Disclaimer: Noppers, still own nada.
A/N: Thanks to all my reviewers. Keep them coming. Anyone have any thoughts about anything? I would love to hear them. Here's another one.
Crazily insane: glad u like it. And I think after this chapter you might have a better inkling as to who the cat is…we'll see. ENJOY!
Chapter Twelve: The Way Things Are
Dumbledore was sitting in a chair in the front of the room when the Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and the twins came downstairs. Alexia was sitting around him with the rest of the Weasleys and Lupin. "Hello Harry," Lupin said as they sat down.
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he looked at Harry. "I would be correct in assuming that you all know why I am here." He looked around the room. "We were incorrect in assuming that Harry would be safe here rather than at the Burrow or Privet Drive because today that idea was disproved."
Harry looked around him. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were holding hands; the twins and Charlie were covered in bruises and bumps that they wouldn't allow to be healed; Hermione was sitting on the edge of her chair, listening to every word; Ginny was slouched backwards but still surprisingly awake; Ron, who was sitting beside Harry, was trying his best to stay awake. But it was Alexia who caught Harry's intention… she was frowning and looking really disappointed.
"Let me first start by saying what happened tonight was no one's fault. We could never have seen it coming." It was obvious to Harry that this comment was directed toward Alexia, who pushed a smile towards Dumbledore. "Now, I am here to reveal the new course of action that is going to be taken to keep you safe, Harry." Harry looked at Lupin. He thought for sure he'd be staying with him, why else would he be here? But Harry knew that would never happen.
"This is the way things are, though I am reluctant to share them I must be honest. The world around us is unraveling and Voldemort supporters are growing in number. Ever since the night the prophecy got destroyed at the Department of Mysteries, they all have been working desperately to get Harry to Voldemort. But we will not let that happen." Dumbledore's eyes danced around the room.
"What exactly is this plan?" Ginny asked.
"I'm glad you asked. The plan, as we have discussed it, for the safety of Harry, is to return to Hogwarts." Everyone looked at him.
"That's your big plan? To go back to the school?" Fred asked.
"What good does that do?" George added.
"No, you misunderstand me. The plan for Harry is to go to Hogwarts. No one can get to him there. We have added new security measures and it will virtually impossible to get inside without permission. There, within the confines of the school, Harry will be safely under the eye of all of the teachers," Dumbledore declared.
"So let me get this straight," Ron said bluntly, breaking the new silence. "You want Harry to spend his whole summer at school and then go to school?" Dumbledore nodded. "Are you off your rocker? That would completely boring there all by yourself with no one but teachers." Ron looked at Dumbledore then to Harry. "Wouldn't it?"
Harry looked from his mentor to his best friend. "It would but if Dumbledore thinks it's best then I will do it." Ron looked at Hermione in disbelief then back to Harry with a smile.
"If you go, then I go too. I can't spend the rest of the summer without my best mate." They looked up at Dumbledore, who nodded again in approval. Hermione spoke up.
"I want to go too." Ginny joined her in the matter and "Dumbledore gave farther approval.
"I don't see why you couldn't. And since I thought as much would happen, I have already made arrangements to go. We will leave in the morning. Until then, I suggest you all get some sleep." Dumbledore stood up and took a step. "If you would like to join us on the journey, you may." He directed to the Weasley family. "In fact, I would expect nothing less." He, Lupin and Alexia walked to the door and Disapparated into the night.
(sc)
"This is so exciting!" Hermione smiled as they all walked back to bed. "An entire summer at Hogwarts!" Harry joined in on her excitement but his thoughts couldn't help but be turned the events from earlier in the night. That cat was here and he still didn't know whether it was good or evil.
There was a part of him that felt like it was on his side but another that felt it as evil as it was black. He really didn't know what to believe. And something that puzzled him more was the way Alexia had acted.
(sc)
"Tell me what happened, Alexandria." Dumbledore sat in the chair behind the desk of his office, which looked the same as it always had. Lupin and Alexia were sitting in the two chairs beside his desk. "Start from the beginning." So she did. She told them about the play (which made him smile) the fireworks, the screams of panic, the three Weasleys who stayed and helped and the cat.
"A cat you say?" Lupin asked her while she was in mid sentence.
"Yes. A black cat that seemed to know exactly what it was doing." Lupin looked at Dumbledore.
"Harry saw a black at the Dursleys…many times, actually. Remember we told you about it? He seemed to think it evil at the time…" Lupin trailed off when Dumbledore put up his hand.
"I know all about that cat. I assure you that is not evil." Dumbledore put his hand on the desk. "Maybe however, I am mistaken. I have made a few of those where Harry is concerned…" He thought of the prophecy that he kept from Harry. "There is, however, no room for more mistakes. We should perhaps look into this further. Tell me Alexandria, you say it was as if the cat knew what was happening?"
"Yes." She replied. "It was rather strange. There was a point in the battle when it did a service to George…or was it Fred? It's no matter. But it saved him nonetheless. When it was me who was winning, it attacked. It made no sense that the same cat who saved one, tried to kill the other when we were on the same team." Alexia looked at Dumbledore, who had a look on his face.
"Well, that's it exactly. I can't believe I didn't realize this sooner, but I am old and I do tend to miss things that are right in front of me. This changes things for us. Perhaps things are not as I thought them to be…or maybe again they are—but they have a bit of a twist." Lupin and Alexia looked at Dumbledore.
"What do you think it means?" Lupin asked confused. Dumbledore smiled.
"It means only one thing. The—"
(sc)
There was a new mood in the air tonight. He was furious. His followers had failed him again and this time there would be no second chances, no forgiveness, no excuse. Nothing could change how they had failed him. "Do you have anything to say before I end your mediocre lives?" Voldemort roared from the chair.
None of the Death Eaters said anything. As Voldemort's wand rose in the air, one spoke up. "Sire, there was one there I have never seen before. One who has never been around the Potter boy before."
"Really?" he asked amused. "What was he like? Must be a great wizard if he can defeat you."
The Death Eater gulped. "It—It was not a wizard my Lord. It was a—a witch." Voldemort's slanted, beady eyes glared at him.
"A witch? You were defeated my a witch?" His laughter filled the air. "Was she at least a good witch? Does she have a name?"
"One of the them called her Alexia."
"Alexia!" Voldemort jumped from the chair. "Surely not…be gone! Until I decide what to do with you. And you had better come when I call or your families will die too." The four Death Eaters Disapparated from the dark room as Voldemort sat down.
A ball of black landed on the arm of the chair. " Is this true? Is it her?" The cat looked into his eyes. "It is then. Well, I must say I never expected this. My dear Alexandria helping out my enemy…I guess she'll never learn that there is no way to escape me. We'll just have to re-teach that lesson to her, won't we?"
The cat jumped on the floor and rubbed against his legs as his laughter filled the silence.
A/N: So there went another one. There were a lot of hints in this one. Let me know if you know who the cat is yet. Thanks for reading and keep REVIEWING…it's really good to know what you are thinking… :)