18 Oaf

The Order searched the mountains and even the lake itself. There was no sign they had passed the area, not the slightest hint of a magic spoor or even a Portkey. Not a single broken blade of grass.

The house elves made breakfast a soon as it was light. McGonagall stood beside an ornate stone basin where Dumbledore's gilded chair usually sat. She tapped her glass for silence. It was hardly necessary.

"A lot has happened in the last twelve hours. Rumors are flying left and right. I will tell you the situation as I know it. Voldemort and his followers came here looking for something. He fought Harry Potter and by looks of things lost badly. We've no idea if he is truly dead and will assume to the contrary until he is found. He is down to only a few servants, most of the others lost either their lives or their freedom within these walls. A lot of his best and most feared adherents are gone forever. No one person knows what exactly occurred last night. I'm asking you to place your memories in the basin behind me. No one will be judged or punished by what I alone will see there. You are to receive your memories back if you wish. Participation is strictly voluntary. I have mixed feelings about pupils in my care placing themselves in mortal peril for a righteous cause . . . but mostly I feel pride,"

The headmistress paused for a moment to collect herself. "Madam Pomfrey has her hands full and there are students in grave condition at Saint Mungo's. Some may never leave there. The fact that we haven't lost anyone as yet is a testament to your ability to stand together and the quick response by the staff and the Ministry. A response that might never had happened if our groundskeeper had not given the alarm and delayed Voldemort's followers. He too is at Saint Mungo's--"

"The big oaf," someone muttered contemptuously. McGonagall glared at the Slytherin table.

"Never insult Rubeus Hagrid in front of me," she said with a withering look.

"I won't mention any names here but the student who just spoke has one hour to pack and be off these grounds. A train will be waiting for you and I will be there to see you off personally." All eyes went to the Slytherin table in wonderment. They had fought as well or better than the other houses last night.

"Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley have not been killed. They've sustained serious injuries as have many of you but it looks like they will recover. Mr. Filch assures me the school will be ready for resumption of classes in a day or two. In the meantime you are to contact your families. I won't tell you what to say, use your common sense. Madam Pomfrey is looking for volunteers as is Saint Mungo's."

She motioned to the left. "To the basin if you please." McGonagall returned to the staff table. Students began filing past the basin. Some were quick, others lingered. The basin was full by the end of breakfast.

Moody stumped around on a cobbled up wooden leg in the headmistress's office. He was holding a lengthy parchment.

"Alecto?" McGonagall queried.

"Deceased, slipped and fell . . . seven floors," he added softly.

"Amycus?"

"Deceased. Came to bad end with some Muggles on the Welsh border. Decided he could hide there. Set himself up as some kind of secret cult figure not knowing they practiced blood sacrifice. The Ministry had little to do other than remove the remains. The truth made a grand cover story."

Moody tossed the document over his shoulder.

"A handful of Death Eaters wouldn't have attacked the castle unless they were looking for another horcrux. The destruction of the Hufflepuff horcrux must have forced his hand. Voldemort sacrificed them for what? They lost more than half their number fighting even-on against the staff and the Order, not to mention some rather bloodthirsty students and centaurs." Moody's tone was not judgmental. "Then Voldemort shows up and gets himself killed or at least half killed and we still don't have all the horcruxes. Harry and Voldemort's souls are inextricably linked. I think Harry will need one of those horcruxes to survive. They must've found what they were looking for. That's why they were willing to walk through all those deadly arrows. They need the last piece to keep him alive or bring him back if he is without a body. We'll need to find Peter Pettigrew, he's sure to lead us to Voldemort."

"We also need to know who breached the wards and let Voldemort's followers inside the grounds. Again, Pettigrew is responsible or likely knows who is," said Headmistress McGonagall.

"The Order and the Ministry are looking for him as we speak. I've got every wizard's cat and Kneazle I could lay hands on stalking the castle and the grounds. If Peter Pettigrew is in hiding here as a rat he'll be found out."

"Hagrid didn't like cats, they made him sneeze," McGonagall said morosely.

"He still has a chance, Minerva. We owe him so much. He gave the alarm and held them at bay until help arrived. He's being guarded by the Iron Five twenty-four hours a day until he recovers."