Thanks Jimbocous for reviewing!

Does nobody else want to?

Yeah FireOpal you just don't count. You've seen it all before anyway. And enough with the potatoes!

WARNING: MINOR CHARACTER DEATH

Nobody important, but some people might say it's a bit gory. You have been warned.

He woke to an explosion that shattered the door and blew bits of oak into the bath with Harry. He shot upright, shaking and panting, his scar burning. He sat up a bit straighter on the bed. Suddenly he realised that he wasn't in bed, he was still in Draco Malfoy's bath. The bubbles had disappeared and the water was cold, and the owner of the bath was standing in the doorway looking very irritated.

"You were screaming," Draco said, crossing his arms over his chest and casting Harry a disapproving glare. Harry noticed his wand sticking out of his grip beneath his right elbow.

"Sorry. I must have fallen asleep."

"Potter, look at the floor."

Harry peered over the side of the bath and noticed that the floor was an inch deep in water. Puzzled, he glanced back into the bath. Indeed, the level was lower than he remembered it being before he had fallen asleep.

"Sorry," he whispered, feeling, for some reason, utterly miserable. He sat up properly and pulled his knees up to his chest, burying his head in his arms. A terrible darkness was pressing down over his chest and he was upset that he didn't understand it more than anything else. Draco sighed heavily and walked over to Harry.

"Are you all right?" he asked, crouching down beside the Gryffindor and touching his shoulder. To his surprise, Harry flinched away violently.

"Do I look all right?" he snarled at the Slytherin, who blinked in shock.

"Sorry. I just heard you screaming and I couldn't get in through the door. I think you must have spelled it in your sleep or something, it took a rather powerful spell to blast it open." He indicated to the remains of the door. Harry's mood swung violently again.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to, I was just so tired, I didn't mean to release it, I forgot to Occlude, I'm so, so sorry, I'll pay for the door, I promise, my parents left me enough money, I promise I'll pay for it, I'm sorry…"

"Harry, don't!" Draco said, sounding distressed to hear Harry practically begging for forgiveness. "It's fine, don't worry about it! I was just worried, that's all."

Harry was about to reply when a piercing noise filled the room. It reverberated through the air, and both boys clamped their hands over their ears. Harry whimpered – the noise was almost painful – and Draco grabbed him under the arms. He hauled him up out of the water, and Harry was so out of it that he wasn't even embarrassed by being naked in front of Draco. He vaguely registered being dried, then Draco forcing clothes on him, before he was practically dragged out of the room. He realised as they hurried out of the dungeons that students everywhere were reacting in a similar fashion, pouring out of classrooms accompanied by teachers.

"What's happening?" Harry managed to choke out. Draco had one arm around his waist, the other holding his wand out. Harry's left arm was clutching at Draco's shoulders for support as they moved up through the school.

"That's the school's alarm. If you hear it, you're to report to the Great Hall immediately, no matter what you're doing. It hasn't been activated for decades. I hope it was just Peeves this time." He said, and Harry couldn't help but notice the fear tingeing the normally cool voice. He suddenly gasped and his grip on Draco's shoulders increased.

"My scar!" he whispered, Draco stopped moving, and they shared a look of terror. Draco spoke the words that were branded on both of their minds.

"He's here."

Draco grabbed Harry's hand and practically threw himself forward, and Harry's body finally seemed to start responding in the way he wanted, allowing him to sprint along beside Draco as they burst up into the Entrance Hall, flashing past astonished students as they marched formally in class groups.

They erupted into the Great Hall, Harry's scar burning more now it was out of the dungeons. He collapsed halfway across the floor and Draco was nearly pulled down with him. Dumbledore and Snape were at the top of the Great Hall, issuing orders to the other teachers. Draco grabbed Harry under the arms and lifted him in the same way that Harry had done for him earlier that day, carrying him to Dumbledore, where he deposited the Gryffindor.

Harry was trembling, his eyes rolled back into his head, cold sweat covering his body. Dumbledore descended upon the two boys with alarming swiftness, crouching down to join Harry and Draco on the floor.

"Severus, check your Slytherins. Now," he snapped, and to Draco's surprise, the Potions Master immediately obeyed without further comment. The Headmaster glanced sharply at Draco. "What has happened?"

"We were coming up from the dungeons and his scar started hurting," Draco explained, eyeing Harry nervously. "I don't know what's happening." He looked at Dumbledore fervently. "Will he be all right?"

Dumbledore was cut off mid-reply when another sound was added to the sound of the alarm – a horrifying, ear-splitting shriek of nothing less than absolute terror. The Headmaster fixed Draco with a fiercely determined stare.

"Stay with Harry. Don't cast any spells. Just keep him safe."

Without another word, Dumbledore rose and hurried off in one direction, towards the shriek. Draco looked back down at Harry. He was shivering, and his hands were compulsively gripping Draco's robes then relaxing. Draco dragged them both up against the wall, and manoeuvred around him so he was lying flat on his back, head on Draco's lap. The Slytherin hoisted him up against his chest, so he was firmly lodged between his legs, and wrapped his arms around the Gryffindor's chest, pulling him tight against himself. After a few moments the convulsions subsided and he relaxed slightly in Draco's arms.

The Slytherin glanced around the Hall. A few students were staring at him and Harry, but most were too busy whispering excitedly, completely oblivious to the danger they were all in. Once brought up to the Hall, they had been split off into Houses, and from there into years. Snape was calling a quick register, and he glanced up to where Draco was sat with Harry for a second before turning back to his House. Sprout was taking a head count of the Hufflepuffs, as was Flitwick with the Ravenclaws, but McGonagall was not there for the Gryffindors. Instead, Lupin was checking them all.

There was a sudden flurry of movement as Dumbledore came quickly back into the Hall, accompanied by a distraught looking Hufflepuff girl, who ran straight over to the rest of her House to be comforted by her friends. Whatever she had seen, it couldn't bode well for them. The teachers all flocked to Dumbledore like lemmings over a cliff and each Head of House reported that their Houses were full. Draco could clearly hear what was being said above him.

"Keep them as calm as possible. I am going to bar the Hall."

Draco looked down at Harry, peering around his head to check his face. His eyes were closed, eyelashes fluttering on his cheeks, and he appeared to be simply asleep. He looked back up in time to see Dumbledore wave his wand. Every side door in the Hall slammed shut, locking, and the massive oak doors to the Entrance Hall groaned and creaked to close with a boom that echoed around the now silent Hall. Suddenly Draco felt an enormous blaze of magic rip through the air, and Harry tensed in his hold. He watched, fascinated, as every door glowed with a fiery white light that settled gently into the woodwork, fading away from sight. He looked around the Hall. Nobody else seemed to have noticed the visible magic that Dumbledore had used. He glanced up at Dumbledore as the Headmaster spoke again.

"I must ask you all to remain as calm as possible. A dreadful thing has happened in this castle and you are safer here than anywhere else. I would not be keeping you here if there was any other option." He gazed around the large room, each student watching him raptly. "You will have to stay here for the rest of the day, and possibly the night if the matter is not resolved." He took a deep breath. "Now I fear that you ought to know the reason why we are all here today.

"There has been an attack on a member of staff. Professor McGonagall has been critically injured, and it is very likely that she will be dead within the hour." He said gravely. There were a few screams, lots of choked sobs, and plenty of first year girls burst into tears.

"Draco?"

Draco tightened his grip on Harry as he whispered his name. The Gryffindor shivered and Draco buried his face into Harry's shoulder.

"He's killed McGonagall," he said simply. Harry started to stand up, but Draco's arms around him held him down in place. "No." he said firmly. "Dumbledore will find out how he did it, you're staying right here. He told me to stay with you. You can't let on that your scar's hurting or anything like that – they'll know if you do."

Harry nodded slowly, and sank back into Draco's hold. Dumbledore had finished speaking, and had come over to Draco and Harry.

"Harry, we may need your assistance in discovering how this crime was perpetrated. If you are feeling up to it, I would request that you come with Professor Lupin, Snape and I to see what you can make of the happenings. I fear that you may be our only hope." He paused for a moment. "You may come too, of course, Mr. Malfoy." Draco glanced at Harry. The Gryffindor had a determined glint to his eye, which made Draco both confident and a bit nervous at the same time. He slid his arms from around him and allowed him to stand up, then took the offered hand that helped him up.

Harry glanced up at Dumbledore.

"Let's go then."

The five of them trouped out of one of the side doors to the speculative stares of the older students. Harry let his gaze settle on the Gryffindors. Ron was casting him a shrewd look, Hermione looked like she was about to faint – in fact she probably would have been on the floor by now if Ron hadn't been gripping her so tightly – Seamus looked green than Harry's own eyes, and Dean was just… blank. As though he wasn't really paying attention. He watched as Dumbledore murmured a spell, then there was a flash of blue as the door was released from the wards Dumbledore had placed upon it.

"Why is it blue?" he asked curiously. Snape shot him a sharp look.

"Why is what blue, Antares?"

"The door. When the Headmaster unwarded it, it flashed blue. The magic was white when he warded them, that's all,"

"Snape and Lupin exchanged a look that Harry couldn't really see, and didn't reply to him. Draco caught his eye, shrugged, and peered up the corridor, trying to see around the teachers, who had suddenly stopped dead. Dumbledore began to speak.

"Brace yourselves, boys. The sight is not pretty." He warned, and the teachers stepped to the sides to allow them through.

McGonagall was laying flat on her back, sprawled out in a cruel parody of sleep. Her eyes were open and dull, staring blankly up at the ceiling. Her mouth was open, blood trickling gently from one corner. Blood was pooling steadily around her, coming from various stab wounds across her body. Her green robes were ripped and slashed, stained with blood. The knife used to cut her open was lying on the stone floor a few feet away. She had died from loss of blood, guaranteed by a puncture wound in her neck.

Harry crouched down beside her, all aware of his jeans trailing in the blood, his bare feet squelching in the liquid. He lay his hand down on McGonagall's head and could feel the magic pulsing under his hand. He tried to reach out to it, to gather information, but couldn't reach far enough. But then he felt an explosion of magic in his right hand. He looked down at it and saw that his hand was firmly enclosed in Draco's, their scars touching, magic searing between them. Harry closed his eyes and delved again into McGonagall's lifeless corpse.

"Harry!"

Harry blinked, staring up at Draco's face.

"What happened?" he asked, confused.

"Our combined magic made the corridor collapse. You blacked out and we had to drag you out from the place before you were buried." He paused. "Did you find anything out?"

"Yes," Harry said, remembering suddenly, and shot upright, scrambling to his feet, yelling. "Where is everybody? Where are the teachers? They need to be kept inside, we need to get to them –"

"Harry, stop!"

Harry stopped trying to force the door open and turned to Draco. "They're all in the Great Hall. Dumbledore said he would keep everyone in there until you woke up and could tell us what happened. We'll go there now, but don't run off, all right?"

Harry nodded. Draco came over to the door and unlocked it with a muttered spell that Harry didn't know. They walked for a minute before coming to a door that was glowing with faint marks that swam across its surface. Draco placed a hand on it. A network of silver sparks shot out like a spider's web around where his hand touched it. He reached down and took Harry's hand, placing it on the door beside his. Sparks of gold rippled under Harry's hand, and there was a crunch as the door came free.

The entire Great Hall looked around as they entered. They had obviously all been chatting enthusiastically, but silence fell as they walked over to Dumbledore. Harry glanced around. The whole of Gryffindor house looked mournful, and most had tears dried on their cheeks. He almost felt a pang of sympathy to Hermione, but then remembered how she treated him, and decided against it.

"I know who it was," he said to Dumbledore once they were away from the other teachers. Dumbledore didn't twinkle at him; he looked as grave as the next man.

"Was it a member of the school?"

"Yes."

"Staff or student?"

Harry took a deep breath.

"Staff."

Dumbledore cast him a sharp look.

"Are you absolutely sure?"

"Yes, but they were being possessed. There's no other explanation. Apart from the fact that my scar was burning, and also because the teacher in question acted very weirdly in what I saw."

"Please, tell me who it was."

"Professor Trelawney."

"Very well. Inform your Heads of House, but do not cause a commotion."

Harry and Draco nodded, and Draco walked over to Snape. Harry watched them talk for a while before going over to Lupin, who was glancing at him expectantly every few seconds. He took the Defence Professor to one side.

"Professor Trelawney was possessed by Voldemort,"

Lupin nodded gravely, not looking the least surprised.

"I met her as I was bringing my second years down. She was looking lost, and couldn't remember what had just happened. It does make sense." He admitted. Harry indicated over to the rest of his House with a jerk of his head.

"How are they doing?"

"The first and second years are a bit confused, they don't really understand. The older students have been comforting the third and fourth year – they're pretty badly shaken up. I don't think it would hurt for you to go see how your friends are doing." He said with a pointed look at Ron and Hermione. Harry's face contorted and his voice went cold.

"They're not my friends," he said shortly. Then he saw Neville, looking upset and alone, and went over to him. "Hey Neville. How are you doing?"

Neville gave him a fearful look.

"It was You-Know-Who, wasn't it? He killed her," he whimpered. Harry sighed and put a hand on his shoulder. He couldn't lie to Neville.

"Yes. But don't worry. He's not going to be able to get you."

"What did he do to her?"

Harry hesitated.

"I can't tell you. Dumbledore made me promise. Sorry," he apologised, but Neville didn't seem too bothered.

"It's OK. I understand." He broke off and looked up at the raised section. "Hey, what's going on?"

Harry followed shi gaze. Dumbledore and Snape were confronting Trelawney, who had her wad out. She no longer resembled an overgrown dragonfly; her face was set, her mouth a firm line, and her eyes were blazing with some sort of fury. Harry let go of Neville's shoulder and started up the steps. He was stopped by a hand on his arm.

"No," Draco ground out. "Let the teachers deal with it."

Harry tried to shake him off, but the Slytherin had a good hold on his sleeve, and wouldn't let go. Instead he had to be content with inching closer and trying to catch what they were saying.

"He's dead, at last!" Trelawney snapped, and Harry realised with a jolt that Voldemort was speaking through her. "Harry Potter is dead, and Voldemort will prevail," she said slightly hysterically. Harry growled quietly and tried to advance again. This time Draco didn't stop him.

"You have lost your mind, woman," Snape retorted. Harry went over to Dumbledore, who was slightly further back than Snape.

"He's possessing her. He's talking through her," he whispered to the Headmaster, who nodded curtly and stepped forwards.

"I fear, Sybill, that I will have to restrain you. You are obviously distressed over the matter, and may do something you regret later."

With a snarl of fury, Trelawney turned to bear down upon Dumbledore, wand outstretched.

"Stay out of it, you meddling old fool." She snapped. She suddenly looked over at Harry suspiciously. "What's he doing here?"

The explosion in his head was like none he had ever felt before. It was worse than he had ever encountered. It was worse than Cruciatus, worse than anything else he'd ever been inflicted upon. It felt worse than a few weeks ago when he had collapsed for no reason. It felt as though his head was being ripped open slowly, or cut with a blunt knife. Then it started pounding, as though his head was being continually smacked with great force against a very hard stone floor. Suddenly the pain that was centred on his forehead shot down and into the cross scar over his right eye, searing the eyeball beneath it. He knew he was screaming, because his throat hurt, and he knew there were people talking all around him, people trying to get near him, but for some reason they couldn't. He could feel their magic – each person had a different feel. But he could feel Draco's most of all.

I did warn you before anyone starts complaining.

Does that count as a cliffhanger?

And Jimbocous - no, they aren't going to chuck him out of Gryffindor House! Slytherin!Harry is something I've never really liked, so I have no intention of putting him in any other place. They'll just have to put up with him for now.

Why will nobody else review? I know you're reading it.. I can see it on my hits counter! PLEASE, be nice like Jimbocous and REVIEW!

Like I said before, FireOpal you don't count.

smokey