Disclaimer: I don't own any characters.

ooooo

Chapter 29

The end of May was approaching and the smell of summer was already in the air. Classes were taking place normally and other than an attack by a chameleon demon disguised as a desk earlier in the month, everything was going smoothly.

This is what had everyone worried. There had not been any signs of any suspicious behavior for a few months. Which could mean only one thing...Voldemort must be regrouping. This in turn meant, he would be coming back stronger than before.

They had finally decided the date when Phoebe would go to the seal. By keeping close tabs on the Death Eaters that were guarding it, they were able to find a five minute window which happened only once every two weeks when the Death Eaters were switching posts. They thought this would be safer than orbing in amongst the enemy.

Piper and Leo waited in the entrance hall for Phoebe and Snape.

"It's about time," said Piper as she saw the couple coming down the stairs.

"We still have a few minutes," quipped Phoebe looking at her watch.

Piper couldn't help notice that Phoebe had an iron-clad grip on Snape's hand.

"Pheebs, everything's gonna be fine you know?"

"Yeah, yeah...I know."

"It's time," Snape said now looking at his watch.

They got there as the sun was setting.

Quickly and quietly they made their way down the rubble and towards the seal.

They were at least ten feet away when it hit Phoebe like a ton of bricks. She gasped and went rigid and was rooted to the spot.

"What's happening?" Snape said, worry etched in every line of his face.

He'd seen Phoebe have a premonition before when the chameleon demon attacked but this was nothing like it.

"It's okay, Severus," said Leo calmly. "The seal's magic must be pretty powerful. That's why she's having such a strong premonition."

CRACK!

Someone had just apparated above them.

Before waiting for Phoebe's vision to be done, Leo grabbed her, Piper and Snape and they orbed out undetected.

Back at the castle, Phoebe collapsed on the ground gasping for air as the tears welled up in her eyes threatening to drown them all.

"What did you see?" Piper asked. She was a little scared. She'd seen Phoebe react to premonitions strongly before, but never anything like this.

"It...it was horrible. The seal, it was open and it was like hell was pouring out on the earth. There were these demons...hundreds of them fighting girls."

"Girls?" Snape repeated confused.

She nodded. "They couldn't have been much older than Hermione. They were fighting. They had weapons...axes, swords, bows and arrows. They were...at war. I saw them die. One by one. But there was one girl...she looked older than the rest and she had this big, red, axe thing...she was killing the demons. That's all I saw."

There was a stunned silence. Numbly they walked to Dumbledore's office to tell him what they had seen. When they got there, Harry was already there.

Phoebe repeated what she had seen. Dumbledore looked lost in thought and Harry was looking grave.

"So Voldemort's going to open the seal again and start another war?" Harry asked, not being able to stand the silence anymore.

"There's no way to know for sure," said Dumbledore.

"It sounds like a master plan to me," said Piper.

"But you know what's weird," said Harry, "those girls in Phoebe's vision. Sounds to me like they knew what they were getting themselves into if they had all those weapons."

"I agree, Harry. But we, however, do not know what we are getting ourselves into, unfortunately," said Dumbledore.

"Maybe we could try looking for that girl, the one who stood out," suggested Leo.

"We don't even know if she's still alive," said Piper.

"She's alive," said Phoebe suddenly. "I know she is."

"But still, we can't scry for her because she's not a witch," said Piper.

"The Lost and Found spell?" asked Phoebe.

"I remember how well that worked last time," recalled Piper.

"So I'll tweak it a little."

"Tweak away. I just better not get those five pounds back that I lost."

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

With only one week left of school, Phoebe had still not managed to "tweak" the Lost and Found spell enough to convince Piper it would work right this time. So instead they concentrated on how and when they were going to tell Harry their plan for the summer...their plan being that he should stay with them instead of at the Dursley's.

"Are you serious? I can really stay with you? Dumbledore said it was okay?" Harry asked, not daring to believe it.

"Yes, yes and yes again," said Paige.

"We just have to stop by your aunt and uncle's house to get some of your stuff and then we can go," said Phoebe.

"Brilliant! I've never been to America."

"It's not much different than here except we drive on the wrong side of the road," said Paige.

"There is one more thing," said Piper. "How do you feel about having to share a room?" she asked, carefully.

"Considering I've been sharing a room with four other blokes for a few years now, I guess I don't care," he said wondering what the catch was. "Why? Will I share a room with Chris?"

"Um...not quite," said Phoebe evasively.

"Well?"

"You'll be sharing a room with...Draco," said Piper and she braced for an explosion.

Harry's shoulders slumped slightly. "Oh. Well...I guess that makes sense. He hasn't got anywhere else to go has he?"

Piper looked at Harry proudly. It was really something how they had all put their differences aside and really let Draco in, even though he was sometimes still quite abrasive with them.

"Why don't you go tell Draco the news?" Piper told him.

"Wouldn't he rather hear it from you?"

"Probably, but I think he's spoiled enough, don't you?" she smirked.

Harry spotted Draco exiting the library by himself. Word had gotten around about Draco's new found friendship with the Trio and life on the Slytherin side wasn't too good for him. The only person that still talked to him was Blaise. It was no wonder he had a hard time believing he was doing the right thing.

Harry caught up to him with a few quick steps.

"Oh, it's you," the blond said sullenly. "What's up?"

"I've got some bad news."

Draco's attention perked up at once. "Get on with it."

"You have to share a room with me for the whole summer."

"That is bad news...wait...what are you on about, Potter?"

"The good news is that room is in the Manor."

"You mean we have to stay here the whole bloody summer?" Draco snapped, totally missing the point.

Harry gave him a look.

"Wait...you mean the real one?"

Harry nodded.

"In America?"

"No, Malfoy, in Africa. Yes, in America."

"This is..."

For a long moment, Harry thought he was going to say 'horrible.'

"...great."

"Is that you being sarcastic because I really can't tell anymore?" Harry asked seriously.

"No."

"Oh, okay. Where were you headed?"

"I was actually going to look for Granger. She has my Potions book."

"Why? She has one of her own."

"Well, I paid ten galleons more for it because it has extra appendages in the back or something. I guess she wanted to memorize them all," he shrugged.

Harry chuckled. "Think we'll have to fight any demons over the summer?"

"Probably. Between you and the sisters...you'll probably both get attacked at least twice a day. We'll be lucky if we last a week."

Smirking slightly, they both walked off.

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

"This is so exciting! I can't believe you get to go with them. Wait, aren't you afraid you'll get attacked? And what if your father finds out, Draco? What if you get kidnapped or worse...killed?" Hermione ended dramatically.

They were sitting outside in a far corner of the grounds away from everyone that was celebrating the end of exams. They were all much more comfortable when they weren't in the direct line of insults and threats, all of them coming from the Slytherins of course. The other houses had actually come to accept and somewhat admire the new quartet.

"Oh come off it, Hermione. They'll be with the sisters and we all know that they can take care of themselves," said Ron.

A snarling voice came from behind them. "Of course they can...but can you?"

They whirled around and saw a tall and menacing looking man wearing a long, black trench coat. His hair was long, also black and straggly with knots everywhere.

Before any of them could react, he had disappeared in the blink of an eye and reappeared behind Hermione, grabbing her, his huge arm around her neck.

"Move and I'll snap her neck in two," he hissed.

They all stood rooted to the spot.

Tears of pain began to well up in Hermione's eyes and it was obvious that she was now struggling to breathe.

Slowly they each reached for their wands hoping, praying, that he wouldn't see.

Without warning the man raised his free arm as a blue ball of energy came shooting out of it. Draco, Harry and Ron ducked but they needn't have because the ball clearly wasn't aimed at them. They turned around just in time to see the ball hit Theodore Nott squarely in the chest.
By the time they turned back around...she was gone.

Ron looked as though it was taking him every ounce of strength not to cry while Harry and Draco looked ready to kill.

"Leo! LEO!" Harry yelled at the top of his lungs not caring who heard.

Leo had barely materialized when Harry started explaining what happened. "A man or demon or whatever just attacked us and took Hermione. He hit Nott with an energy ball."

"What? Who?"

They pointed to Theodore, who was lying spread-eagle on the ground a few feet away. Leo rushed over to try and heal him but he was too late. Theodore was dead.

"We need to bring him up to the hospital," said Leo.

"Who cares about him! He's already dead, we need to find Hermione before they kill her too!" Harry yelled, temper rising.

"Potter's right," said Draco firmly.

"We need to go to the sisters first. Let's go."

They orbed into the hospital and hurriedly explained to the shocked nurse what had happened before quickly rushing out.

They found the sisters sitting in the living room.

"A warlock just attacked the boys. He killed a student and took Hermione," Leo explained.

"Oh my god," said Paige. "What do we do?"

"What do you mean?" said Harry, getting more irritated. "We find her! Can't you...scry for her? She's a witch."

"Harry, you need to calm down," said Phoebe putting her hand on his arm.

As soon as she touched him the vision came to her.

When she opened her eyes, everyone was looking at her expectantly.

She looked at Harry before saying, "I saw what Voldemort wants to do with the seal."

"Were we right, does he want to start another war?" Harry asked anxiously.

"Yes, but the war's just a distraction for the bigger plan. He wants to kill you, Harry," Phoebe said softly.

"Tell me something I don't know," he snapped.

"I saw him do it."

Everyone was now listening intently to her.

She sat down and caught her breath before speaking again. "Everyone was fighting around the seal when you ran forward to duel with Voldemort. You managed to hit him with a...spell that knocked him out, but he was faking. When you got closer to finish it he...he hit you with a curse and you fell...inside the seal."

Everyone was staring horrorstruck at either Harry or Phoebe. No one knew what to say. Once again it was Harry who broke the awkward silence.

"Right. Well, I'll go and tell Dumbledore what Phoebe saw and when I get back we can figure out how to find Hermione."

"We'll go with you, Harry," said Ron and he and Draco followed Harry out.

"There's something I didn't say," Phoebe blurted out as soon as the boys were gone. "The spell Harry used against Voldemort wasn't a spell at all. It was your power, Piper."

"What? How is that possible?" asked Leo.

Piper, however, looked less surprised. "You mean we..."

"Uh huh."

"And it worked?"

"Yup."

"And the other two?"

"Oh yeah."

"Whoa."

"Would someone please tell me what's going on?" asked Leo.

"Well, we've kind of been working on a little spell," said Paige carefully.

"What kind of spell?" He looked afraid to ask.

"A spell that will duplicate our powers and give them to Ron, Harry and Hermione," said Piper very quickly.

"What!" Leo said again for what felt like the hundredth time.

"Look, we didn't know how you or the elders would react so we didn't tell you. But my premonition proved it worked. Or...will work," Phoebe said looking confused.

"The point is, they need another way to protect themselves, Leo. Wands aren't enough," said Piper.

"But what if the spell takes away your powers. You'll be vulnerable."

"It'll work. I saw it," Phoebe insisted.

"Okay. Even if it does, Hermione's not here," he pointed out.

"But Draco is," Piper suggested, already thinking ahead.

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

The three boys made their way back from the Headmaster's office in silence. Dumbledore had looked very worried after the news had been brought to him.

When they got back to the Manor, Leo had gone and the sisters were waiting for them in the living room.

They said nothing and headed for the attic. Perplexed, the boys followed.

"What's going on?" Ron asked with a hint of worry in his tone as he took in the scene that lay before him.

There was a small round table in the middle of the room that was barely two feet off the ground. It was surrounded by lit, white candles and on it there was a large basin that was already emitting smoke. Next to the basin was a ceremonial athame.

"We figured out a way for you to be able to protect yourselves. Even when you can't get to your wands," Paige explained.

"Come and sit around the table. Draco next to me, Ron next to Paige and Harry next to Piper," Phoebe instructed. "Now each of you hold out your hands."

They did as they were told albeit with much apprehension. Piper took the athame and pierced her finger with it over the basin allowing the drops of blood to fall in. She took Harry's hand and did the same then passed the athame to Paige who did the same with Ron, then it was Phoebe and Draco.

"Everyone gather hands and close your eyes," Phoebe said as the sisters started the spell together.

"We call upon the Power of Three, charmed you are about to be. What's mine is yours, but I'll keep it too. Part of me, now inside you. The power of time, light and sight is ours to share. Now let it pass through the air. From me to you, the power will come. By the Power of Three, let it be done."

With their eyes closed, they didn't notice the ring of light forming in the basin. Slowly it rose until it was around them all and when the spell was finished the force of the ring knocked them all backward.

"Well that was quite the ride," said Draco getting up and rubbing his head. "But what was the point? I don't feel any different."

Piper walked over to the table, picked up the athame and without warning threw it at Harry.

Not able to get his wand out in time, Harry threw his hands up in defense and the dagger froze in mid-air.

"Piper! What the -" Harry began before he realized what he had just done.

Piper smiled as Paige walked innocently over to the dagger, plucked it out of the air and walked over to Ron. She raised it up high and brought it down in a slashing motion.

Ron let out a yelp and flinched. He orbed away only to reappear in the same spot seconds later.

Draco watched and gulped as Phoebe headed towards him. When she was close enough she spun around, ducked and tried to trip him. He jumped up quickly...and to his great surprise, he didn't come back down right away. He was floating in mid-air.

"What the hell! I'm stuck! How do you work the controls?" he said, frantically waving his arms.

Phoebe laughed as she grabbed one of his legs and gently pulled him down.

"Now listen carefully. You can't tell anyone about this. The only other people who know are Leo and Dumbledore. If everyone finds out, you won't have the advantage anymore," Piper explained.

"We'll work with you until you get a good grip on your powers," said Phoebe. "Don't worry, you'll be pros in no time."

As they walked down the stairs, Piper noticed that Draco looked dejected. She stopped him halfway down.

"What's wrong?"

"Look, I'm not good at these little heart-to-hearts, okay. I'm not Potter," he snapped.

"I'm not asking for a heart-to-heart. I'm asking you what's wrong."

"I don't know!" he said obviously frustrated. "I got the worst power for starters. And I feel so...worried. It's annoying."

Piper got up to leave.

"Where are you going? Aren't you going to say something?"

"I'm no good at heart-to-hearts either. But Phoebe is."

She walked down the stairs and shortly after, Phoebe was joining him. "Piper tells me you're mad about getting the runt power."

"No offense," he said sullenly.

"None taken. I used to think I got the short end of the magical stick too. Until I realized that it was always my power that was saving the day," she said with a smile.

He shot her a doubtful look.

"Who do you think saw the chameleon demon attack before it did? Who just saw how Harry was going to die, so now we can stop it? Who do you think is going to find Hermione?" she finished. "And don't forget...you're an empath too."

"Is that why I feel all...everything?"

"Yep. Don't worry. I'll show you all the tricks of the trade. Including, how to work the controls."