I'm fine… where's my wand?" then looking around he added, "and where are Ron and Hermione?"

"I… I don't know, Harry." Came the reply.

"Check the closet." Said Harry suddenly.

"We… we did." Tears were pouring down Mrs.Weasley's face mow.

"Well, where else could they be?" he asked horrified.

"With Lord Voldemort." Said a new voice. Harry turned and watched as R.J. Lupin stepped out of the shadows, an angry look on his pale face. Propped on his Elbows, Harry shot up.

"What? Lupin… what do you mean… what happened?" he was panicking.

"After you were rendered unconscious, the Death Eaters came after Sirius and I. We heard Ron shout, 'leave 'er alone you! Leave 'er be! Expelliarm—' but after that, there was nothing. They were gone. We can only assume that the Death Eaters apparated with them, and that he meant Hermione."

"When did you get here?"

"Right before you went unconscious, I think… I helped to fight off the remainder."

Harry was dumbstruck. "I have to…"

"Don't even think about it." said Sirius.

"I have to! They're my friends!" he yelled, staring Sirius down.

"… at least get Dumbledore." He said to his young godson, right as an owl flew in the window.

"That's no owl!" cried Lupin. "It's Fawkes!" Indeed, the brilliantly plumaged bird was there, on Harry's shoulder, a letter in his beak.

Harry, it read

Are you alright? I heard that there was an attack on you and your friends at the Burrow. Please reply urgently, as I shall soon be on my way over.

Albus Dumbledore

"I…" he whistled. "Hedwig, take this to Dumbledore at Hogwarts!" he scrawled a small but detailed note to the headmaster and tied it to the bird's leg with a red ribbon that was magically enhanced to give the bird speed.

"When he gets here, tell him to meet me at the… Leaky Cauldron or something." Said Harry, running toward the door. But Sirius stepped in his path.

"You can't go. Not alone. Wait for Dumbledore, then we'll all go." He gestured to the men. (except Mr.Weasley, who should stay with his wife.)

"I am not a child anymore Sirius. I've grown up."

"Too soon, I'm afraid." Said the voice of Albus Dumbledore. They all turned to see him standing at the door, Hedwig on his shoulder.

"Prof… Headmaster." Said Harry, bowing slightly. Dumbledore gave him a nod in return.

"Harry, you have seen and heard many things… these things have forced you into a… very short and painful childhood. If you would all excuse us, I would like to speak to Harry alone." They all left the room, leaving Dumbledore and a worried yet curious Harry to talk.

Hermione woke with a gag in her mouth and her body slumped against the wall with her arms bound. She was in a cell, with Ron, and their wands were on the other side of the barred wall. Drat! The cell was magic proof anyway. Where were they?

Ron slowly woke up as well. They both gasped and looked up as they heard footsteps coming toward them. They stared straight into his face, and gasped in horror at what they saw.

A/n: hey, cliffy! Ahh! Read and Review guys, Read and Review.