Chapter 24

Disclaimer: Harry Potter etc still belongs to JK Rowling, plot still belongs to me.

Author's Note: The end of that last chapter was a rip-off of another story I'm writing. Hee hee. Anyway, I have no idea where this chapter is going. Fiddle dee dee.

A/N2: I'm still posting this up! Proud of me? I'm not doing any new material at the moment; if you want to know why, read my profile.

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Harry did not pay too much attention in lessons that Monday. His mind was occupied by Draco.

In Defence Against the Dark Arts, Harry and his friends noticed that Lupin seemed happier than he had been all term.

"I never realised he missed… Snuffles that much," Hermione whispered to Harry and Ron as they were putting away their books at the end of the lesson. Harry knew exactly what she meant. Lupin did seem much happier than he had been before Sirius had come back. The change was quite marked; even the rest of the class appeared to have noticed. This wasn't really surprising though; Lupin had spent most of the lesson seeming like he was on the verge of breaking into song. As Harry, Ron and Hermione left the classroom, he gave them a cheery wave and smile.

That evening, the three Gryffindors were leaving the Great Hall after dinner when they were accosted by Professor McGonagall.

"Professor Dumbledore is back," she told them in a low voice. "He has requested to see the three of you."

"Now, Professor?" Harry asked.

"I believe so, Potter," Professor McGonagall replied.

Harry, Ron and Hermione altered their course and headed off towards Dumbledore's study.

When they arrived, they found Dumbledore sitting at his desk with Fawkes the phoenix on his shoulder. Sirius and Lupin were also there.

"I have good news, Harry," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling. "The matter we spoke of before, of He Who Must Not Be Named being afraid? I am pleased to tell you that it has progressed further. Something has occurred to strengthen your power over him. Something which, I believe, happened last night at approximately a quarter past nine?"

Harry frowned briefly, then his face was suffused by a particularly fetching shade of scarlet.

"I think, Harry, it was something you said that constituted this new development…"

Harry looked at Dumbledore in amazement. "How did you know that?"

Dumbledore smiled. "Seeing the future may be limited to those such as Professor Trelawney and her kin, but seeing present events is possible for those who have the means. I shall show you." He stood up and opened a cabinet. He took out a small orb, much like a crystal ball. "I may see things in this," he explained. "Rarely the events of the future, I am afraid, but often those which are occurring around the present time."

"I read a book about a wizard who had a ball like that one," Ron said suddenly. "It was a Muggle book, it had some of the stupidest ideas about magic… What was the wizard called… Sarian or something."

"Do not compare me to such figments of the Muggle imagination," Dumbledore said sharply. Ron looked abashed.

"In any case," Dumbledore continued, "I observed in this the events that make You Know Who so nervous."

Harry let out an audible gasp. Shit, had Dumbledore been watching him and Draco?

"Do not worry, Mr Potter, I would not presume to use this to watch your private dealings." Dumbledore told him. "It will suffice to say that I know enough. Clearly, what you are doing is weakening You Know Who's hold already. Who knows what may happen from here?"

Suddenly, the crystal ball turned blue, and began to glow. Dumbledore immediately turned his attention back to it. He drew close to it. After a while – no one knew how long – the orb turned clear again, and Dumbledore turned his attention back to his small audience. "I am afraid it is not the best of news," he said gravely. "The pictures are vague, but I am sure it is not good news. Someone is not the ally we thought. Someone has turned and is working against us. There may have been doubts about their trustworthiness, but I am afraid it is too late for such considerations now."

"What… what are they doing, Professor?" Harry asked apprehensively. He was desperately hoping that this did not mean what he feared it might.

"They have passed on information to someone close to them, information that may result in damage to our cause." Dumbledore answered vaguely.

Harry stood up at an alarming speed. "Professor, there's something I have to do… something urgent. Please may I go?"

"Certainly, Harry," Dumbledore replied.

Harry, Ron and Hermione exited at speed. The other two looked bemused as Harry led them down the staircase at a run. "Harry," Hermione panted, "where are we going?"

"Well, where you two go is entirely up to you," Harry told her. "I have to go and do something."

If Ron and Hermione were at all confused by this, they did not show it. They headed back to Gryffindor tower, while Harry stopped at a junction in the corridor and thought.

Suddenly, he reached a decision. Trying to keep his pace regulated to a walk, he turned right and made for the library.

Five minutes later, he arrived. As he wandered among the shelves, pretending to look at the myriad titles before him, he saw the book he was really looking for. It was a book he enjoyed, but which he found to be something of an enigma. He approached the book, then dropped a piece of paper beside it. He turned swiftly and left the library.

The piece of paper he had left was, in fact, a note.

'Same place, as soon as possible. Urgent.'

The book was, in fact, Draco.

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Author's Note: I've tried some risky ideas here, if they're too bad tell me.

A/N:In retrospect, I really hate them. I'm sorry.