Star and Lightning

6th Chapter - Reactions

When Harry went to bed that evening, his thought were whirling around that strange girl. Who was she? She had only told him her given name, no surname and Starlett really was a weird name. Maybe she had it because of her scar? Anyhow, what about that scar? Where had she gotten it from? And how had she disappeared? He hadn't recognised the spell, she had used on Dudley. And then she must have apparated. But she looked so young, not older than he and his friends. And they'd learn apparating only this year. Harry found it impossible to clear his head from all thoughts like he was instructed to do. After what seemed like an eternity, he went to a troubled sleep.

Soon he was dreaming…

A group of black-hooded people with white masks in front of their faces stood around a throne in a great hall, that seemed to be inside an old castle. They were whispering with each other while more black-hooded figures appeared. Suddenly, all whispering and rustling ceased as a tall figure entered and sat down on the throne. All the masked people, Deatheaters, went to bend in front of Lord Voldemort and kiss the hem of his robes, but he stopped them by shortly torturing the one, who was just kneeling in front of him, with the Cruciatus Curse. He stood and adressed his followers:

"We have no time for this now. I have been informed of what happened in Diagon Alley today. Lucius!" He called and one of the figures took a step forward. "I thought of you as a very loyal follower. But you failed to inform me. Why?" Before Lucius Malfoy could mutter an excuse, that would have been useless anyhow, he was writhing in pain from the Cruciatus Curse. Voldemort didn't wait for him to get up and stand back in line but called again: "Severus. What does Dumbledore know?"

"He doesn't have any clue, my lord." Severus Snape was now standing in front of him, head bent low. "But he wants to find her. He assumes, she will return to Diagon Alley."

"And I suppose, Diagon Alley will be thoroughly surveyed?"

"Yes, my lord."

"You can go back in line, Severus. We will leave the trouble of catching her to Dumbledore. She will find her way to us sooner or later."

This was all the Dark Lord said about this topic. He then came to several minor business concerning raids on Muggles and Muggle-borns.

Harry woke up with a start. It had been some time since he last had visions from a Deatheater meeting. What had they been talking about? Which girl? But Snape knew and that meant Dumbledore knew, too. So he didn't need to worry about informing the Order of what he had seen. Questions where still whirling in his head but he was tired and therefore soon was sleeping again, this time a dreamless sleep.

Next morning at the Burrow, the Weasley family's home, Arthur, Molly and the remaining children, which were Fred, George, Ron and Ginny, were gathered at breakfast. Ron and Ginny were curious what the last Order meeting had been about, because it had lasted unusually long, but neither their parents nor their older brothers, who had joined the Order too, much to Molly's dislike, would tell them about it, they never did. When the wizarding newspaper, the Daily Prophet, arrived, Mr Weasley took it and gave the owl, which had delivered it, a Knut. He looked at the frontpaper and snorted: "It had to be on the frontpage. Ron, Giny, this is what the last Order meeting was about." He gave the newspaper to them and to Molly, who was looking at him accusingly, he said: "They would know anyhow. This isn't exactly a secret."

Ginny grabbed it and read aloud:

Wandless Magician in Diagon Alley

Yesterday during late afternonn, an unknown young witch stole books from Flourish and Blotts. Of course, the theft was detected before she left the bookstore. The bookstore's owner, Mr Flourish, and some of his employes followed her out of the bookstore and along the Alley. Stunners, sent after her, were reflected and absorbed by a strong magical field around her. In order to accomplish her flight, the young girl then used some kind of magic that can only be classified as Wandless magic. Eye-witnesses confirm, that she was doing magic but had no wand in her hand. "The magic seemed to be coming from the tips of her fingers." one of them tells our reporter. Everybody being shocked, the young witch had the chance to escape.

For more information, see pages 3 and 4

Ginny lowered the article and first looked at Ron, who was as astound as she was, then at her parents and the twins.

"But wandless magic is supposed to be impossible, isn't it? We had it in Charms" Ron asked shakily.

"Yeah, it is supposed to be." His mother answered. "That's why Dumbledore wants to find this girl. But this is nothing for you to worry about." She hoped the topic was closed now. She didn't want her two youngest children worried.

"But," Ginny said slowly. "what if she is working for You-know-who? Wandless magic is a very powerful gift, isn't it?"

"Dumbledore will find her soon." Molly answered. "She won't work for You-know-who. And You-know-who didn't know of her till now. But now, let's eat breakfast and forget about it."

Now the topic was closed. But a bit of the worried atmosphere refused to leave