A/N: Loooong chapter ahead. Am going out of town for the weekend, so I thought I'd post if before I left.  Hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I own nothing, although I sure wish I did.

Chapter 33: Tentative Steps

            Harry opened his eyes with a start, sweat breaking out on his skin.  He sat up abruptly, his hands clutching at the cold ground beneath him.  His stomach sank when he was where he was.  The Dream Road.

            He got to his feet unsteadily, shivering.  He wrapped his robes around himself; when – how am I wearing robes? He rubbed at his temple, trying to remember.  I was tired.  I got ready for bed.  I said goodnight to Draco.  I crawled into the bed – he looked up as strange sounds echoed past him.  I must be asleep.  Dreaming…again.  He snorted and rolled his eyes.  I've got to get a better past time.

            He looked around, turning in a small circle.  There was only a dark gray mist surrounding him.  He sighed and looked down at his feet – of course I wouldn't show up on a Path.  That would be too bloody easy.  He frowned and stuffed his hands into his pockets, grumpy.  He squinted into the darkness, sucking on his lower lip.  I'm asleep, I know I'm asleep.  So there has to be a way to wake myself up without going anywhere in the Dark.  He let out a gusting sigh, blowing his bangs out of his eyes, so, where do I begin? 

            "You're back again." Harry froze, his eyes widening as an icy tickle traced up the back of his neck.  He turned around slowly, his heart beating wildly in his throat.

            The woman from his previous vision stood behind him.  Her hair was a black shaggy cap that stood up in several different directions all at once, kind of like mine.  Her eyes were a strange golden color and once Harry really looked at them, he realized that they had no whites. 

            He gulped and tried to smile at her, "H-h-hullo.  I'm Ha –,"

            "Shh!" Harry snapped his mouth closed, cringing slightly.  The woman cocked her head to one side and crept closer to him; it took all of Harry's courage to not step away.  "Shh, shh, shh.  Never, never say your real name here, little boy.  Names are power, especially here."  She stopped a foot away from Harry; he realized that they were exactly the same height.  She reached out and touched his hair gently, a strange, sad expression flying across her face.

            "S-s-so what should I say my name is?" The woman's eyes cleared slightly as she focused on Harry's face.  She blinked rapidly for a moment, pursing her lips slightly.

            "Crow.  Jack.  Thomas the Rhymer.  Robin Goodfellow.  Puck." She smiled suddenly, the action causing the skin around her eyes to wrinkle.  "Names are names are names are names here, little boy.  It's the ones that we answer to in here," she touched Harry's chest lightly, "that guide our feet and our fate."

            Harry frowned.  "But…how does that help me find my way home?" He looked up at her and shrugged.  "I don't even know how I get here in the first place."

            The woman reached up and brushed a feather light hand across Harry's forehead.  "You're tethered to a monster, hatchling.  Did you assume the rope would never pull taunt?"

            Harry blinked at her slowly for a moment, processing her words.  "You're saying that Vo –," he broke off and eyed her warily.  "That the Dark Lord pulls me into…here…at night?" He looked around and wrapped his arms around his middle, feeling cold.

            The woman shrugged carelessly.  "Yes and no.  Sometimes he does, sometimes," she tilted her head to the side, her eyes gleaming, "sometimes you just come."

            Harry nodded silently, chewing on his bottom lip for a long moment.  "Why did you help me, the other night?" He looked down at the ground, concentrating on the scuffs his shoes were making in the strange dirt beneath them. 

            "Because I can smell change and death on you, hatchling.  It calls, like a siren, like a light in the dark." Harry jerked his head up to look at her.  She smiled at him, but it did not reach her eyes.  "What a dream you are." Her eyes slowly lost their focus and the smile slipped from her face.  "You are what I had imagined…" She let the sentence trail off, her gaze slipping past him to look into the Dark.

            "Wh-what do you mean?" Harry held his ground – barely.  This is weird.  Very, very weird and I'm so incredibly over my head right now… 

            A sorrowful expression flit across her face, "Ah, my boy.  What a dream you are…I've had such strange, long dreams." She glanced at him and then looked away again, one hand coming up to rest against her temple.  "Dreams of wars, of waves upon waves of men dying in the sea.  Fire, and metal birds dropping death from the sky." Her voice lowered to a whisper, and Harry had to strain to hear her.  "I have been asleep for so long…"

            "Who – who are you?" Harry's eyes were wide.  The woman looked up at him through her lashes, a sliver of a smile passing across her face.  "I'm the Morrigan, of course."

            He opened his mouth to ask her another question when a searing pain flashed through his head.  His vision doubled, and he crumpled, only to be caught by her on his way down.  "N-n-n-no…" Harry clutched at his head, a roaring sound filling his ears.  "It's him."

            The woman lowered him to the ground, laying his head in her lap, her large eyes riveted to his face.  "Shh, now hatchling.  Shh.  I'm here…" The pain began to build in Harry's head, causing him to thrash on the ground, his back arching as the Cruciatus curse ripped through his body.  Morrigan held him tightly, keeping him from reaching his face to claw at his eyes.  She looked up into the dark, her eyes hard.  "Dian Cecht!  I bid thee wake!  Come to me at once!"

            The air around the pair on the ground stilled, the seconds ticking by slowly.  Finally there was a great roaring and the gray mists parted.  A tall, arrogant man stepped out of the cloud, his fine silks impeccable and his silver eyes cold.  "Morrigan," he sneered, looking down his nose at the pair on the ground.  "How dare you call me in such a manner."

            "Stuff it, Dian Cecht, I have no time for your unpleasantness.  Heal him." She grabbed Harry as he thrashed on the ground yet again, blood beginning to trickle out from both nostrils.

            "No." The man folded his hands away inside of his robes.

            "Yess," Morrigan gazed up at him, her eyes glittering.  "Or I will rain down death and destruction on all of your beloveds."

            The man stood for a long moment, his face unreadable.  "My family has already faded, Morrigan.  There is nothing left for you to destroy." He turned away.

            "Damn you, Dian Cecht!  He is only a boy!  Heal him!"

            "You heal him!" The man whirled, anger twisting his face. 

            "You know that I can't." She tightened her hold on Harry, her pale fingers stained red with his blood.

            "Why would you have me heal this mortal?  What is he to you?"

            "He is a dream.  An image of a dream – a dream that I once had, long, long ago." Morrigan looked down at Harry's face, soothing his hair out of his eyes with faintly trembling hands.

            "Cu Chulainn is gone, Morrigan."

            "Don't you think I know that, you bloody fool," she hissed at him, barring her teeth as she stared up into the pale face.  "I know that he is gone. But I –," she looked back down at Harry, sorrow and anger passing across her face as she held on tighter to him.

            Dian Cecht paused for a moment, looking down at the chaotic goddess of battle.  He moved his gaze to the mortal in her arms, looking at his pale, pointed face, the shock of wild black hair and the green eyes.  He sighed and moved to her side, kneeling down next to them, placing one long finger on Harry's forehead.  He frowned and after a long moment finally withdrew his hand.

            "There is nothing I can do." He stood swiftly and produced a handkerchief, wiping off his hands carefully, avoiding her gaze.

            "Lugh's balls you can't." She reached up and grabbed him, pulling him back down with an indignant squawk.  "Heal him, Dian Cecht.  Heal him now."

            "I cannot, Morrigan.  What ails him is not something I cannot fix.  We no longer have the power we once had." He spread his hands, shrugging helplessly, careful to keep his silks away from the pooling blood. 

            "He bleeds." She cleaned Harry's face carefully with her hands, wiping off the mess on her clothes.

            He nodded, making a face at the squirming, sweating figure.  "Yes, he does.  But he is mortal, Morrigan.  He lives, he breaths, he dies.  It is their way." He stood gracefully, pulling his robes away from the spreading pool.

            Her face twisted as she clutched at Harry, her fingernails biting into the pale flesh.  "But he is my dream…a dream I've had for so long…"

            He placed a hand on her shoulder.  "It was only a dream, Morrigan.  Nothing more.  Cu Chulainn is gone; he has sailed over the seas.  He will never return."

            She bowed her head, her hair falling forward to hide her face.  "But we remain."

            "Yes." The god of healing sighed, pain and sorrow flying across his face briefly as he looked off into the Dark.  "We always remain."

            She leaned forward, cradling Harry's head in her hands.  "Little mortal, listen to me." Harry shook, blood flowing faster from his nose, streaking down his skin.  His eyes were glazed as he wildly looked around, whimpering.  "Listen well, my dream hatchling." She bent down close to his ear, her grip strong and firm.  "Remember us, child.  I will not forget you.  But you have to return to your home now.  This place holds no healing for you.  Go home, my dream child.  Go."

            Harry stilled briefly, his eyes clearing briefly as he looked up into her face.  His eyes widened once, a gasp rattling in his throat before he disappeared from her hold.  Her hands tightened on air, his cooling blood on the ground the only sign that he'd ever been there.  She looked up at the man standing by her side, her face pale and furious.  "This land was once ours." She stood slowly, her hands balling into fists at her side.  "What dreams I have had, cousin.  What horrible, horrible dreams." She looked off into the darkness, her form beginning to fade and shift.  "What has happened to us?  We have all grown so weak."

            "It is the way of the world, Morrigan.  The people have forgotten us, and so we sleep." The man shrugged, tossing his hair over his shoulder, flicking a fold of his robes straight. 

            "Perhaps it is time the people remembered." The Morrigan shifted and a great crow rose into the dark.  "Perhaps it was we who let the people forget."

            Dian Cecht watched the crow wing away, his long hair stirring in the small breeze.  "Perhaps it was." He looked down at the ground, a troubled expression passing across his face.  "What dreams indeed." He turned and walked into the dark.

qpqpqpqp

            The Gryffindor Common Room was nearly deserted.  Hermione sat by the fireplace, her face pale and her eyes red.  She clutched a handkerchief in her hand tightly, staring off into space; she's dead.  Hermione sucked in a shaky breath, I could have done something about it.  If I had gone to the Headmaster – Lavender would still be alive.  Even if she was – was – a Death Eater, or whatever…she shouldn't have had to die like…that. 

            The Gryffindor House had been devastated by the loss of Lavender. Ron had gone crazy, having to be sedated by a strangely cold Madam Pomfrey.  He had turned over tables, pulled books from the wall and torn down a tapestry.  Hermione had watched with the other girls from the stairwell, well away from his path of destruction.  The other boys had tried to calm Ron down, but had failed.  If Harry had been here…Hermione shook her head abruptly.  I can't think about that.  What's done is done…and we have to take responsibility for that. 

            After Ron's outburst and sedation, the House had walked around in a kind of fog.  The news of the Slytherin girl's arrest had perked everyone up…but her punishment had merely shocked most people, and had only really made the Weasley's happy in the end.  Them and those closest to them, rather.  Hermione looked down at her hands, tracing the lines and tiny scars on them.  There's where I nicked myself sharpening my quill for the first time.  That's where the Devil's Snare cut me in first year, a tiny smile slipped across her face.  Harry was so different then.  She sighed and looked up from her hands and into the fire.  How did it all get this way?

            Male voices made Hermione slip down in her seat – she could recognize Ron's voice anywhere.  She grimaced as she heard them come in…and then go over to the far side of the Common Room.  Great, if I get up now they'll know I was hiding from them.  She made a face.  How about if I…she eased herself into a sleeping position on the couch, her heart pounding in her throat.  If they come over, I'll pretend to be asleep.  That way they can't accuse me of…anything.  She tried to quiet her breathing – for some reason she wanted to hear what they said.

            "Ron, I know you're angry right now.  You have every right to be."  Hermione frowned…she knew that voice.

            "It's those Slytherins, Michael.  They're all evil.  Corrupted.  They'll kill us all – I know it.  It's already started!  With – with Lavender.  Potter never could stand her, and hell, she was so into Divination, maybe she did know something about it.  Maybe she predicted something and he found out about it?  What if – what if Lavender was our key to defeating Potter and the Dark Lord?  Oh Merlin, Michael, every time I think about it…" Hermione tensed, Why is Michael Corner in our Common Room?  He's a Ravenclaw!  He shouldn't be here, it's against the rules!  She inched her way a little further up, trying to hear them better.

            "Exactly, Ron.  Lavender did predict something – something that Potter had to have her killed for." The hell he did, Hermione's eyes widened.  Lavender was a spy…waitaminute… "Ron, Lavender talked to me the day before she…died." There was palpable grief in the Ravenclaw's tone; it sickened Hermione.  "She asked me to look something up for her.  I asked her why." Hermione frowned, biting down on her lower lip until it almost bled.  "She asked me the Cwn Annwn were." The what? "I asked her why it was so important – she, she had wanted the information immediately.  She – she said she'd had a vision that Potter was going to have the school attacked by something called the Cwn Annwn."

            "What's a Cwn Annwn?"

            "They're hell hounds.  They're agents of pure evil.  If they're given a target, they won't rest until that target is dead, and they'll kill anyone and everything that gets in their way."

            "Merlin."

            "Yeah.  I – I didn't believe her, not at first.  Then she got to talking with me…she pointed out everything that Potter's done – to you, to your family.  To Gryffindor.  She – she finally convinced me that her vision was true.  She –," Michael took a deep, audible breath, clearing his throat once before forging on.  "She also said that she'd been having a bad feeling for a few days –,"

            "She mentioned that to me too!"
            "Yes," Hermione thought she detected a note of irritation in the Ravenclaw's voice.  "She – she said she'd seen Potter and a few Slytherins hanging around the Library.  And that Ginny – er, that Black had smirked at her a few times this week.  She told me she'd been having a really bad feeling about them – like they were going to try something.  Something evil."

            "She was right.  Oh Lav…" Ron's soft weeping made Hermione roll her eyes.  You pathetic piece of shite. 

            "Ron.  Ron!"

            "Wh-what?"

            "If Lavender is right, then something has to be done about Potter.  We can't allow him to let those monsters into the school.  They'll kill everyone!"

            "But – how?  I mean, if they're sent to kill everyone then…"

            "Listen!" Michael's voice was a low hiss, cutting Ron off mid sentence.  "They're going to be sent here to take orders from Potter.  But if they take out Potter first, then…"

            "Then they'll go back to the Dark Lord and leave us time to figure out a way to kill them!  Yes!" Hermione paled.  "Did – did she say when she thought they'd attack?"

            "Her exact words were, 'darkness will fall before the day the first bonfires are lit'.  I think she meant May first, which is also Beltane, the date of an old pagan festival that included lighting bonfires." Five points to Ravenclaw, Hermione held in a snort.  They all think they're so smart.

            "Merlin, Michael.  How're we going to get our hands on Potter though?  He's surrounded by a group of Slytherin goons all the time!  It's nearly impossible to get him alone…"

            "Well I was thinking…" the fire popped suddenly, making Hermione gasp.  They boy's went quiet immediately, causing her to curse silently.  She mussed up her hair and clothes, timing her large yawn to the footsteps she could hear getting closer.

            "Hmmm…" she stretched and screwed her eyes shut, yawning.  She ran a hand over her face and slowly sat up, blinking a few times at the boys now standing over her.  "Ron," she said quietly, glancing up at him once and looking away.  "When did you get here?  I – hello Michael." She pretended to look around sleepily.  "I – I must have fallen asleep.  How odd." She suppressed the urge to smack her forehead…face it, Hermione, you'll never be any good at acting.

            "Hermione…how long have you been here?" Ron's voice was strained.  She peered up at him, hoping the proximity of the fire was hiding the flush that was staining her face.  I never was very good at lying…please let him believe this.  "I – I don't know.  I came up after dinner and I think I fell asleep. I've just been so tired lately…" she shrugged and swung her legs around, scooting to the edge of the couch to stand up.  "I guess I'll go to bed then." She stood up with a sigh, not meeting Ron's eye.

            She made to go around the boys, but Ron caught her upper arm; her heart leapt into her throat.  "Ron," Hermione said quietly, "we've had this discussion before."  She could hear her heart beat pounding in her head.

            "How much did you hear?  How much did you hear?" He shook her roughly, causing her to gasp in pain. 

            "Ron, let go of me!  I didn't hear anything!  I was asleep!" She pulled at her arm, but Ron's grip was too strong.  "You're hurting me, Ron.  Let go!"

            "Ron, Ron," Michael gripped the other boy's shoulder tightly, drawing his attention away from Hermione.  "She didn't hear anything.  It's alright.  It's alright." The Ravenclaw glanced at her briefly, before turning his attention back to the redhead.  Hermione suppressed a shiver…Michael's eyes were cold and hard.

            Ron turned back to her, his own eyes dark.  "You swear you didn't hear anything?" He shook her once more, making her wince in pain.  If I so much as have one bruise tomorrow, Ronald Weasley, she narrowed her eyes at him

             "All I heard was my dreams.  That's all." She twisted her arm in his grip, "Now let go of me."

            Ron eyed her for a long moment before finally letting her go.  She stumbled a bit, but backed away from his second reach for her.  "Herm…" Ron's face twisted, the anger turning to guilt, which turned to into a sulk.  "I – I'm sorry.  You scared me.  There're things going on Herm.  I don't know who to trust." He lifted his hand again and Hermione intentionally flinched away from him; the red head's face fell.  "Oh God, Hermione.  What have I done to you?"

            "You leave me alone." She let her nervous tears finally come out – her adrenaline was wearing off, leaving only a deep exhaustion in place.  "I'm tired of your apologies." She turned her back on him and walked away, barely restraining herself from running to her room.  Oh God, oh God.  Now I have to go to the Headmaster… and to Harry.  I don't know what's going on…but I have a really bad feeling about this.  She never noticed Michael's calculating gaze, or Ron's furious anger.

qpqpqpqp

            "Harry!  Harry!"

            Harry jerked awake, his heart pounding, his gasps loud in his ears.  Hands shook him insistently, their warmth like hot irons on his skin.  "Wh-what?" He wheezed, blinking blurrily into the dark. Where am I?  Awake or sleep?

            "Harry, wake up.  That's right, c'mon.  Wake up." The voice sounded warm and familiar…I know that voice.

            "D-D-D-Draco?" Harry struggled to sit up, his mind still fuzzy from his dream. 

            "That's right.  Good, up we go." Harry heard a loud swooshing sound, and then the Potion Master's deep murmur reached him. 

            "What's going on?" Harry cast out a hand towards his nightstand, knocking his glass of water over in his haste.  "Where are my glasses?"

            "Here, Harry.  They're right here." Gentle hands helped him slip them on and Harry's world finally came into focus.  He looked up at Draco and for a long second didn't understand what he was seeing.  Where did all the blond come from?

            "Where…" Harry looked down at the comforter, his voice fading into silence.  His comforter, his sheets, everything was all a dull maroon color.  He held out his hands – they were covered in blood.  "What happened?" Harry swallowed heavily, only now tasting the sharp coppery flavor in the back of his throat. 

            Draco moved back slightly from him, casting a glance over his shoulder to where Severus and Madam Pomfrey were talking quietly.  "You wouldn't wake up." Draco looked down at his own bloodstained hands and cleared his throat softly.  "You just – kept screaming, and the blood…" he took a deep breath, "it just wouldn't stop.  Madam Pomfrey and Severus tried everything they could think of…but nothing helped."

            Harry could feel tremors begin to run through his body.  "How much blood did I lose?" He clenched his hands together tightly, forcing himself to stay calm. "When did it stop?  How did it stop?"

            The blond looked up at him, his expression grave.  "It stopped on its own.  One minute you were bleeding to death, the next, nothing.  Severus couldn't understand it, and neither down Madam Pomfrey."  Draco leaned forward, his eyes shining in the dim light.  "What did happen, Harry?  Was it a vision?"

            Harry opened his mouth and then closed it.  "I –," he shook his head and frowned.  "It was like a dream, but it wasn't." He closed his eyes and breathed through his nose, his stomach beginning to churn.  The smell of blood stuck to the back of his throat, permeating his senses.  "I think I'm going to be ill." He clapped a hand across his mouth, bile rising quickly.  Draco cursed and grabbed for his wand, but it was too late.  Harry leaned to the side and vomited violently. 

            "Shh, shh," the blond rubbed his back gently as Harry gasped for air, miserable.  Draco handed him a rag to clean his face and mouth with, conjuring up another glass to pour water in for him.

            The door to his room opened and the dark haired boy could hear Sirius' familiar voice.  "Harry?  Harry?" Feet appeared in his vision; Sirius helped Harry sit up and lean back onto his pillows.  "Shh, there now kiddo." Draco glared at the animagus briefly, but let him cut in…grudgingly.

            "Sirius." The Potions Master's voice was strained, causing the other wizard to glance at Severus irritably.  "Madam Pomfrey and I need to speak to you." Harry watched his godfather pale and glare at the other wizard before turning back to Harry.

            "It's alright, Sirius.  I'm fine now." Harry reached out to pat the wizard's hand, but stopped himself before he could get the older wizard all bloody.  Sirius reached out and ruffled his godson's hair before crossing the room to talk to the other adults. 

            Harry watched him go with a lump forming in his stomach.  He turned back to Draco who was watching him carefully.  "What's wrong?" He accepted the glass that the other boy held out to him, holding it carefully so that the trembling in his hands wouldn't show.

            The blond sighed and cast an irritated glance at his own godfather.  "I don't know any more than you do, Harry.  Severus is being rather tight lipped at the moment, and honestly," he turned back to Harry, his eyes softening, "I'm more worried about you right now."

            Harry gave the other boy a wan smile.  "Thanks, Draco."

            The other boy reached out and touched his cheek gently, "You're stuck with me, remember?" Harry blushed, causing Draco to laugh quietly.  He sobered quickly.  "So was it another vision?" The gray eyes bore into Harry, causing him to fidget and squirm.

             "No.  Not – not really.  I…I was in the Otherworld again.  There weren't any roads around for me to follow and then this woman showed up." He looked up at Draco, his eyes dark.  "She was so sad."

            "Who was she?"

            "The Morrigan." The silence was thick and instant.  Harry glanced up at the blond, then past him to the adults who were staring at him.  "What?"  The adults all wore identical expressions of shock.

            "Potter," Snape finally brought up one hand to pinch at the bridge of his nose, an action that Harry was finding himself becoming quite accustomed to.  "Why, please explain to me why, and how you manage to get yourself into the most complicated and messy situations known to man?"

            "Harry doesn't try to get into these situations, you git," Sirius moved to block Severus' view of the boy.  The Potions Master merely rolled his eyes and snorted. 

            "Fine, then you explain to me how Mr. Potter manages to get himself into these god awful messes year after year.  It was bad enough having the Dark Lord after him, now the Morrigan…"

            "She – she wasn't after me." Harry tried to sit up straighter in bed, peering around Draco to see the adults better.  "She saved me."

            "She what?"

            "She called me a dream…" Harry trailed off, his brow furrowed as he tried to remember everything she said to him.  "She said that I should have expected to come back to the Otherworld again.  That I was…" he looked up at them, "that I was tethered to a monster, and that I should have expected my leash would grow taunt." Sirius grimaced and turned away, wrapping his arms around his middle.  Severus' expression hardened as his eyebrows drew together. 

            "Did she say anything else?" The Potions Master's tone was a contrast to his cold demeanor.

            Harry tilted his head to one side, thinking.  "No…no nothing else." He kept his eyes on the coverlet, knowing he could never lie to the Professor with a straight face.  And it's not like I'm lying to him…I'm just not sure that what I heard was real, or just a desperate imagination.  The woman's warm touch on his face haunted him…would that have been how Mum would've touched my forehead when I got sick?  Harry closed his eyes briefly, a sudden stab of pain in his chest making him breathless.  Would she have brushed my hair out of my eyes and told me that all would be well?

            Severus and Poppy exchanged worried glances while Sirius continued to stare into the fire.  The Potions Master finally shook his head briefly, shrugged slightly. "Potter, we will have to speak of this later." Madam Pomfrey made a gesture and Severus nodded irritably. "Rest for now, Harry. Sirius?" The professor reached out and touched the animagus' shoulder, making him jump.

            "Harry?" The adults went back to murmuring with one another, turning their backs to the boys on the bed.  Draco stood and looked down at the boy on the bed, an uneasy feeling running up his spine.  "Harry?"

            "Yes, Draco?" The dark haired youth finally looked up at him, his smile not meeting his eyes. 

            "Let's get that blood cleaned up, eh?" Harry looked down at the mess all around on the bed and nodded eagerly at Draco's suggestion.  The blond quickly cast several cleaning charms on both the boy and the bedding, the blood vanishing swiftly.  Harry smiled warmly up at the blond – but Draco wasn't finished yet.  He then scooped up Harry from bed and proceeded to the open door.

            "Mr. Malfoy, just where do you think you're taking Mr. Potter?" Severus' dry tone halted Draco at the thresh hold.

            "Draco…where are you taking me?" Harry's breath ghosted lightly across the blonde's ear, causing him to tighten his grip on the far-too-light bundle in his arms.  He turned to face the Potions Master.

            "The bed and mattress, while spell cleaned, really do need to be washed, otherwise the smell will linger.  I don't want to sleep in a room that smells like blood, so I'm taking Harry to my room to sleep out the rest of the night." Draco narrowed his eyes at his godfather, the stubborn Malfoy glint coming into his eyes.

            "Draco, you don't need to do that…"

            "Shut up, Harry.  The last thing you need is to sleep in the same bed that you woke up in covered in blood.  So hush, and go to sleep." Draco never let his gaze wander from Severus.

            The Potions Master raised an eyebrow at the young blond, but merely inclined his head.  "Very well." The lanky man turned to Harry.  "You are to rest for the next few days.  You will be excused for classes.  Draco will bring your make up work to you." The blond rolled his eyes but said nothing.  Severus' expression darkened.  "The alarms that we have on this room do not apply so well in the others.  Mr. Malfoy, you will need to be quite vigilant in watching over him, is that understood?"

            "Hey, now wait one minute," Sirius sputtered, looking from the Potions Master to Draco and back again.  "Harry doesn't need to leave.  I'll stay here with him!"

            Severus' expression turned cold. "Black, I think young Mr. Malfoy raised a very good point, earlier about not having Mr. Potter stay in his own room for the night.  If you had been listening…"

            "Now see here you slimy, greasy…"

            "Sirius?" They all jumped at the sound of Ginny's voice.  The witch stood just outside the door, almost hidden in the shadow of Draco and Harry.  The blond moved so she could limp inside the room, her cane a dark contrast to her white nightdress. 

            The animagus glared at Severus once before hurrying over to the young girl's side, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Ginny, lovely.  You should be asleep."

            "I woke up and you were gone, and the door to my room was open.  What's going on?  Is Harry ok?" She peered around the animagus, her eyes alighting on Harry in Draco's arms.  "Harry?"

            "I'm fine, Gin.  Just…a bit of a nightmare.  That's all." The dark haired boy tried to smile reassuringly at her, not so sure that it would work with his present state.  The girl blinked at him sleepily.

            "Are you sure?"

            "Yes, Gin.  I'm just fine.  Go on back to bed.  You need your sleep." Harry held his breath as Sirius guided the still mostly asleep girl back to her room.  He let out the pent up air as their forms finally disappeared, a strange feeling running through him as he watched them go.

            "Mr. Potter." Harry jumped slightly at the proximity of Severus' voice.  He craned his neck to look up at the taller man.  "These dreams of yours must be discussed, but not right now.  The Headmaster will contact you tomorrow to go over what you have seen tonight, but other than that, you are to stay off of your feet and as comfortable as possible.  Is that understood?"

            Harry managed to keep himself from rolling his eyes.  "Yes, sir."

            The Potions Master narrowed his eyes at the small boy.  "Draco, Madam Pomfrey has some potions that Mr. Potter is to take before he goes back to sleep.  She will accompany you to your room."

            "And you sir?"

            The Potions Master drew himself up, straightening his shoulders resolutely.  "Go to bed, Mr. Potter, Mr. Malfoy.  Tomorrow is coming rather quickly.  Get some sleep."  The tall man swept from the room, leaving behind the two teenagers and the Head Nurse to stare after him silently.

            "Your godfather needs a holiday."

            Draco snorted and shook his head, moving down the hall quietly, Madam Pomfrey trailing after them like a ghost.  "You're telling me."

qpqpqpqp

            Severus stalked down the silent halls of St. Mungo's, nurses scuttling out of his way with haste.  His eyes roamed back and forth through the rooms…Fabing I know you're here somewhere…a lime green robe caught his eye and he paused, peering into one of the patients rooms.  The healer straightened up, revealing blond hair.  Damn it all…

            "Sir? Are you looking for someone?" A petite brunette hovered at his elbow, her hazel eyes wary.  Severus looked her over, frowning slightly – she looks familiar…

            "Ms. Ashtree." Severus blinked, finally placing the face. Hufflepuff, good potion skills, but a bit lazy.

            The girl beamed a smile at him. "I didn't think you'd remember me, Professor."

            Severus shifted uncomfortably, withdrawing slightly. "You made an excellent healing potion for your seventh year final project. I remember that."

            The former Hufflepuff wrinkled her nose up at him, her eyes bright. "Thank you!" She giggled, hiding her smile behind her hand.  She regained control of herself and peered up at him. "Were you looking for someone?  A patient here?"

            "Mr. Fabing.  I'm looking for Healer Fabing." The Potions Master looked down his nose at the small girl, who frowned and tapped her mouth gently with a stubby finger.

            "Mmm…I don't recall – wait a second," she walked to the nurse's station and held a whispered conversation with another nurse.  Finally she nodded and thanked the other girl, coming back to Severus' side.  "He's no longer on this floor anymore sir.  He transferred up to the fourth floor. He should be there now."

            Severus nodded curtly. "Thank you Ms. Ashtree. Good bye." He whirled and made for the stairs quickly.

            "You're welcome Professor Snape!" He cringed at the girl's cheerful tone – now I remember why I detested her.

            Aaron Fabing was exiting a room as Severus stepped out of the stairwell.  The Healer caught sight of him and smiled, changing directions and heading towards the lanky wizard.

            "Severus! It's good to see you." The Healer and the Potions Master shook hands.

            "Hello Aaron." Severus took a deep breath. "I am afraid I need your help."

            The Healer's smile turned a touch sad. "I expected as much, what with the hour." He slipped his wand into his shirt pocket, gesturing for the other man to walk with him. "There's a small staff room in the back, we can talk there."

            Severus followed the other man into the quiet room, gratefully accepting a cup of steaming black tea.  He glanced up at the graying redhead, the memories of the last time he'd seen him flashing through his mind.  The Healer had found him in the alleyway behind the hospital where some Death Eaters had left him – he'd been lucky the ones who had attacked him had once been friends and not some of the younger, more…vigilant recruits.  The Healer had put up with his snappish temper, the Malfoy interference, the strange comings and goings of people in his bedroom at night with an even, good temper.  But had the Potions Master tried to overexert himself…the man had a temper on him that could put Voldemort to shame.

            "I'm glad this time we are meeting over tea and not a gurney." The Healer stirred two lumps of sugar into his tea, a wry smile overtaking his face. "How's that arm of yours?"

            Severus took a sip of his drink, cupping his hands around the fine porcelain, soaking up the heat. "It is…better." As if on cue Severus' Dark Mark throbbed; while not gone completely, Fabing had come up with a combination of spells and potions to dim the connection all of the former Death Eaters had with the Dark Lord.  It hadn't worked for all of them – Severus and Lucius being about middle of the road for his results.  For some the connection didn't change – and for them Severus felt nothing but utmost pity.  For others the connection had all but disappeared, leaving nothing but a mere wisp of pain every now and then.  Severus hated them.

            Aaron looked up at the pale man across from him, a flash of pity flying across his face. "I'm sorry it didn't work out better for you Severus."

            The Potions Master jerked his head to the side, grunting. "It is better, and that it a blessing." He shifted in his seat, taking another sip of tea. "It is not for me, however, that I'm here."

            The Healer nodded slowly, leaning back in his seat as he studied the other man. "Let me guess…you're here for Mr. Potter."

            Severus narrowed his eyes at the man. "How did you know?"

            Aaron sighed and shrugged. "I was expecting your arrival.  To be honest I thought you would have come earlier, but," he shrugged again, spreading out his hands silently. "You are here now."

            Severus set down his cup and leaned forward. "Do I have your oath as a Healer that what I am about to say will go no further than you?"

            Fabing studied him for a moment, the quiet drip of the faucet the only sound in the room. "You do."

            Severus let out a relieved breath, closing his eyes briefly. "Good." He opened them. "Mr. Potter is connected to Voldemort through his curse scar.  He – took the Vision Potion to enhance the connection, in order to spy on the madman.  Now, however, Mr. Potter's health is declining rapidly, and neither I nor Madam Pomfrey know what to do about it."

            Aaron frowned, his eyes loosing their focus as he stared at the wall. "The Vision Potion.  We haven't had a case like that in nearly a hundred years." A line appeared between the ginger brows.  "The boy is fifteen, correct?"

            "Yes."

            "Hmm." The Healer rose from his seat and crossed the room, pulling open a file cabinet.  He rooted around in the back of it, finally pulling out several files.  He set them down on the table in front of Severus, flipping one of them open.

            "As far as I know, the Vision Potion is a very interesting and complex potion. Ah, here." The Healer pulled out a sheet of paper.  "The potion bonds to various chemicals in the human body, storing itself away in the fatty tissues in the spinal column, much like the muggle drug LSD does."

            Severus nodded, a bit impatiently.  "Yes, I read about that."

            The Healer favored him with a mildly sharp glance. "I'm getting there, Severus." The Potions Master rolled his eyes at the man, who smiled indulgently. "Now, what the potion also does is attack the immune system.  Here," he picked up another sheet of paper that held a drawing of the human body on it. "Here at the sinus tissues, as well as here," he pointed to the chest, tapping the sheet once, causing the skin to dissolve and leave an intricate drawing of the human musculature system in its place.

            "The potion will also attack the cell growth in the lungs.  It will hinder it, making the patient highly susceptible to pneumonia and other lung infections." Fabing skimmed down the sheet he held in his other hand, muttering softly. "Ah, yes.  In three other cases the patient's nervous system was also affected."

            "Affected how?" Severus studied the picture in front of him intently.

            "They got the shakes, Severus.  It never went away, although they did have good days and bad days." Aaron looked over at the other wizard, his eyes dark. "Those three patients killed themselves all within five years after the palsy started."

            Severus closed his eyes briefly, turning his face away. "Do you think you can help him?"

            "With what? The curse scar or the effects of the potion?" Aaron's voice was amused.

            "Both, either," Severus ground out, turning back to face the Healer.

            Blue green eyes regarded him sadly. "I don't know."

            "Will you try?"

            "I will."

            Severus let out a relieved breath. "Thank you." It didn't quite stick in his throat – something the Healer didn't miss.

            "You're welcome." He chuckled at the pale man's grimace. "Now, tell me why you're here in the middle of the night, friend."

            Severus glanced up at the Healer, a flash of surprise streaking through him.  Ruthlessly he pushed it away, focusing on the matter at hand. "Mr. Potter tried to bleed to death tonight.  From his nose." He sat up and poured himself another cup of tea.

            "Did he now?  How…irritating." Severus shot the other man a look, causing the Healer to laugh quietly again.  He quickly sobered. "A nosebleed then.  Has he had many?"

            "I'm not sure.  I know he's had more than one, but the exact number I don't know.  Mr. Potter has quite an insufferable guilt complex, which often gets in the way of him telling us something important about his health." Severus snorted into his tea, irritation flashing across his face.

            "Much like another dark haired Slytherin I know." Aaron watched as Severus spit out his tea, a large smile curling across his face as the Potions Master glared daggers at him.

            "Mr. Potter and I share nothing in common, let me assure you." Severus dabbed furiously at his robes, eyeing the man across from him.

            "Of course not."

            "Aaron, I'm telling you –,"

            "Yes, yes," the Healer's smile turning into a pleased grin. "But please, we digress and the hour is late.  What else?"

            Severus frowned one last time at the other man and only then let it drop. "He is growing weaker everyday.  His classmates report that he is eating less and less, as well as his hands and feet are abnormally cold."

            "Hm." Aaron tapped a finger against the tabletop, sucking on his lower lip absently. "Interesting.  The lack of eating could be a number of things…depression, for one.  The potion could also have created ulcers in the boy's stomach – they were recorded in one case study, but in none of the others.  The chill in the extremities…that is something that has not been recorded as of yet." The Healer's eyes refocused and lit upon the books lining the far wall of the room.

            He got up and crossed over to the shelves, pulling out a stack of books as he went. He turned back to give Severus a stack of six, and then returned to the shelves. "No time like the present, is there?  Those are some of the books I used while I created some of the potions I gave to you and the…others.  Now, tell me about Mr. Potter's curse scar…"

            Severus sighed and set the books on the table, eyeing them regretfully.  It's going to be another long night.  He looked back up at the now impatient Healer, squashing the urge to snap at him.  He raked a hand through his hair and wracked his brain, pulling out all information he could remember about Potter and his blasted scar.  A very long night, indeed.

qpqpqpqp

            Hermione's knee bounced frantically as she waited for the Headmaster to arrive.  She'd been sitting on the base of the gargoyle statue for nearly an hour, her heart hammering in her throat whenever she heard anyone pass by.  She had a book sitting next to her, some piece of fiction her mother had bought her for Christmas.  It was a Hogsmead weekend and Hermione was hoping to use it to speak to the Headmaster privately. 

            Heavy footsteps made her dive for her book, flipping through the pages slowly, trying not to look up and watch to see the face of whoever was approaching.

            "Why, Ms. Granger," Hermione cringed away slightly from the Potions Master's sneering tone.  "Here to kick out another student from Gryffindor House?"

            Hermione felt her face flush as she slowly closed her book.  "No, sir.  I'm merely reading my book, is all." She stared at the tops of his shoes trying to rein back her temper.

            "Then do it somewhere else," she glanced up at the clipped tone.  She was shocked to see heavy bags under the man's eyes and a paler than normal tone to his skin.

            "Are you alright sir?" She stared up at him, picking out the wrinkles in his robes and the mud caking the hem of his cloak.

            Professor Snape sneered at her. "Get out of my way, Ms. Granger, before I take points from Gryffindor for your insolence." She sprang to her feet and hustled out of his way.  The lanky man leaned close to the gargoyle and whispered something to it, eyeing Hermione the whole time.  The statue leapt out of the way, causing her to jump slightly.  He started up the stairs.

            "Wait!" She darted forward before the gargoyle could block her way again.

            Professor Snape whirled to face her, his face a sight.  "Ms. Granger.  Fifty points from Gryffindor for your behavior.  Get out of this stairwell immediately –,"

            "Lavender Brown was a spy!" She bit her lip, her hand coming up to cover her mouth, perfect, just perfect Hermione.  Blurt it out like a first year, excellent.  The Potions Master blinked at her for a moment, his mouth still open.  He snapped it shut, now beginning to eye her darkly.

            "You stupid, silly little girl," he snarled, reaching down and grabbing her by the arm tightly, hauling her up the stairs towards the Headmaster's office.  Hermione was never so terrified in her life. 

            "Albus!" The Potions Master barged into Dumbledore's office, dragging Hermione in behind him.  "We have a problem."

            Hermione's face felt like it was on fire.  She stumbled to a stop next to the professor, rubbing her arm where the man had gripped it, grumbling silently to herself.  Then she looked up and felt all the blood in her face drain.

            Harry, Draco, Neville, Ginny, Sirius, Remus and the Headmaster were all staring at her with varying expressions.  Dumbledore's was kind, but cool; Harry, Sirius and Remus' were completely blank.  Neville's was disappointed and the rest's…Hermione edged towards the door slightly.  If looks could kill, she would have been gone four hundred times over.

            "Er, hi." She coughed and looked down at the ground, taking a deep breath before looking back up.  "I – uh.  There's something that I – I mean, I found out…"

            "What Ms. Granger is incapable of saying, is that she just blurted out to all and sundry that she believes Lavender Brown was a spy." Severus folded his arms across his chest and looked down his nose at the bushy haired girl next to him. 

            "Um," Hermione looked up at the group, her face beginning to grow warm again.  "He's…Professor Snape is correct.  I believe that Lavender was really a spy…for – for You-Know…for Voldemort." She forced herself to say the name. "I – I kind of, er…accidentally followed her one day and I heard her talking to someone.  A man.  And they were talking about you…Harry." She couldn't meet the boy's eyes.  She kept her gaze on the ground.  "I – he, whoever he is, told Lavender that the Dark Lord would be happy with her report.  She'd told him something about Harry, and his…health."

            "How bloody nice of you to wait until Maddie was dead before coming forward, you pathetic, horrid bitch." Ginny struggled to get out of her chair, Neville and Remus holding her down.  "I'm going to hex you into oblivion you worthless slut…"

            "Ms. Black!" Severus' sharp tone instantly silenced the girl.  Hermione could only stare at the small girl she'd once know with her mouth hanging open.  "A Slytherin does not use such language in public, nor do they threaten others in the presence of authority figures.  You will keep quiet and pleasant or you will leave the room, is that understood?"

            Ginny subsided slowly, glaring at Hermione darkly.  "Yes sir."

            "Good, now apologize."

            "What?" The auburn haired girl glared at the Potions Master.  "I will not."

            Severus looked at her for a long moment, his dark eyes burning.  "You will, Ms. Black."

            Ginny squirmed in her seat, glancing at Sirius a few times, who merely raised his eyebrows at her and rolled his eyes.  "I – oh fine.  I'm so sorry." She sneered at Hermione, raking her over with a nasty glare.  The witch crossed her arms over her chest with a huff and leaned back in her seat, turning her nose up at the other girl.

            "Good," Severus turned to Hermione, his expression darkening.  "Now, sit down and explain to us why, when and where this all took place." Hermione sank into a chair summoned by the professor, her heart sinking as they all turned and stared at her. 

qp

            "I still don't understand why she didn't go to the Headmaster when she first heard Brown and this unknown man talking." Ginny had finally chosen to ignore the fact that Hermione was even in the room anymore, after having being warned by the Potions Master about her unseemly behavior twice more.

            "She is still in the room," Hermione finally snapped back at the girl, causing her to turn towards Hermione.

            "I know, but that can be changed." The bushy haired girl shivered slightly at the cold tone of Ginny's voice.

            "Ginny," Harry finally spoke, nearly causing everyone to jump.  The pale boy had sat silently as Hermione told her story, his gaze resting firmly on his hands throughout all of it.  "Be nice now.  She came forward," he raised his eyes to meet Hermione's.  "And although it will never bring Maddie back…Granger," he paused slightly, drawing out her name, " has finally chosen the correct side to believe," he stared hard at Hermione, his eyes a burning, bright green.  The bushy haired girl brought a hand to her throat, tears pricking her eyes.

            "Harry…" she began, and then stopped, the words failing her.

            "It's Potter, remember?" Harry leaned back in his seat, his face pale and his eyes tired.  "You never knew the real Harry." He frowned and brought a hand up to his temple.  He looked towards Dumbledore, who nodded kindly.  "If you'll all excuse me," he rose slowly, Draco standing as well.  "I'm not feeling all that well." He let Draco rest a hand on his lower back, guiding him from the room gently.  The blond wizard cast a scathing glare in at the Gryffindor, sneering at her before leaving the room behind Harry.  The dark haired boy never bothered to look back.

            Hermione watched the former Gryffindor go with large eyes.  "What's wrong with him?"

            "Why do you care?"

            "Ginny!"

            "Sorry, sir."

            Hermione set her mouth in a firm line, turning back to face the group.  She took a deep breath, taking a firm hold of her temper.  "I know you're angry with me, Ginny –,"

            "It's Black, get it right."

            "Fine." Hermione glared at the younger girl, who merely smirked at her.  "Black, I know you're angry at me.  And I know you and Harry have every right to be.  But –," she flung her hand out, "I'm sorry, alright?  I didn't know.  I never thought Lavender was going to die, and I didn't know that Maddie was going to get Kissed!  Don't you think it haunts me?  Don't you think I feel horrible for not speaking up sooner?  I thought –," Hermione broke off, a lump in her throat choking her.

            "You Gryffindors never think." A new voice made Hermione turn towards the door with a start.  A dark haired sixth year Hermione faintly recognized entered the room, a stack of papers in her hand.

            "Ah, Sasha, I see Harry and Draco met you in the hall," Severus smirked at the sixth year, who wrinkled up her nose delicately at the older wizard.  The girl sat down gracefully in the spot left open by Draco and Harry, turning her cold eyes towards Hermione.

            The Gryffindor colored again and bit her lip, looking at the Headmaster.  The old wizard nodded to her encouragingly.  "I – there's more."

            "There's always more."

            "Shush!"

            Hermione eyed the Slytherins warily.  "Michael Corner was in the Gryffindor Common Room yesterday.  He and Ron were talking.  He, Michael, said that Lavender had a vision of Harry controlling these hell hound things," she watched as the collective group tensed.  Snape and Dumbledore exchanged a long glance.  "And…" Hermione continued, watching them, "he said that Voldemort was sending these hounds to Harry so he could turn them loose in the school and kill us all." Snape shook his head slightly and looked away, a scowl firmly etched on his face.  "You –," Hermione opened and closed her mouth several times.  "You already knew?"

            "We did not know that that was plan that Voldemort was spreading through his ranks," the Headmaster replied evenly, his eyes a touch hard. "But yes, we were aware that there were hell hounds involved."

            "How?" Hermione felt her curiosity start to burn. 

            "Never you mind, Ms. Granger." Severus glared at her, making her cringe back slightly.

            "Now, now, Severus.  Ms. Granger has come forward and shared with us information that she didn't have to divulge." The Headmaster turned now twinkling eyes to Hermione, folding his hands on the desktop as he leaned forward.  "Now, child, you'll have to forgive me." He sat back and pulled out his wand, pointing at her before she could even begin to voice a protest.  "Li lego per fare tacere su questa materia," he flourished his wand and Hermione felt the spell settle over her.

            "What – how – why –," she sputtered, glaring at the Headmaster, her mind reeling.

            "It is for your protection…and ours." Albus looked at her solemnly.  "Ms. Granger, this matter is of utmost importance.  Your silence on this matter is necessary."

            "But you could have just told me that!" Hermione stood, her back ramrod straight.  "You didn't have to cast a spell on me to insure my silence!  How dare you!"

            "Ms. Granger," the Potions Master sneered at her, "you are a known enemy of at least two people in this room.  You have worked to discredit others of this party.  How can we not bind you to silence?" The older wizard shrugged gracefully, tilting his head to one side.  "How can we be sure that you will not regret your decision come morning and spill everything to that precious little brat you call your boyfriend?"

            "He's not my boyfriend." Hermione could feel her teeth grinding.  Severus snorted faintly and looked away.

            "As you say, Ms. Granger.  Your silence was not guaranteed, but now it is.  That is all we needed."

            "But…" Hermione rocked back on her heels, a frown coming over her face.  "But – I want to help!  I – I mean…"          

            "Help?  You want to help? Like you helped Harry?  Like you helped Maddie?" Ginny perched on the edge of her seat, Sirius' hand on her shoulder the only thing keeping her there. 

            The Gryffindor took a deep breath.  "I know I've done a lot of things wrong…but I want to make up for them.  I want to help you find out what's going on, and how to stop it."

            "You can never make up for what you've done," Ginny shook off Sirius' hand and stood, storming out of the room.  Hermione bowed her head as the girl passed, unable to look her in the eyes.  Sirius glared at her before standing and hurrying after Ginny.

            "Ms. Granger…please forgive their fervor." She looked up at the Headmaster, unshed tears making her eyes shiny.  "Gentlemen, Miss," he turned to the group sitting across from him.  "Please, let Ms. Granger and I speak alone.  We have covered everything of importance.  Severus," Dumbledore and the Potions Master held another long, silent conversation, "Do come see me for tea later?" 

            Severus nodded curtly as the rest of the group stood – Sasha rising last, who eyed Hermione darkly.  They filed out of the room quietly – except for the sixth year.  She crossed the room and stood in front of Hermione, placing her hands on her hips as she looked the Gryffindor over from head to toe.

            "It's people like you that I hate," the girl whispered to Hermione, making her head snap back and her gaze rise to meet the Slytherin's.  "It's people like you that got my family killed." The girl – Sasha, Hermione's mind supplied, tilted her head and locked gazes with the Gryffindor.  She leaned forward a little more, making Hermione cringe back.  "I hope you get to know the same pain I did." The girl leaned back, taking in Hermione's shocked and horrified face with a pleased smile.  "Tootles!" She winked at the Gryffindor and smiled widely, spinning on the ball of her foot and bouncing out of the office cheerfully.  Hermione turned to Dumbledore, her mouth opening and closing a few times, speechless.

            "I – I – she –,"

            The Headmaster regarded her gravely from over his glasses.  "They are quite protective of their own." He leaned back in his chair and gestured for Hermione to sit in the chairs across from him.

            "She – she – she threatened me!  Headmaster!" Hermione moved across the room and perched on the edge of one of the chairs, her hands twisting together in her lap.  "Sir…I know – I now know Harry can't be working for Voldemort," she quailed a bit under the Headmaster's sharpened gaze.  "But…sir, don't you have a problem with the way these Slytherins are going about this?  I mean, they certainly don't try and break the public's perception of them…or at least, they never have before.  Having the House with the worst reputation in the wizarding world behind him and supporting him is hardly doing Harry any favors.  Can't you withdraw him from Slytherin and – and place him somewhere else?"

            Dumbledore stared at her for a long moment, silent.  Finally he spread his hands out in front of him and sighed.  "Ah, but where could he go?  Ms. Granger, the problem with wars is that one can never be sure of one's allies…or one's enemies." He conjured up a tea set and offered a cup to Hermione, who declined.  He added cream and sugar to his cup and stirred it quietly for a moment.  "Slytherin House has long been viewed as the House of evil witches and wizards…do you know why?"

            Hermione shrugged and looked down at her hands.  "I – I thought it was because it was true.  I mean, the House has the worst reputation and it is the House that has supplied the wizarding world's most evil people."

            "Has it?" The Headmaster kept his eyes on his teacup, stirring slowly. 

            "Well, yes.  I mean, look at Voldemort, the Lestranges, even the Malfoys…I've also heard that Grindelwald came from Slytherin House."

            "Ah, yes.  Voldemort and Grindelwald," Dumbledore nodded sagely.  "But how many, in the hundreds, in the thousands of Slytherins that have graduated from this school have truly been evil?" Hermione merely stared at the Headmaster.  "It is not the House that makes a person evil, Ms. Granger.  It is a person that chooses whether or not they will follow an evil path.  Voldemort and Grindelwald chose a path of darkness.  The Lestranges and others have chosen to follow those dark paths, but," he looked up at Hermione, his blue eyes no longer twinkling.  "There is no such thing as absolute black and absolute white."

            "But – but…" Hermione stuttered, licking her lips nervously.

            "The world is not as simple as that, young lady." The Headmaster shook his head sadly. "The things we learn in youth as absolutes we often find are more complex than we think.  War, the 'good' side and the 'evil', is one of these things.  We, as one side of this war, have a version painting ourselves as the 'good' in this battle.  Why?  Because we choose to fight against a belief that would change our world.  But what of Voldemort?  How does he view the world? Does he see himself as the 'evil' side of this battle?"

            Hermione shrugged silently, lowering her eyes back down to her hands.  She picked absently at a thread in her jeans, chewing on her inner lip thoughtfully.

            "Ah, Ms. Granger.  The world is not a canvas of black or white.  It is a gray world that often has no clear rules of what is right and what is wrong.  There are only the choices that we make…and their consequences." The Headmaster's tone was sad.  She looked up at him, taking in his tired eyes and face.

            "Sir? Are you all right?" She pressed her lips together, watching him carefully.

            He smiled, but it was shadowed with sadness.  "Ms. Granger, I am only an old man who has made too many mistakes.  But I don't have to pay the consequences for them…no," his gaze turned from her to rest on the fireplace.  "Those who have to pay for my consequences are the people I had hoped to protect."

            "Harry." Comprehension dawned on the Gryffindor.

            Albus nodded slowly.  "The choices I have made for young Mr. Potter have been severe and very, very dangerous for him.  Which is why we have need of your silence, willingly or not." He looked back at her.  "The spell that I have cast upon you is also a protection.  Should you be captured and questioned, you will not be able to speak of anything you have learned.  Even truth serums will not be able to break it."

            "But…that's a Dark spell!" Hermione covered her mouth with her hand, aghast.

            The Headmaster tilted his head to one side.  "Dark how?  In how it's used or in how it is protecting you and everyone else?"

            "But…but…" she shook her head vaguely, her eyes glazing over slightly.

            "Now you begin to see," The Headmaster rose with a sigh.  Hermione got to her feet a few seconds later, letting the older man escort her to the door.  "If you hear anything else, feel free to come and speak to me, child.  I would also suggest you going to Mr. Potter, or any of the others, but," he turned twinkling eyes to her, "I do not think the furniture would survive if you did."

            Hermione had to smile at the older wizard's attempt at humor.  "Thank you sir." She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.  "I – I am sorry I didn't come sooner.  I – I never –," she had to stop and clear her throat.  "I never thought they'd kill…either of them."

            "I know, child.  I know." She wrapped her arms around her middle, grateful for the Headmaster's comforting hand on her shoulder.  I feel like I'm lost in a dark wood and I can't see where I'm going.  She bade the Headmaster farewell and began the long walk back to Gryffindor Tower, lost in her thoughts.

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            "That horrid, sanctimonious, hypocritical bitch!"

            "Ginny…"

            "No, did you see her?  She thinks now that she has some information to share that, 'oh! Hermione! You've seen the light! All is forgiven?' I don't think so!" The auburn haired witch paced back and forth in the deserted hallway, her robes swirling around her.

            "Would you shush?" Sasha's voice startled them all, appearing from around the corner to join them.  She looked at the group, a frown coming over her face.  "Where's the Professor?  I have some information for him."

            Neville and Ginny exchanged a glance and shrugged.  "I think he went to catch up with Draco and Harry." Neville sighed and sat on a window seat, running a hand over his face. 

            "Ah, well." Sasha drew herself up, "I'll go find him then." She started past the group.

            "Wait one second." Remus hurried to her side, "I'll go with you.  I don't want any of you children out alone, is that understood?" Sasha rolled her eyes, but stayed put until the werewolf got to her side.  Then she was off towards the dungeons, not looking back, Remus scurrying after her.

            "Well," Ginny blew her bangs out of her hair, resting heavily on her cane. "Today totally blew."

            Neville snorted and shook his head slowly as Sirius looked back and forth between them.  "Gin, relax.  It'll work out in the end.  We have more information than we had before." He scooted off the window seat and came over to rest a gentle hand on Ginny's shoulder.  "You'll see, it'll be fine.  Now, lets get to the dorms before they send search parties out for us."

            Ginny nodded reluctantly and let Neville wrap and arm around her shoulders, turning her towards the dungeons.  Sirius paced along side of them, silent.  Ginny eyed him once, taking in his frown and his hands shoved deep in his pockets. "What are you planning?"

            The animagus looked up at her, surprise flashing across his face before an easy grin appeared. "What makes you think I'm planning anything?" He winked at her, but his eyes gave him away.

            Ginny snorted and rolled her eyes. "Maybe because I know you too well?  So, spill." She stopped in the middle of the hall, planting her one free hand on her hip and glaring at the animagus.

            Sirius' expression turned wicked.  "Well…" he made a show of glancing around and then leaned forward, whispering.  "You see, I was thinking…" The three bent their heads together in the middle of the hall, their words muffled and unintelligible, except for the few snickers and giggles that could be heard.

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            "I don't see why that damn House is still intact." Ron glared at the sparsely populated Slytherin table from the entrance to the Great Hall.  The few Slytherin younger years were surrounded by ranks of the older students, all no longer eating, but rather watching out for those too young to protect themselves and eat at the same time.  "I mean, what with happened to Lav…" Lee placed a hand on Ron's shoulder, squeezing once and then pulling him gently towards the Gryffindor table, cutting the redhead off before he could get started…again.

            "C'mon Ron.  Let's eat.  There's classes today and you need your strength." Ron sat down slowly in between Lee and Dean, glaring over at Pansy and Millicent, who were steadfastly ignoring him, giggling over something in a magazine.  He scowled at them, a sneer twisting his face.

            "Stupid cunts." Ron finally turned around and placed his elbows on the table, holding his face in his hands. 

            "Ron!" Parvati glared at the redhead, pausing in between bites.  "That's an awful word to use!" She sniffed and glared at him, setting down her fork with a clang. 

            Ron glared back at her. "I don't care if it's an awful word to use.  It's what they are.  It's what every Slytherin girl is…a whore.  A cunt.  A Death Eater breeder." Ron shook his head and began filling up his plate, jabbing at the food savagely.

            "Ron!" Parvati now crossed her arms over her chest and scowled at him. "That is one of the most awful things I've ever heard you say!  What would your mother –,"

            "My mother has already had to deal with Slytherin corrupting one of her children into becoming one of the said whores of that House!" Ron snapped back at her, slamming one hand down on the table, silencing all conversations around them.

            Parvati's eyes were wide and her face pale. "Ron…" she began.  Faint whispers picked up moments later, from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw eavesdroppers as well as Gryffindor.  None noticed that Pansy and Millicent were quietly watching the brash table and its occupants from over their magazines.

            "No.  It's right there for you to see, but you don't.  Look at how they dress.  How they act.  There're all dressed up for the boys, so they can pick the best, richest husband from the lot.  It's sick." Ron turned back to his food, staring at it sightlessly.  "They're nothing like the rest of the girls in the school.  Decent, caring girls.  Like – like Lavender and…" he trailed off again, reaching out to take a long sip of pumpkin juice, hoping it would wash away the lump in his throat.  Parvati and the others around her exchanged glances but fell silent, none of them wanting to set off the volatile redhead again.

            Seamus, who was sitting several students away from Ron, kept his eyes to his plate and his temper in check.  In his mind, however, he was happily beating Ron and everyone near him into small puddles of red mud.  Calling Sasha a whore, red washed over his vision as his grip on his utensils turned white-knuckled.  I'll get you for that, you bloody git.  He watched Ron finish his pumpkin juice with a flash of glee.  All around him Gryffindors were drinking down the juice eagerly, all of them commenting how lovely and good it tasted that day.  None of them noticed him carefully ignoring his goblet…and the kippers.

            Ron leaned back from the table, stuffed.  The kippers had been excellent and the pumpkin juice the best he'd ever tasted.  He yawned, his belly full and warm.  He felt a burp coming on and let it out loudly, much to the amusement to the boys around him.  The girls squealed and made faces, especially Parvati, causing the boys to laugh even more.  His eyelids began to feel heavy and he yawned again, sleepy now.

            "Mmm, I'm sleepy," Dean pillowed his head on the table, blinking blearily.

            "Me too." Parvati yawned and hastily covered her mouth with her hand.  She made to get up and froze halfway through the motion.  Her eyes grew wide and she straightened in a hurry.  "I – uh," she shifted uncomfortably, a multitude of expressions flying across her face.  "I – gotta go back to the dorms for a few.  I'll – meet you in class." She turned abruptly and began to walk stiffly to the door.

            Ron and the others all looked at each other, confused.  "What's gotten into her?" Ron shook his head and began to stand.  A sharp, sudden cramp hit him deep in the belly.  He grunted and leaned on the table, struggling to keep his eyes open.  Then he suddenly really, really had to go.  He blinked rapidly, his eyes feeling like they had sand in them. "I'm – uh…" his gut twisted again and he straightened up slowly, carefully, clenching his backside together firmly.  "I'm gonna…go.  Too.  I'll be back later." He waved vaguely at the table and started to make his way to the dorms as quickly – and carefully – as he could. Oh let me make it.  It burns, oohh it burns!

            "Is it working?" Pansy idly flipped through her magazine, not daring to lift her eyes to check.  She lingered on a lovely set of pale lavender robes, one eyebrow arching elegantly.  I like that…

            Millicent glanced over at the Gryffindor table, an evil smile sliding across her face before she got control of herself. "They're all heading for the door.  One of them already has their hand clapped across their bottom." The larger girl flipped to another page, rolling her eyes at the celebrities waving up at her inanely.

            "I see it's working," Ginny and Harry appeared behind the fifth year girls, both of them smiling widely at the sight of the Gryffindor stampede.  They took seats next to Pansy, filling their plates with food, tearing into their kippers eagerly.

            "Yes.  How did you do it, by the way?" Draco slid in across from them, his eyes bright and laughing.

            Harry began snickering into his plate, dropping his fork finally and wiping his mouth.  "Dobby." He began laughing again, shaking his head silently, tears of mirth coming to his eyes.

            "Dobby.  The house elf?" The Slytherins exchanged glances, shifting uneasily.

            Ginny nodded serenely, her eyes bright and twinkling.  "Who knew he could be so vindictive?  Sirius went to him last night and gave him…what was it Harry?  It was something muggle…" she turned to the nearly incoherent boy next to her, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

            "Ex-ex-ha ha, Ex-Lax and some sleeping aid thing.  I'm not sure what that was called.  Dobby put the ah –," he snorted and tried to straighten himself up.  "He put the –," he began to snicker again, "constipation reliever in the pumpkin juice and the sleeping stuff in the kippers.  So, those who ate both will have quite a –," he covered his face with his hands as he began to laugh harder. "They'll have quite a messy situation!"

            Pansy looked lost for a moment before Millicent leaned over and whispered something in her ear.  The blonde's mouth dropped open and she made a face.  "Oh that's nasty." She looked over at the Gryffindor table – it was deserted except for Seamus and Hermione.  The Irish boy looked over towards the Slytherin table and smiled slowly, before getting up leisurely and strolling out of the Great Hall, his hands stuffed in his pockets, whistling.  Hermione looked at Seamus' retreating back, down at her untouched plate, then up at the Slytherins.  She rose as well, grabbing her things and hurrying from the room.

            Pansy brought a hand up to cover her mouth, a gleeful smile trying to break through. "It's horrid, disgusting, and absolutely wonderful." Pansy turned to Ginny and Harry, her eyes wide.  "You think the house elf will let us poison them next?"

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            Hermione watched Seamus walk down the hall towards the Library carefully.  She bit her lip, her mind racing.  There's something going on with Seamus.  He ate today…but he avoided the kippers and the juice.  So he had to have known about the prank.  So, either it's his prank…or he knows who did it.

            She had tried to get the other Gryffindor to talk to her all day, but the boy had been oddly quiet and cold towards her.  He had avoided her questions and had also skillfully turned the conversation away to different topics several times, much to Hermione's annoyance.  I'm going to find out what's going on, even if they don't want me to.  She frowned and slipped around the corner, trying to walk slowly and calmly towards the large doors at the end of the hall.  Wait…where'd Seamus go?

            "Why are you following me, Hermione?" The Gryffindor jumped nearly a foot in the air, whipping around to face the boy who was leaning up against the wall, hidden by a statue.  "You've been bugging me all day.  Now, what do you want?"

            "How did you know what not to eat?" Hermione bit her lip, thinking about all of her Housemates passed out on the toilets.  Professor McGonagall had had the most bizarre expression on her face as she and Professor Flitwick transported the students to the Hospital wing and called for the house elves to clean up the…mess. 

            The boy shrugged and pushed himself off the wall. "Why do you care?"

            "Because you know what's going on!  You know what they're up to…you know!  Why do you get to know and I don't!" She balled her hands up into fists, frustrated. 

            "Because your lust for knowledge makes you weak." Hermione's back stiffened at the tone.  She saw Seamus smile warmly at the girl behind her – how does Seamus know Sasha? She shook her head and turned around slowly.

            The Slytherin was standing a few feet away, a dark blue bow in her hair and a finely cut set of dress robes on.  "Hello Seamus." She smiled at the boy, her eyes laughing.  Then her gaze switched to Hermione, and her expression grew cold.  "You're a nosy, hypocritical little bitch that should keep her head down and her hands out of other people's business."

            Hermione flushed and narrowed her eyes at the other girl. "You – you nasty, greasy, horrid hag!" She ignored the flash of anger in the other girl's eyes. "I risked a lot to bring –," her voice stopped but her mouth kept moving.  Hermione blinked a few times, taken aback.  She tried again, but nothing came out.  The Slytherin watched her for a few moments before slowly nodding.

            "Ah, the spell." Hermione glared at the other girl, clearing her throat a few times.  "Remember, the Headmaster bound you from talking about it, so I'd shush if I were you.  Who knows if there's consequences for ignoring it?" Sasha's eyes gleamed and Hermione was almost certain she heard a snort come from the boy behind her. "We'll see you around then, dear." Seamus didn't even look at her as he made his way around to Sasha's side.  Hermione opened and closed her mouth a few times, speechless.  Then she narrowed her eyes and followed them.

            "Now, wait just one minute," she caught up to them, canting out one hip and folding her arms across her chest, staring at the pair making themselves comfortable at a far, private table. "If Seamus gets to help, then so do I."

            Sasha raised an eyebrow at her.  "Really? And why's that?" She placed her textbooks out on the table, neatly arranged by alphabet, as well as her notes.

            Hermione stared at her, a headache starting to form behind her eyes. "Because it's not fair if I don't get to help." Be calm.  Be logical.  Be calm, be logical…don't kill her, don't try and hex her, be calm…

            The Slytherin snorted, delicately arching one perfectly shaped eyebrow. "Life isn't fair, little girl." She flicked her fingers at the Gryffindor, grimacing.  "Go away and take your idealistic, hypocritical morals elsewhere." She sniffed and turned back to books, sharing a smile with Seamus, who seemed quite content on ignoring the fact that Hermione was in the room at all.

            "But –," Hermione stumbled back as the sixth year suddenly got to her feet and whipped out her wand.

            "Get out."

            "But –,"

            "You are stupid. Get out." Sasha's hand tightened on her wand as a glint entered her eyes. 

            "Sasha." Neville's voice made them all turn.  Hermione watched in silence as the former Gryffindor crossed the room with Blaise and placed a gentle hand on Sasha's arm. "Let it be.  Hermione, for all of her faults, does know research." The sandy haired boy turned and looked at the Gryffindor.  "She's often blinded by the facts, and by her –," Neville's mouth quirked up into a small half smile, "judgment of right from wrong, but," he shrugged and turned back to the sixth year. "She can hit the books like nobody I've ever seen."

            Sasha eyed the Gryffindor, placing herself unconsciously between her and Seamus.  "I don't know.  She's that bastard's girlfriend –,"

            "I am not Ron's girlfriend!" Hermione barely managed from stomping her foot.  "We haven't been dating for ages.  Why does everyone throw that in my face!"

            "Because he's spreading it around that you are his girlfriend," Draco's smug voice floated out from the stacks.  He and Harry emerged into the light, eyeing Hermione cautiously.  Draco moved between the Gryffindor girl and Harry, hiding him partially in his shadow.

            "Well, he's wrong." The Gryffindor sniffed and turned up her nose.  "I've told him a number of times that I'll never date him again.  I can't stand to be around him."

            "That's odd, seeing as he's told everyone on the Quidditch teams that you're one hell of a lay." Blaise pulled out a chair for Neville and then conjured up one for himself, ignoring the girl's indignant squawk. 

            Hermione felt the blood leave her face.  "He did what!?" Her hands curled into fists and began to tremble slightly.  "I'm going to kill him." She seethed, her eyes flashing.

            "You'll have to wait, the line is at least ten people deep." Pansy and Millicent entered the now crowded nook, looking around with distaste.  "We really need to get a better meeting place." They hovered at the edge of the circle, pushing Hermione further in, surrounding her.

            "Where's Ginny?" Harry finally moved further into the light, turning around slowly.  He ignored Hermione as he let his gaze sweep around the small nook.  "She was supposed to come here after her Charms class."  Silence swept through the group.

            "She was with Pansy and I after lunch – we walked her to her classroom." Millicent slipped her wand from her sleeve, clutching it tightly.

            "And then after classes were over she and Andrew were supposed to come here and wait for us." Draco locked gazes with Blaise and Neville. "You two search the Library.  Pansy, Millicent –," he turned to the girls, "Go to the Hospital Wing.  Check and see if she's there." The blond brushed by Hermione roughly. "Sasha, you and Seamus stay here – they may have taken a long short cut through the maze." The sixth year nodded, her expression worried. "Harry and I will start checking the halls."

            "What about me?" Hermione lifted her chin stubbornly.  "I can help."

            Draco whipped around to glare at her. "Now see here you –,"

            "Filthy mudblood, yes, yes I already know." Hermione sneered back at the boy.

            Draco's eyes narrowed as he placed his hands on his hips.  "You know nothing about us, do you?" he spat, shaking his head in disgust.

            "I know that you're a stuck up prat who's been horrid to me for the last four years," she shot back at him, her eyes narrowing.

            "Enough!" Harry pushed the two apart, his eyes hard. "We find Ginny first and then the two of you can fight it out." Harry grabbed Draco's arm and pulled.  "Come on, Draco." The blond resisted for a moment, still glaring at the girl before letting the dark haired boy pull him from the nook.

            Hermione turned to look at Seamus, who spread his hands and shrugged.  "You really don't know them Herm.  You need to throw out a lot of the stuff you think you believe."

            The Gryffindor girl shook her head slightly and scowled.  "But –,"

            "Fine, you're coming with us." Neville stood and shook his head, frowning.  "Use your head, Hermione.  Think. I know you can do it."

            "Neville!" Hermione gasped, her eyes widening.  Blaise only snorted and slipped out into the stacks ahead of them. 

            "C'mon then." Neville jerked his heads to the path that Blaise had taken.  "Let's go.  If you're so eager to help, then you can help us find Ginny – who's probably been subjected to another round of bait the Black yet again." Hermione sputtered silently, but followed the ex-Gryffindor from the nook obediently.

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            "Ginny!" Harry stood in the middle of the hallway, straining to hear.

            "Anything?"

            "No." The slim boy sighed and looked over at Draco. "I'm –,"

            "Rigor ut a tabula! Prurigo! Leave me alone! Help!" Draco and Harry stared at each other for a minute before flying in the direction of Ginny's voice.

            "C'mon little slut…"

            "All the boys are saying it…"

            "You're a Slytherin…you deserve it…"

            "Like hell.  Leave me alone!" Ginny was backed into a corner, her wand held in one hand, her cane in the other.  She swiped at the boys with her cane, hitting one soundly on the shins, dropping him to the ground with a yelp.  "Petrificus!" She ducked one of the boy's binding spells and barred her teeth at them, ignoring the burning pain starting in her knee.

            "Get away from her you bloody bastards!" Harry and Draco appeared behind the group of boy's cornering the fourth year Slytherin. "Ligo sursum!" Two of the boys were wrapped up in robes, gagged and bound. "Infligo sicco!" The remaining two boys suddenly went lax and collapsed to the ground.  Harry stood over them, his eyes hard and deadly.  "Are you okay Gin?"

            The auburn haired girl eyed the boys carefully, adrenaline still pumping through her. "I'm – I'm alright." She took in a couple of gulps of air and then started.  "Andrew!" She kicked one of the boys aside and moved to one of the rooms.

            "Where is he?" Draco caught her gently, placing his hands on her shoulders.

            "I – we were walking out of the maze and were headed towards the Library.  My shoe came untied and I stopped to tie it.  Andrew was teasing me about it and then he suddenly went silent.  I looked up and he was gone." Ginny's eyes were filling with tears. "The next thing I know is that these little bastards," she tried to kick one of the boys but Draco pulled her out of the way, "were coming out of no where.  I dropped my bag, grabbed Jaredth and my wand and put my back to the wall."

            "Where these four it?" Harry sneered at one of the trussed up boys, prodding them with the toe of his shoe.

            Ginny shook her head. "No…there were six of them.  I – they just…disappeared, right after they tried to grab me." She shrugged and tightened her grip on Jaredth.  Harry glanced down at the cane and narrowed his eyes.

            "Hm. Yes.  Lets see if we can find Andrew then." The fifth year cautiously approached on of the doors in the hallway and nudged it open.  Draco pulled Ginny aside and had her sit on the base of a statue; then he was off, crossing the hall quickly to join Harry's side.

            "Anything?"

            "No, you take the left, I'll go right." The blond hesitated for a moment before nodding.  He took out his wand and gripped it firmly, stalking over to the other side of the hall, approaching one of the closed doors cautiously.

            Ginny perched on the edge of her seat, alternating between glaring at the boys on the ground and glancing nervously between the two Slytherins.  "Anything?" Her good leg began bouncing up and down repeatedly.

            "No…wait.  Draco?" Harry waited until the blond was once again at his side before pushing one of the doors open with a bang.  His eyes grew large and he could feel the blood draining from his face. "Andrew!" Harry and Draco rushed to the fallen boy's side.  He was lying crumpled on the ground, a large pool of blood spreading out from his head.  Harry looked up at Draco. "Get Pomfrey." Green eyes met silver and Draco nodded quickly before taking off at a dead sprint, tearing past Ginny without a word.

            "Harry? Harry?" Ginny's panicked yells slowly faded out for Harry.  There's so much blood…what can I do…He stared at the blood – it seemed to shimmer, to become a mirror.  He peered into it, blinking his eyes rapidly to try and clear away the blackness that was rushing over him.  He stared into the surface, one hand reaching out towards it…what…there's something…falling…

            "Harry." Rough hands pulled him back, noise returned and everything was suddenly bright and clear again.  He shook his head woozily, his stomach rolling.  Draco was crouched in front of him, sweaty and out of breath.  Madam Pomfrey and the Headmaster were examining the boy while Ginny stood silent in the doorway.  "What happened?"

            Harry shook his head silently, his eyes slipping past Draco to rest on Andrew.  And the blood.  He shivered, a chill running across his neck as he watched the Head Nurse work. "Feathers.  There were feathers in the blood."

            Draco tensed and looked over at Ginny, who shrugged helplessly, tears shimmering in her eyes.  Harry looked up in time to see them and he frowned.

            "No – not…not real feathers." He sighed and shook his head again, knowing he was ballsing up the explanation. "It – I can't explain it.  It was like a dream.  But I don't know what it's about.  But there were feathers."

            "Draco," the blond looked up at the sound of his godfather's voice.  The Potions Master jerked his head towards the door, his eyes flicking towards the smaller boy.  Then he turned back to the fourth year, deftly cradling his head as Pomfrey secured it to a backboard,

            Draco frowned as he helped Harry to his feet, wracking his brain for something that would distract the other boy from the fact that he was being led away. "Could the feathers be from…her?" He guided Harry from the room and turned towards the Library.  A loud slapping of feet indicated that the other professors were on their way – Draco wanted Harry out of there before that happened.  The last thing Harry needs is more people babbling questions at him…especially now.

            "I don't know.  Maybe.  But why would the Morrigan send me a vision of feathers?" Harry stopped suddenly, rubbing at his temple. "Gin?" He turned to the small girl in the doorway.  She barely glanced at him. "Do you want to go to the dorms or stay here?"

            "I'd like to stay with Andrew." She gripped her cane tightly, her face pale, not taking her eyes off the prone boy. "But," she turned tear filled eyes to them, "could you – could you send…" she trailed off, biting her lip.

            Harry smiled sadly at her and reached out to touch her cheek lightly.  "I'll send Sirius this way, alright?" She nodded quickly, an expression of relief passing across her face.  Harry opened his mouth to say something else, and then closed it abruptly.  He jerked his head at Draco and they slipped from the room.  They walked in silence for a bit before Harry turned to the blond. "What happened to the two boys that disappeared?"

            Draco snorted, glancing over his shoulder at Ginny's receding profile. "That cane of hers sent them into the middle of the lake."

            Harry looked up at the blond, his eyes widening before a smile spread across his face. "That's lovely." They laughed quietly as they made their slow way to the hall that housed the animagus and his lover.

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            "Harry –,"

            "Just a second.  I have to tell Sirius that Ginny needs him." Harry led the blond through the confusing maze to the animagus' room. Sirius opened the door on the first knock, his wand held at the ready.

            "Harry!" The animagus pulled the boy into a hug, lifting him off the ground and shaking him back and forth. "Hello! Hello! Hello!"

            "Muph. Can't – breathe…" Harry wiggled in Sirius' grasp, finally getting the older wizard to set him down.  He panted slightly as he eyed the animagus. "Hi Sirius."

            The older man grinned at the two boys, his eyes sparkling and warm.  They dimmed slightly as he took in their serious expressions. "What's happened now?" He swallowed and shifted, tension coming to his shoulders.

            Harry sighed and straightened up. "Ginny needs you. Wait! She's fine." He held up a hand to stall the rapidly reddening animagus. "She and a boy were attacked in the hall – she's fine but the boy is not.  She – she needs you right now."

            Sirius nodded firmly, his eyes hardening. "Where is she?" Harry told him. "Alright. I'm gone. Could you tell Remus where I'm off to?" Harry barely got out an affirmative before the tall animagus was darting past them, taking off down the hall in dog form.

            Harry sighed as he watched the man lope away. He turned back to the rooms and entered, holding the door open for Draco. "Remus?" He closed the door securely, spelling it locked.  He moved further into the rooms, cocking his head to one side.  "Remus?"

            "Here, Harry." The werewolf appeared in the door to the small library the two men had collected.  The former DADA professor was smiling at Harry and Draco, wiping dust from his cloths as he crossed the room to them. "Ah, it's good to see you.  Hullo Draco."

            "Professor Lupin."

            "Please," the older man gestured for them to sit, conjuring up a tea set.  "Call me Remus." The blond nodded hesitantly, perching on the edge of the worn couch gingerly. 

            Harry eyed his boyfriend, amused.  The dark haired boy leaned back in his seat, enjoying how the old armchair fit around him. "Sirius had to go to Ginny.  She's a bit shaken up.  She was attacked in the hall – she's fine," he reassured the werewolf, "but the boy she was with isn't.  She wanted Sirius to come – she needs him right now."

            Remus nodded slowly as he poured tea for them. "And how are you?" The werewolf handed Harry his tea, catching the younger boy's eye.

            "I'm fine," he smiled smoothly at the werewolf, balancing his cup on his knee.  At Draco's snort he rolled his eyes, "I had a bit of a spell when I saw how badly the boy was hurt, but I'm fine."

            "What sort of spell?" Remus handed Draco his tea and began to pour his own.

            "I –," Harry sent the blond a sharp look; Draco merely smiled serenely back at him.  "I saw feathers.  In the blood – kinda." Harry ran a hand through his hair, sighing. "I mean, they weren't in the blood.  It was like the – the surface of the blood was a mirror and I saw the feathers in them."

            "Hmm," Remus sat back in his chair, a distracted frown creasing his face. "Feathers. Interesting." The werewolf stirred his tea silently for a long moment, his eyes half lidded.

            "Sirius told you about the other night, right?" Harry shifted in his seat, heat rising to his face.

            Remus looked up at him, blinking. "Yes, he did."

            "Could it have been a message from Morrigan?" Harry took a sip of tea, wincing a little at the heat.

            "Perhaps, but I don't think so." Remus cocked his head to one side and rose, setting his tea to the side as he disappeared back into his library for a moment.  He emerged a moment later with a book in his hands. "Blood is a very powerful thing.  Whether it's spilled on accident, or intentionally, the magical properties of blood are enormous.  And often very, very slippery." Remus sat back down and flipped through the book, muttering to himself.

            Harry and Draco exchanged a glance. "Slippery?" Harry spun his cup around in the saucer, keeping his hands occupied. 

            Remus glanced back up at them. "Bad word choice, sorry.  Blood has often been used in Dark Arts, and its use has been mostly outlawed by the wizarding world.  Do you know why?"

            The boys shook their heads.

            "Well," Remus leaned back in his chair, leaving the book in his lap. "Blood – especially wizarding blood, is very, very powerful.  Using it in a potion, or a spell increases the power of the potion or the spell.  Apply this to Dark Arts and you get ritual sacrifices; cast a curse with the power of a full grown human adult's death behind it and that's one heck of a curse." Harry shifted nervously, images of Voldemort's torture room flashing through his head.

            "Now," the werewolf continued, "the problem with doing blood spells is that the power they can provide can become very, very addicting." The boys nodded slowly.  "It's not the nature of blood to corrupt, but rather the power it holds that can. Do you understand?" They nodded again. "Good. Now, your vision, Harry," Remus picked up his book again, frowning as he skimmed down a page. "You said the blood acted like a mirror?"

            "Yeah – yes. It was reflecting the light from the window.  Because it's overcast it was kind of silver, making it – the blood – all shiny, like a mirror.  I looked at it, and the room seemed to fade out around me, starting at the edges of my vision and working in.  It got till like I was in a tunnel, and I was staring at the blood – it was the only thing I could see, really.  That's when I started to see feathers falling in the blood.  They were –," Harry stopped, frowning. "You know how when you burst a pillow and the feathers go everywhere, kind of floating softly towards the ground?" The werewolf nodded. "It was like that – only really brief.  Then I was pulled out of it."

            Remus tapped his lips with one finger and finally nodded. "In this case I think you weren't necessarily sent a vision," he looked down at the book, "but rather, you used the blood to create a mirror to scry with."

            "I what?" Harry raised an eyebrow at the ex-professor.

            Remus smiled at him. "You are an extraordinary boy, Harry. The events of the last year have only increased the power that you hold, but have also drawn you closer – much, much closer – to the edge where Dark and Light magic meet." Harry looked down at his rapidly cooling tea, guilt and a faint sense of shame rushing through him. "It's not a bad thing, Harry. Dark magic is not evil, not necessarily." The dark haired boy kept his eyes on the teacup, not wanting to look up. "Harry, look at me." He grudgingly raised his eyes to meet the werewolf's.

            Remus smiled kindly at him, a look of understanding in his gaze. "Dark magic is chaotic magic," he explained quietly.  "It's magic of entropy, magic of endings.  It's made up of hexes and curses; unbindings rather than bindings.  It is the caster that chooses whether or not to make evil choices, thus ending a life for their own purpose, or torturing someone because they can.  It's not the magic that makes them do it…but rather it is the witch or wizard that uses the magic to make the act evil."

            Harry licked his lips and nodded slowly, the information slowly settling in his mind. "So, I – used Dark Magic? On accident?" He pushed his glasses up absently, concentrating on the man in front of him.

            Remus nodded slowly. "Yes, I think so.  You're becoming more used to the – different rhythm that Dark magic has…its feel rather.  You didn't mean to scry, but you did, using the power of the spilled blood to boost you."

            "But why? I wasn't thinking of anything like…" Harry trailed off, frowning. "Wait. I wanted to help him.  I wanted to do something to help…but," he shrugged. "It all went weird before I could think of anything."

            "Well, Sirius told me that the Morrigan helped you when you were in need," Remus pointed out, taking a sip from his tea. "Perhaps your mind flashed to her as you got caught up in the magic."

            "But – she fought someone to help me.  She didn't try and heal me.  She can't." Harry finished off the tea in his cup, setting the china on the small table next to him. "So I still don't see why I would have seen feathers."

            "True, true. How about this," Remus rose and set his cup aside, crossing the room and handing Harry the book he was holding.  The dark haired boy took the book from him, glancing at the title. Dark Magic Theory. He raised an eyebrow at his old professor.

            "I know, rather dry title, but it explores the history of Dark magic and its uses.  It's a rather interesting subject – such as, did you know that Petrificus was once considered a Dark spell?"

            "No," Harry tilted his head to one side as he cradled the book in his hands.  Draco snorted, causing him to look over at the blond.

            "Of course it was.  People used to use it a couple of centuries ago to keep their animals in place as they slaughtered them.  The Ministry outlawed it, mm, two centuries ago for that purpose.  They said it wasn't humane." The blond rolled his eyes and finished his tea, politely declining Remus' silent offer for more.

            "But…" Harry's eyebrows drew together. "That doesn't make sense.  If you leave the animals to thrash about, they can muck up the procedure, thus creating more pain for the animal.  Petrificus would have held them in place so the – er, people could make sure that it only took one blow to kill it." Harry made a face. "That's rather disturbing." His stomach rolled a bit.  "I don't think I'm going to eat meat tonight."

            Remus and Draco laughed at Harry, who stuck his tongue out at them. "You see, Harry?" Remus sat down again, folding his hands across his stomach, "There is rarely such a thing as black and white." The werewolf lifted one shoulder gracefully, "There is order, and chaos.  Creation and destruction.  Is either one necessarily evil?  No.  It is in the creation or the destruction of something that defines what it is."

            Harry nodded slowly, rubbing his thumb back and forth over the spine of the book meditatively.  He sighed and glanced over at Draco. "Thank you Remus." The werewolf smiled at him. "That – makes a lot of sense. Unfortunately we also have to go – I'm sure Pansy and the rest are about to skin us alive right now." Draco blinked and then shook his head.

            Remus rose, walking them to the door. "I'm glad to have helped, Harry.  Remember, if you ever want to talk…I'll be here." He gripped Harry's shoulder tightly for a moment, staring into the green eyes intently. "You're not alone in this Harry.  Remember that."

            The younger wizard blushed and nodded, dropping his eyes to the ground.  Draco nodded at Remus before slipping out the door, waiting for Harry to join him.

            "Thank you Remus. I won't forget." Harry looked back up at the werewolf, his eyes dark.

            Remus nodded silently and let his hand drop from the boy's shoulder, watching him join the blond in the hall.  Ah, Harry. He closed the door quietly, moving to stand in front of the fireplace, his hands stuffed deeply into his pockets.  He sighed and shook his head after a while, heading back to his miniature library, leaving the brightly lit room and returning to the dark.

End Chapter 33

Li lego per fare tacere su questa material: trans: Let there be silence on this matter.

A/N: Because FF.net is being strange and is wiping out people's stories because they're answering reviews at the ends of their chapters, I've decided to no longer post a review response section.  That being said, if you have a specific question for me, please feel free to email me or leave me a note on my LJ.  I appreciate, adore, love, cherish all the reviews that you leave for me…they really mean a lot. So, THANK YOU EVERYONE who has reviewed, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!