Disclaimer: I own next to nothing, just the stuff you don't recognize.
Author's Note: I'm way too nice. Two updates within just a few minutes of each other. Oh well. I've got to keep ahead, school starts in two days. No, wait, it's after midnight! School starts tomorrow! NNOO! hehe. Here's the next chapter...
Heart's Desire
Chapter 6
-----Back in the Present-----
"Sir?" Snape said, entering Dumbledore's office.
"Yes, Severus?" Dumbledore asked, glancing up.
"I just came to tell you that the Dark Lord now knows that Potter and his friends have gone back in time. He has decided that makes me a 'most trusted servant' and is taking me back with him, as well as Lucius Malfoy, Bellatrix Lestrange, Wormtail, and a few others. I am here to pack my bags and ask for a vacation. If I don't get it, I'm actually supposed to quit. I will be apparating back to the headquarters soon."
"Thank you, Severus. Once you get there, send a note to the students from this time, telling them about your arrival. And I give you all the vacation time you need," Dumbledore smiled. His eyes didn't twinkle nearly as bright as usual, however. "That is all, you are more than welcome to leave." Snape merely nodded and walked back down the stairs.
-----Peter's Point of View-----
I don't think the new kids like me very much. I don't get what it is, but they hardly say anything to me. The entire way to Muggle Studies this morning, I tried to get Neville to talk to me, but he would only give me one-word answers. They don't really direct questions to me. I guess it's because I'm not confident and smart and good looking like the rest of them.
"I guess we should go down to dinner now," Sirius said, glancing down at his watch.
"Alright," I quickly agreed. I really didn't like to disagree with them. After all, they're smarter than me, right? They're definitely more powerful than me. Of course, these new kids seem to be more powerful than Moony, Padfoot, and Prongs, maybe I should start hanging out with them more. Of course, Harry is a Slytherin. Everyone knows they're no good.
We put up all of the extra books and walked down to the Great Hall. James and Sirius were bickering about Quidditch, while Ron and Harry listened, asking for them to explain some of their more…exaggerated terms. Felicia and Remus were discussing the shield that we had learned today in Charms. That left me and Neville. He didn't seem to mind not talking to somebody, but it was driving me crazy.
"What's your favorite subject?" I asked, having decided against several other topics.
"Herbology," he said, without hesitation. "Some years it's been Defense Against the Dark Arts, too, but not lately. It doesn't look like it will be this year, if the teacher acts that way in every lesson."
Yay! That's the longest answer I've got out of him yet! "Why do you like Herbology?"
"Because I'm good at it," he said, without hesitation.
"Oh come on. I saw your Charms and your Defense Against the Dark Arts, not to mention how much you knew about muggles in Muggle studies. Your good at all of it," I said in disbelief.
"Do you know how much work it took to get that way in Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts?" Neville asked. I shook my head. "The first time I cast that shield charm, it came out only a little less orange than yours did today. The first time I actually fought, I didn't exactly win. In fact, my wand ended up snapped. I'm not talking about a pretend fight, like the one in class today," he said, noticing my disbelieving expression. "I'm talking about a real fight. With Death Eaters."
"You must not have done too bad if you're still standing here talking to me," I pointed out.
"Yeah, he likes to forget to mention that, besides me, he was the only one of us still standing and sane," a voice said before Neville could say anything. "And I don't really count, since it wasn't my first fight." I glanced over to Harry, who had an odd mixture of emotions flitting across his face.
"Lets go eat," Ron said, successfully changing the topic. We entered the Great Hall, and split up. Harry walked over to the Slytherin table. Oh yeah. That's why I don't like him. He's a Slytherin. It's amazing how easy it is to forget that, except at meal times and when he wins points. Honestly, 300 to Slytherin, just because he beat a couple of Aurors. Okay, so no one before him could do it. No one after them even had a chance. Maybe it takes a lot out of you to lose, or maybe the Aurors had been overconfident, and didn't want to lose again.
These thoughts whorled around in my head as we made our way over to the Gryffindor table. Felicia had long since separated for the Ravenclaw table, and she was seated next to a girl I hadn't really talked to, Laura Anderson. They were talking animatedly. It seemed that Felicia was describing the Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson. I could see Professor Rainey whispering to Professor Slughorn about what she had witnessed in the Defense lesson. Professor Slughorn was nodding slightly, an odd gleam in his eye. No one else seemed to notice, however, because James, Sirius, Remus, Lily, and Alice had all started peppering Neville and Ron with questions.
"How did you learn to duel like that?" Remus asked, admiration apparent in his voice.
"It's nothing," Ron said, blushing slightly. Neville seemed embarrassed beyond words.
"Where did you learn those nonverbal spells?" Lily asked in awe. This time, neither answered.
"Will you be teaching us that, too?" Alice asked.
"Really, you should be asking Harry or Felicia that," Neville said, staring at his plate.
"What do you mean?" Lily asked, curiously.
"He means that they'll be the two really teaching you. Harry is an excellent teacher, he can make almost anyone listening, and he knows some interesting curses for if you don't. Felicia is a bookworm, to put it simply. She can remember about anything, too. She'll look up what he teaches. We're kinda just along for the ride," Ron shrugged.
"Now you know that's not true," a voice from behind me said. I turned around to see Harry staring at Ron and Neville with an odd look on his face.
"Yeah, it is," Ron protested. It appeared they'd had this argument before.
"No, it's not," Harry said. He motioning for James to scoot down, and seated himself between James and me.
"Fine, whatever," Ron said abruptly. "Lets go play quidditch." Harry nodded, and they walked out of the Great Hall.
"Should we follow them?" James asked. I could see his eyes light up at the thought of quidditch.
"Something tells me it would be better not to," Remus said, rolling his eyes.
-----A place far, far away-----
-----Good old Voldy's point of view------
"Send out a messenger," I said, my red eyes glinting in the newly started fire. We had just managed to arrive, using a very old spell. I was lucky Dumbledore trusted Snape so much. It was a pity part of the goal was to kill the man off before he had a chance to turn double agent. There were going to be quite a few corrected mistakes. I'm not as big a fool as Dumbledore seems to take me for. I know damn well that the old coot had found the one loophole in the debt owed. Of course, now that the debt had been repaid, I had no more hold over Dumbledore. Except, of course, that some of Dumbledore's favorite students were going to die now, some before they even had a chance to be born.
"To yourself in this time, my Lord?" Lucius Malfoy asked. Honestly, the man's brains had definitely been addled during his brief stay in Azkaban. I, myself, don't mind Dementors all that much. I find it quite amusing what they do to others.
"No, to the Easter Bunny." I rolled my eyes. "Of course to myself in this time. Crucio!" Lucius withered on the floor with pain for a few seconds before I lifted the curse. If nothing else, his 3-month stay in Azkaban made him more immune to pain. You really had to admire someone like Bellatrix Lestrange, who could stay in Azkaban for years and not be completely sane. As much as I hate to admit it, you have to admire her cousin, too. From what I have heard, he wasn't insane at all. Maybe Blacks are just immune to it. Or, maybe, and much more probably, they're all so insane when they go in, it doesn't make much difference. Yes, that one makes me feel better. After all, I'm the only one immune to the effects of Dementors.
All of the Death Eaters had rushed from the room. I've no real idea why. I mean, after all, it doesn't take seven people to find an owl and write a letter.
-----The other Voldemort's point of view-----
"Get that god damn owl," I hissed to a Death Eater who had been standing near by. I can't stand that incessant pecking on the windows that they do.
"My Lord, it's a letter!" the Death Eater exclaimed.
"Really now?" I asked sarcastically. The Death Eater seemed to miss the sarcasm, for he nodded. "Crucio!" The Death Eater withered in pain at my feet.
"Open it," I hissed to Evan Rosier. He nodded, and unrolled the parchment.
We request a meeting with your most esteemed self. We have some news that would be very interesting. We would like to speak to you today at midnight. If you don't respond or decline the offer, we will meet you at midnight today anyway.
Sincerely,
Your most faithful servants
"What the hell?" I thundered. I started putting the Cruciatus curse on random Death Eaters. "If these 'most faithful servants' think they can order me around, they've got another thing coming!"
-----Ron's Point of View-----
'That was a good night's sleep,' I thought, stretching as I sat up in bed. 'I definitely needed that. Going that long without sleep is not something that should be done often. Now I'm kinda glad Mum made us clean so much. We'd stay up all night and then have to stay up all day. It really helps.'
I looked around the dorm and was more than a little shocked to see so many beds. 'Oh right. Different time.' Going that long without sleeps tends to make you forget things. Neville was awake and reading a Herbology book. Remus was awake as well.
"Are you going to Hogsmeade today?" Remus asked, glancing up from a roll of parchment he was reading.
"Yeah," I replied without thinking. I began to dig out some clothes, preparing to get ready for the day.
"Oh, so you actually eat breakfast on Saturday mornings?" Remus asked, grinning. "They all think it's a waste of good sleeping time." He was motioning towards the three lumps that were still sleeping.
"Ah, as nice as sleep is, you need food just as much, if not more," I replied, grinning as well. Neville tried to hide a laugh, but it didn't quite work.
"Oh? What was that?" I teased, glancing over to him.
"I said 'Lets go to breakfast,'" Neville said, standing up.
"Nev, I'd love to, but you're still in your pajamas."
Five minutes later, we were hurrying down to the Great Hall. We entered to see Harry, Hermione, Ginny, and Luna sitting at the Ravenclaw table. I guess they had been hoping to eat early enough to avoid the rush. We sat down next to them. The Ravenclaw table was practically deserted, anyway, so we figured it wouldn't hurt.
Suddenly, Remus exclaimed, "Oh! I knew there was something I forgot to do!" With that, he hurried out of the Great Hall, leaving six plainly wrapped candies behind.
"So that was their brilliant idea?" Hermione asked doubtfully, picking up a candy.
"I think we're underestimating them," Luna said serenely. She picked up the other five when no one else made a move towards them.
"You didn't hear them in the Hospital Wing," Neville pointed out. "They sounded pretty final."
"Whatever you think," Luna said, spooning some scrambled eggs onto her plate. "I still don't think they would plan their attack where their enemy could hear."
Suddenly, an owl flew in, driving all thoughts of pranks from our mind.
"Who in this time would owl us?" Harry asked quietly, eyeing the parchment.
"Do you recognize the handwriting?" I asked. Everyone shook their heads.
"Be ready," Harry said, cautiously unrolling the parchment.
16231111182419,
1118129 2121113 11182320318. 201242123 2119232 21181312181412. 2326161111131722, 16111823912, 72311126, 21912231125202, 1115226921, 21202018. 2311982123 12123201917. 1821 11223126 212520132324118 201120221119 31223112. 517191912319221 1512 21171623 71811 225211718 12220 21171623.
13135528341521
"Hmm. I wonder who that's from," Hermione said. She was reading the letter beside Harry. "Oh. Snape."
"Great," I muttered. "Of all the Order members to get sent here to help and it has to be Snape. How on earth are we supposed to read that, anyway?"
"Well, it's actually quite easy," Hermione said. She would think so. She had help come up with it. "You see, you simply have to remember what number is assigned to what letter, and then put the Fibinoci sequence, written where the signature goes, in order. Then, you can put the sentences back in order, and then the words, and then the letters. You can tell that either the first or second comes first, although I would assume it's the second, as the first would make it slightly easier to guess. Then comes the fourth thing, because there is no 37 in the sequence. Then," she started, but Harry cut her off.
" 'Lic, I completely get that you like to feel smarter than the rest of us, and that you think it's great fun to decode all of this, however, there is a spell that you and Remus invented for this purpose exactly," Harry pointed out.
"And what purpose is that?" Hermione asked.
"In case someone who doesn't know how to read it, gets the message," Harry said calmly.
"It wouldn't do any good," I pointed out. "We haven't been told the spell yet."
"Well, lets correct that," Harry said. He mumbled the spell words, just loud enough for the rest of us to here, and shot a jet of scarlet light at the parchment. Now, it made much more sense:
Scarhead,
Attack on Hogwarts early April. PARENTS MAIN GOAL. Malfoy, Grayback, Avery, McNair, Nott, Wormtail. Joining other Lord. Tell Dumbledore, even if cover blown. Direct orders.
1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34,55
"Did you all read it?" Harry asked after a few moments. We nodded, and he muttered the counter, which changed the entire thing back to the original form.
"Well, lets go to Dumbledore," Luna said, standing up.
"Right now?" Ginny asked curiously.
"Of course. The longer we delay, the less believable this is going to be. And lets face it, it's already pretty far fetched." With that, Harry and Hermione stood up, and headed towards the Head table. The rest of us would have gone with them, but they were the only ones done eating. It was really weird how Harry would eat. He could be full after whatever amount, if he wanted to, so long as, at some point fairly soon, he could actually eat his fill. They made sure to talk through the bond, as well, so that the rest of us could hear what was being said.
"Oh, hello Harry, Felicia," Dumbledore said as they approached. "To what do I owe the honor?"
"Sir, we need to talk to you as soon as possible," Hermione said, matter-of-factly.
"Well, if it's a problem with the school, I'm sure you can talk about it here," Dumbledore said pleasantly.
"Sir, it's not school business," Harry said, just as pleasantly. He leaned closer, so only Dumbledore and Hermione could really hear, plus the rest of us through the bond. "The information is on need-to-know bases, and they don't need to know." He leaned back, watching the Headmaster's reaction. We had learned some of the Order codes about mid-summer. They were to be used to be recognized and the like. That one was one of the oldest. Most of them had been changed, and some, like the code, invented. We could tell, even from the Ravenclaw table, that Dumbledore got the point.
"If you would follow me to my office, I'd be more than happy to talk with you," he said, staying as calm and collected as ever. At a quick glance, anyway. McGonagall looked up, startled at his change of plans.
"Are you sure, Dumbledore?" she asked. She hadn't heard what Harry had said. "After all, if it concerns a problem with the school, we should all hear about it."
"No, Minerva, this one I'll have to take in my office. Now, follow me. I assume that the other four are coming as well?"
"Yes sir," Hermione replied. We immediately jumped up from our seats, knowing full well that Dumbledore was either going to walk over towards us or call us over anyway. He did look slightly surprised that we had stood up already, but he appeared to shrug it off. I had too much experience with those looks, however, and knew it would be asked about, and the answer given, even if he had to resort to Legilimency.
We walked in silence the entire way to Dumbledore's office. He didn't even give the password to the gargoyle, it simply leapt aside. I had only seen that once before, and that was immediately following the first battle of the year. We had definitely been the loser in that one, no matter what the Daily Prophet liked to tell people.
"Now, first things first, how do you know Order codes? Second, just what is so important that you have to use that particular one? No one but the most trusted members know it," Dumbledore said, after we had all taken seats and been offered tea and lemon drops.
"Well, sir, it just so happens that I'm in the Order," Harry said calmly. "We all are, as a matter of fact. I'm also one of the most trusted, if not the most trusted, of all the Order members."
"None of you are Order members, and you certainly aren't one of the most trusted. All of those members live in the highest security places they can to still do their job. I know where each of them are at the moment. You aren't one of them," Dumbledore pointed out.
"Yes, he is," Ginny answered calmly. It was amazing how they could do that. If it had been me talking, I probably would have been yelling, or at the very least upset. Harry, through his Occlumency training, Ginny, through natural deception, and Hermione, through hard work, were all very good at disguising their emotions. Obviously they were, how else could they get along with the likes of Snape and Wormtail in this time and not go crazy? Actually, it seemed like I was the only one really affected. With Luna, nothing much seemed to get to her. I guess she's a little like Ginny; she can hide her emotions fairly well through natural deception. Neville just doesn't let stuff get to him. I have hardly ever seen him riled up. I, on the other hand,… I tuned in to hear Dumbledore talking again.
"I insist you tell me this very instant, or I shall have to take some regrettably extreme measures," he was saying. The rest looked very calm and collected. I happen to know for a fact that I wouldn't look nearly as calm as they did if I knew what he was talking about.
"'Mione, you can probably explain it best," Harry sighed.
"Wait a second," Dumbledore said, holding up his hand. " 'Mione? Isn't your name Felicia?"
"No, sir, it's Hermione Granger," Hermione blushed.
"Why did you go by Felicia, then?"
"Because you would recognize me next time we meet. Hermione isn't exactly a common name. However, it doesn't matter anymore."
"Why couldn't you use a different name then?"
"Because I would be eleven and not know any better; not know that you had met me before," Hermione said, pseudo-patiently.
"What?" Dumbledore asked. This was the first time I had seen him confused.
"What they're trying not to tell you, Headmaster," Luna said, tearing her gaze away from a particularly shiny silver instrument on a nearby table that was flickering in the firelight. "Is that we're from the future."
Author's Note: Well, you've read, now review! And, as I said, school starts tomorrow, so I don't know for sure when I'll be updating next. However, the next chapter is already started, so it might not be too long! Maybe even still today! Ah, I don't think so. Anyway, enough of my ramblings. REVIEW! And still tell me about the relationship issue...