4. Bad news

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"Ginny?" She broke away from her mother at the hesitant voice and saw Ron standing in the hallway, ghostly white. Slightly behind him stood Hermione, who was covering her mouth with her hand looking terrified.

"Why are you crying? Did something happen?" Ron asked urgently, "is Harry alright?"

"Harry is fine," Ginny hastily said, wiping away her tears, "I just saw him, he's fine."

Hermione let out a tiny relieved squeak, dropping her hand and relaxing slightly.

"Then why are you crying?" Ron asked suspiciously.

"It was nothing, I was just being stupid," Ginny waved it off.

Ron made a face and muttered, "girls," under his breath. Hermione swatted his arm playfully.

"So can we see Harry now?" She excitedly asked, bouncing slightly on her feet.

"I'm afraid not Hermione," Mrs Weasley said.

"But..." Ron started to protest but fell silent at a look from his mother.

"I realize now that I should not have let you all in the dark, I should have told you what we know, which is unfortunately very little. We have no idea yet what could be wrong with Harry, but professor Dumbledore suspects You-Know-How is somehow attacking Harry's mind. It is possible that he is trying to weaken Harry, so he can posses him. We can't take the risk that you are alone with Harry if You-Know-How really manages to take control over him. So I ask you all not to seek him out until we have cleared this matter." She gave the teens a stern look, "is that understood?"

"Posses him?" Ron repeated numbly, "is that even possible? I mean You-Know-Who is far away and Harry is here so how..."

"Come on, Ron" Hermione didn't let him finish but dragged him away, "we're going to the library."

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Harry listened as Dumbledore ushered Ginny and Mrs Weasley out of the room. He hoped he could get out of this house soon, even Privet Drive was better than this dreary place that smelled of dust and misery.

Dumbledore turned around and in one fluent motion he pulled his wand and shouted some unknown spell at Harry. The boy instinctively raised his arms to protect himself but the spell struck Hedwig instead and the owl fell lifelessly to the ground.

"What the hell!" Harry exclaimed, quickly scooping up the motionless bird and cradling her protectively against his chest.

"Calm down, child," Dumbledore said sharply, "That is not your owl, please let go of it, it might be dangerous."

"What are you talking about?"

Dumbledore took a piece of parchment out of his pocket and showed it to Harry, "this is the letter you wrote, yes?"

"Yeah," Harry said secretly wondering if Dumbledore finally was going senile.

"Your owl brought this to me, however on the way here she got attacked."

"Attacked?" Harry repeated in alarm, "did she got hurt?"

"She got hit with several dark curses, I am sorry to say, Harry, that your brave owl didn't make it, she died."

Harry stared disbelieving at Dumbledore, Hedwig was dead? He shook his head, "no. No, I don't believe you, you're wrong. She's not dead, she can't be dead, I was petting her just a couple of minutes ago. You have to be wrong." The last part came out a bit desperately, but he refused to believe Hedwig had died. Dumbledore inclined his head, "maybe I am indeed wrong, however the change is slim. To be certain I need to examine your owl, she wont be hurt, I promise you. Please hand her over to me." Shaking a bit Harry gave Hedwig to Dumbledore, who waved his hand over the unmoving bird, causing her to shimmer and than disappear entirely.

"Where did you sent her to?" Harry asked anxiously.

"Don't worry, child, she won't be harmed." The headmaster regarded Harry carefully, "now on to more pressing matters. Harry please tell me everything about those attacks of yours."

Harry shook his head, feeling numb he pulled his knees closer and hugged himself, "there isn't much to tell," he murmured against his knees, "I just get these weird flashes, images, and after that I always get a terrible headache. This was the fifth time it happened, they keep getting worse." He swallowed, he definitely didn't want to go through that pain again.

"Fifth time!" Dumbledore exclaimed, "and you didn't think to sent me a note sooner!"

"The pain wasn't that bad in the beginning and my scar never hurt," Harry tried to explain, "I never saw anything important, I didn't want to bother you with it."

Dumbledore sighed, "I need to know these things, Harry. Anything out of the ordinary has to be reported to me right away," he leaned forward, "do you understand this?"

Harry shifted uncomfortable, "I guess."

Dumbledore looked at him sadly, making him even more uncomfortable, "what exactly do you see in those visions?" He gently asked.

"That's the problem, I can't remember, the more I think about it the more it slips away, I only remember feeling very cold."

"Well it seems our only option is to start with you occlumency lessons once again, maybe that will help."

Harry grimaced, that was the last thing he needed. "But my scar never hurt, it might not even be Voldemort," he argued, even while he knew that it could only be Voldemort, unless of course he really was losing his mind.

"Nevertheless it seems the best course of action at the moment, it certainly can't do any harm."

Harry wasn't so sure about that, "are you going to teach me this time?" Please say yes, please say yes, he silently pleaded.

"No I don't think that is such a good idea."

Harry sagged on the bed, why did these things always happen to him? Why? "So it's Snape again?" He asked bitterly.

"Professor Snape, Harry," Dumbledore said sternly.

"Whatever," Harry grumbled, "does that mean I have to stay here for the rest of the holiday?"

"No you still need to stay longer at your aunt's house to strengthen the blood wards once again. However, after seeing your recent attack I think it is best if someone will come with you to look after you, in case something happens."

Harry gaped at the headmaster, "no offense professor, but are you out of your mind? Sending a wizard to live with the Dursley's is a very, very bad idea."

"On the contrary, I think it's a very good idea," Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling again and Harry took that as a bad sign.

"Please tell me you're not going to send Snape," Harry said in dread.

"Professor Snape, Harry"

"Oh god," Harry groaned, "I'm so dead."

Dumbledore chuckled, "a bit melodramatic don't you think, dear boy? However you will be pleased to know that I agree with you, making Severus live with three muggles and his least liked student in one house is not a very good idea. I was actually thinking of asking Remus."

"Professor Lupin?" Harry cheered up slightly, "yeah he's a good choice."

"I thought you would think so yes. Now, I will leave you to the care of Molly and her chickensoup."