Author's Note: Here you go, guys! For those of you who are wondering, I received an "A" on my last paper, a "B" on my German test, and a "C+" on my Linguistics test. Or, if you're in England, "O, E, A" respectively. My grades are falling. It's called burnout. It happens every year around this time of the semester. Oh well. Enjoy this chapter, as I go off to contemplate how to salvage my grades.
"I think someone saw me." Draco told Snape as he returned to Snape's rooms through Salazar's passage. "Lovegood kept smiling in my direction." Snape raised an eyebrow at Draco and shook his head.
"Impossible, Draco. No one can see through the barrier." Snape reassured him. "Slytherin was very thorough in his work. If he didn't want anyone to see him, they wouldn't." Snape moved to his next essay in grading and snorted. "If I put my money on anyone, it would be Miss Granger." He told Draco as the boy moved to his customary seat on the sofa. "She is a know-it-all."
"Possibly." Draco sighed. "It was unnerving." Draco propped his feet on the coffee table and loosened his tie, oblivious to the glare he received from Snape. Feet on the furniture? What was this, a Muggle home? The Weasleys?
Snape stood and poured out a drink for himself. He turned to Draco and raised an eyebrow. Draco shook his head. Snape called for a house elf, which immediately appeared with a butterbeer in hand. Snape thanked the creature and handed the butterbeer to Draco, kicking the boy's feet from the tabletop at the same time. Draco rolled his eyes, but sat up all the same. "If you are that unnerved by someone smiling in your general direction, perhaps you should renounce your affiliation with the Protectors." Snape said in a musing tone as he settled himself in his armchair.
"No. That's different. I know what to expect then." Draco explained as he sipped his butterbeer. "The situation in the Room of Requirement was an unknown, and totally unexpected." Draco explained. "The only good thing that happened was the student paper coming out."
"So, what is in 'The Students' Voice'?" Snape asked as he tried to keep the curiosity out of his voice. Draco smiled and pulled out the student paper, charmed to look like Transfiguration notes over which some ill-advised student had fallen asleep.
"Front page – Purpose of the Paper." Draco paused and looked at Snape. Snape motioned for him to read that article. " 'Many of you may be wondering why anyone would go through such trouble, and risk so much to establish a newspaper for the students.'" Snape snorted. "What?" Draco demanded.
"That's Longbottom." Snape told Draco. "Please, continue. This is vastly amusing." Snape lounged back in his chair and closed his eyes.
" 'A few of my fellow students came to me and complained about the Headmaster's current policy of not allowing The Daily Prophet to be delivered to the students, in case of mass panic happening after a Death Eater attack. We all agreed that something should be done about this. This newspaper is the result. We promise to do our best to bring you up to the minute news and the most accurate information possible. We offer current events, defense strategies, and some fun as well. If you wish to receive a copy, free of charge, just sign your name on the bottom of this page. Our next issue will be delivered to your bed.'" Draco finished the article and looked at Snape, who seemed to be convulsing. "Are you alright?" Draco asked.
Snape snickered and nodded. "I think I'm going as barmy as the headmaster. Please read another." Snape asked as he tried to get hold of himself. This much amusement from a student project just seemed wrong, somehow, but it was so funny!
" 'Death Eater Attack in Diagon Alley.'" Snape nodded. "There was a massive Death Eater attack in Diagon Alley late this afternoon. No civilian casualties are reported, though several injured were treated and released the same day. Eyewitness reports state that a young man had stopped the Death Eaters single-handedly by freezing and incapacitating them, without a wand. Further inquiries will be made as to the identity of this man and the veracity of this report. Aurors responded to questions with "no comment". Minister Fudge was not available for comment, but his spokesperson did say that every effort to secure Diagon Alley against further attacks would be taken."
"Where are they getting their information, I wonder?" Snape asked Draco.
"No idea, but I hope to find out soon. I asked to join the paper and they voted me in." Draco told Snape.
"Good." He said with a contented look. "Very good. If you need help with any future articles, let me know." Snape told the boy.
"Thanks. 'Protecting Yourself'?" Snape nodded at the title and Draco started reading. " 'These are dangerous times and there are certain steps you can take to protect yourself. First, always make sure to travel in groups. You will be harder to hit if there are people surrounding you. Second, never let your guard down. In the words of one of our former teachers 'CONSTANT VIGILANCE!'. If something does not appear right to you, leave and report it. Even if it is not a true cause for worry, you and your family will still be safe. Third, study defense, for your life truly depends upon it. Professor Zareh is a fine teacher and is always willing to give you a little extra attention, should you need it or want it. Study groups are great ways to practice your skills. Don't hesitate to join one. Four, if you come across a Death Eater, run away as fast as you can. That is not a time to show off your skills. Death Eaters are dangerous, but they can't hurt you if they can't catch you. Get away and tell an adult as soon as possible. Death Eaters are easily recognized when they are ready to attack. They wear long black robes and white masks to hide their identities. When they are alone or doing everyday things, they are only recognizable by the tattoo worn on their forearm. It consists of a skull with a snake coming out of its mouth. No Death Eater will allow you to catch a glimpse of this, so be sure to be vigilant at all times." Draco paused and glanced at Severus. He knew what mark Severus wore on his arm.
"No worries, there, Draco. I am never in short sleeves." Snape told the boy. "What else does the paper offer?" He asked, brushing away thoughts of the Dark Mark.
"A story about Fudge and his blunders in office." Draco said as he flipped through the pages. "Study tips. Umm, jokes. Career advice, mostly about not working for the Ministry. Ads for the Weasleys' joke shop and some little book store called 'Arcane's Archives'.
"The Fudge story, please." Snape said.
" 'Ministry in Chaos – Minister Fudge has proved time and time again that he is untrustworthy in office. He was first warned about Voldemort's return two years ago when Harry Potter had won the Triwizard Tournament and had seen Voldemort's resurrection. Fudge refused to believe the evidence put before him and started a smear campaign against Harry Potter in order to discredit his claims of the Dark Lord's return.
Fudge assigned a High Inquisitor to Hogwarts to ensure that the education we students were receiving was of the best quality. Unfortunately, the High Inquisitor, Dolores Umbridge, did more to hinder her students than help them. She did not teach practical spells and instead set her students to reading everyday in class. She bullied Harry Potter and his friends time and again to convince them that Mr. Potter was lying for attention's sake. We all know that Harry Potter hates attention of any kind. She was later Headmistress of Hogwarts for a time while Dumbledore was away from school. Students under her care nearly died. Umbridge was removed from her post and currently retains a post by Fudge's side.
Minister Fudge was late in the game in informing the public of the present dangers involving Voldemort. This calls several things into question: Is he a fit leader for the magical world? How much does he really know, and how much is he telling us? Why is he seeking a visit with Harry Potter? What do his actions mean for the fate of our world?
Mr. Potter was unavailable for comment, though Headmaster Dumbledore did say that Harry Potter did not wish to meet with the Minister, citing schoolwork demands. We all know that Harry Potter currently is not within the walls of Hogwarts. Where has Dumbledore hidden him?"
"That was Miss Granger in all her glory." Snape commented. "She should be a writer. I wonder how she got all of her information?" He took a sip of his drink. "Anything else?"
"A story about some kid called 'Joseph Cooper'." Draco answered. "It's fiction. There's also a crossword and some kind of word scramble. Horoscopes. A menu for the Great Hall, though how they got that…" Snape cut him off.
"Thank you, Draco. I think we're finished with that." Snape stood and went over to his enchanted windows. "Did they mention anything about the paper being a secret?" He asked.
"They just say that the paper is for students only and that no teacher will be able to read it. They ask their readers not to reveal it to any teacher at Hogwarts." Draco explained to his mentor.
"Yes, well. This is going to turn out like The Quibbler last year when Potter gave that interview." Snape sighed and turned back to Draco. "You should get to bed. I'll let Moody know you are here." Draco nodded and folded the paper. "May I see that?" Snape asked.
"You can't read it." Draco told him. "It's charmed." Draco explained.
"I am aware of that. I just want to see it." Draco handed over the paper and smirked at the doodle of a cauldron exploding and a cartoon of himself started berating the student in the smoke cloud. "Oh, that is definitely Longbottom's doing." He waved Draco off to his room. "Good-night, child." Draco wished him the same and left.
Snape moved to his desk and pulled out a quill. He wrote on the sheet. I don't know what you lot are up to, with these charmed papers, but when I find the artist of this cartoon, I shall give him a firm talking to. He could almost hear the shriek from Gryffindor Tower. He wondered what it would actually sound like.
"Hey, Bug. What's going on?" Harry asked as he noticed everyone crowding around the main bulletin board. Girls were squealing while boys appeared nervous. A few were making their way towards the girls with slightly confident faces causing quite a commotion in the hallway.
"There's going to be a Halloween dance on the 31st." Bug told Harry. "Fancy dress is required, but it sounds like it's going to be a good time." Harry paled. A dance? Fancy dress? Oh, this was not good. This sounded like the Yule Ball all over again. "Who would you like to be?" Bug asked him. "I think I'm going to be Chewbacca. Do you think I'm tall enough?" Harry looked Bug over and smiled.
"Maybe if I let you borrow my spy stilts." Harry said with a slightly mischievous look on his face. "We could work out something. Jack could help us." Bug shook his head. "What?" Harry asked. "I make a valid suggestion and you stare at me with reproach in your expression."
Bug snorted and elbowed Harry. "Get out of here, Shakespeare nut. I'll let you know what I come up with." Bug walked away, leaving Harry in the hallway. Harry turned towards Paul's office and froze when he saw several girls gathered and smiling at him. No, that wasn't right. It had to be someone behind him. Harry glanced behind him. Oh, that's a wall. He turned back to the girls and felt like Rita Skeeter was bearing down on him. He gave them all a crooked smile. Every girl in the group giggled. Harry decided that only one option was left in this situation. He fled.
Two seconds later found him in Paul's office, checking behind him for a pack of giggling teenagers. "Buddy? Someone after you?" Paul asked from behind him.
Harry whirled around and had to stop himself from reaching for his wand. "Paul! Don't do that!" He breathed out a sigh of relief and sank to the floor. Paul raised an eyebrow. "You're going to laugh at me." He told Paul.
"I will not." Paul contradicted as he helped Harry from the floor. "Tell me what's going on." Harry eyed him skeptically as he perched on the arm of the sofa. "On the cushions, please." Harry changed position. "What is it?"
Harry took a deep breath and sighed. "You know the Halloween dance?" Harry asked.
"I know something of it." Paul answered. "What about it?"
"Well, once all the girls saw the sign, it was like they were everywhere and they started staring at me, giggling, and smiling." Harry told Paul, hiding his face behind his pillow. "I felt like I was standing in front of a bus that had no brakes." Paul tried to keep his chuckles in. He really did. This was a boy who had fought for his life on more than one occasion, and now he couldn't handle girls? "I knew you'd laugh at me." Harry grumbled.
"I'm sorry, Harry. I am." Paul said as his laughter died down. "I just find it funny. You're so mature in some ways, and so innocent in others." Harry stared at Paul. Did he just say that? "Not innocent in that way, though you'd be a little young." Paul told him.
"Are you done embarrassing me yet?" Harry asked from behind his pillow.
"I think so." Paul took Harry's pillow away so he could see the boy's face. "So, who are you asking?"
Harry snatched the pillow back. "I thought you said you were done embarrassing me." Harry complained. Paul only raised an eyebrow. "I don't know. I don't want to go."
"I think you do. Come on. Think of what outfit you could wear! What would you disguise yourself as, given the chance?" Harry shrugged. "There must be something you always wanted to be."
"Normal?" Harry asked. Paul gave him another look. "I didn't really have a chance to think about it as a kid, alright?" Harry pulled his legs up and sighed. "I don't know what I would be." Harry stared off into space for a few seconds.
"I think I know what you could be, kid." Harry looked up. "Or should I say, Lord Vader?" Harry raised an eyebrow. "Come on, ultimate bad guy of all time."
"I'm not a bad guy." Harry said in response. "I'm a good guy."
"Which is why Vader is perfect for you. Vader was a good guy in bad guy clothes. Halloween is the one time you can don a disguise and not be stared at. Didn't Hermione's father offer to bring you a Star Wars costume once?" Paul asked.
"I don't want to be a burden." Harry told Paul. "He's busy."
"Well, a phone call wouldn't hurt." Paul picked up the receiver and wiggled it in Harry's direction. "Come on. The worst he could do is say no."
Harry glared at Paul, but reached out and took the hand piece. "Alright. Could you dial her number?" Paul punched in the number, smiling all the while. Harry found that Hermione's father was more excited about the chance to help than Harry had expected. "He'll be here this Thursday afternoon with a few different costumes, in case I change my mind about Darth Vader. He whispered through part of the conversation."
"He was probably hiding from his wife. Men do that sometimes." Paul explained. Hermione had told him about her mother threatening her father over the Star Wars costumes. "So, who are you going to ask?" Harry shrugged at Paul's question. "There must be some girl you like?" He prodded.
"I don't know any of them very well." Harry responded. "I've got to think about it." Harry explained. "It's just, why do they always have to move in packs?" Harry asked.
"Girl survival mode. I'm still trying to figure that out. If you find out, could you clue me in?" Harry stared at Paul's question. Why in the world would Paul want to know something like that?
"Right. Are we done with the embarrassing talk yet?" Harry pleaded. "Please?"
Paul chuckled. "Yes, we're done. Don't you have play practice now?" Harry eyes grew wide and Paul smiled as Harry bade him a quick good-bye and the boy ran out of the room and down the hallway. He turned back to his progress report on Harry.
Patient seems to be adjusting more and more as time goes on. He is finally starting to act as a normal teenager with the normal worries involved with those years. There is a school dance coming up at the end of the month. Harry hasexpressed some worry about the dance, mainly the date part of it. Harry has not had a much experience with this part of being a teenager as he has been too busy fighting for his life instead of learning about girls and dating. I have advised him the best I could, but this can only be learned by doing it. I only hope I will be able to help him with the hormones when they finally start raging.
"No, Evan. Stop." Harry's face fell as Professor Bevington stopped him in the middle of his speech. "Your phrasing is perfect, the words flow, but you're not quite into his character." Harry sank onto the stage and groaned. He had everything down but maintaining his character and the performance was just two weeks away! He needed to get this down. He was fine one minute and out of character the next. "You need to remember why Edmund is like he is." Professor Bevington told him. "He is a bastard child. His parents were not married when he was born, and now he is marked for life." Harry's hand rose to his scar and rubbed. He could almost identify with that. "Edmund is treated differently for something over which he has no control: His parents' actions. Now, everyone treats him differently. He is not normal. He operates outside society, no matter how much he wants in."
"It's horrible, having your parents' actions on you like that. He couldn't help what his parents did." Harry said in a whisper. "I'm not responsible for it. I didn't do it!" He looked up to see his teacher smiling down at him.
"That's it! That's it exactly! That is his attitude. He feels that he should not be responsible for his parents' actions, and now he is taking steps to ensure that he gets what he feels he deserves. Ever do anything like that?" Bevington asked.
"Yes, I did. I think I can do it now." He thought of not returning to Hogwarts and staying where he wanted to stay. He deserved this year. It felt good to be away from the fame and fawning of the magical world. He wasn't responsible for it; why should he be honored when it was his mother's work? Harry stood again and brought all of those familiar feelings to the front. He waited until Professor Bevington motioned for him to start. " 'Thou, nature, art my goddess; to they law/My services are bound. Wherefore should I/Stand in the plague of custom, and permit/The curiosity of nations to deprive me/For that I am some twelve or fourteen moonshines/Lag of a brother? Why bastard? Wherefore base?" Harry ran through the entire soliloquy and smiled when Bevington started clapping at the end.
"Perfect! Now, just make sure you do that when we open, alright?" Harry nodded and moved off the stage. "Regan, Goneril, Cordelia! I need you three out here!" Three girls moved onto the stage. "All right, girls, Act one, Scene one, starting with 'The jewels of our father'."
"Evan!" Harry jumped at the voice and turned to see Julie hurrying up to him. "We've got your costume ready. We need you to try it on so we can make any adjustments you might need." Harry followed her back to the costuming section of the theater.
"Did you find him?" A girl asked as Julie entered the room. "Oh, good!" She said once she saw Harry behind her. "Go try this on." She thrust a costume at him.
"Calm down, Sarah. It's not like he was hiding from us on purpose." Harry went into a dressing room Julie motioned him towards and locked the door behind him. He pulled on the costume and looked at himself in the mirror. He had thought that he would end up in tights (he had not been happy about that idea), but the costumes were creative in that they looked old and contemporary at the same time. He wanted to laugh as he saw the latest addition. It looked like a wizarding robe from Madame Malkins' shop, just cut differently and gathered in places, without sleeves. It actually reminded him of the garments Lockhart was so found of in his second year. He shuddered. A banging on the door startled him from his thoughts.
"I know it doesn't take you that long to get dressed everyday! Get out here!" Harry had little doubts as to why Sarah was called the "Cutter of the Costumes." Harry opened the door and stepped out. All of the girls froze.
"What?" Harry asked, as he looked himself over. "I put it on right, didn't I?" Sarah sighed and pushed Harry towards the mirrors.
"Don't mind them. You're the first person to look comfortable in our designs. No one has liked the cape at all." She told him. "On the stool please." Harry stepped onto the stool and Sarah buzzed around him. "The cut is perfect." She said. "Shrug your shoulders, please." Harry did as she asked. "Good." Harry held still as she put her hands up to his shoulders. "Let's slide this off." Harry shrugged off the cape as Julie came up behind him.
"You look great, Evan." Harry smiled at her and thanked her.
"Where did you get these designs?" He asked as Sarah motioned for him to put on the cape again.
"From a book." Sarah answered. "Are your shoe sizes accurate?" She asked from the shoe cases.
"Yes, they are." Harry did not want to antagonize the Cutter. Sarah dug into the trunk and pulled out a box.
"Try these on." She said. "Then we'll know if we have to hem your pants or not." Harry pulled on the boots she had handed him and turned at request. "They need hemmed just a bit. Up on the stool, please." Harry obeyed and waited for her to measure.
"Where's my Edmund?" He heard Professor Bevington's voice drawing nearer. "Edmund!" Harry started to step off the stool, but Sarah's glare kept him in place. "Oh my goodness! Wonderful!" Harry looked up to see his drama teacher standing in the doorway. "Costumers, that is just wonderful!" The entire costuming crew grinned at the praise. "How long do you need Edmund?" He asked.
"Just a few seconds more. We need to hem these pants." Sarah said from the floor. "Don't you dare grow until this play is over!" She ordered Harry.
"I'll try not to." Harry promised. "I'll be out as soon as Sarah is done with me, sir." Harry promised. Professor Bevington nodded and moved back to the stage area.
"That's not professional!" He wailed at some boys playing with the props. "Boys!" Harry smiled at his teacher and shook his head.
"Don't fidget." Sarah snapped at him. Harry held still until she told him he could move. He dashed back into the dressing room and changed his clothes, hanging the costume with the most care he could manage. He handed it back to Julie and left the backstage area.
"Evan!" Professor Bevington waved to him from the last row. Harry went to meet him. "You and Allen practice your lines together. Then we'll see your duel." Harry nodded and sat down next to his "brother".
"Hey, Evan. Last scene okay with you?" Harry nodded and smiled as Allen started reciting his lines. Harry loved the theater. He only hoped that everything went well. He pushed his thoughts of the impending dance away and recited his own line in response to Allen. This, he could do.
Dumbledore sat in his office, staring into space as he pondered his never-ending failure to retrieve Harry Potter from his relatives. The wards repelled him from Privet Drive, and any wizard or witch spent the better part of an hour trying to convince the wards to allow them through to the house. Once they reached the house, if they did, they had to battle against two rather stubborn and vehement Muggles. Harry had always given an impression of disliking his relatives and had said as much on more than one occasion. Why would the wards become so powerful? He, Albus Dumbledore, had set the wards! They should listen to him. Why did they change?
Dumbledore had reverted to the only course he could take in light of his new found knowledge of the strength of the wards. He had contacted a retired member of the Order to have him research every Muggle boarding school in England to see if he could locate Harry. It didn't seem like Harry was able to leave on his own free will. That, or his aunt held something over him, leaving Harry to choose between two unsavory options should Harry take it upon himself to leave the boarding school she had chosen. Whatever the reason, Harry could not return to the magical world on his own power. Therefore, the magical world must find him and bring him home.
Dumbledore looked up when the gargoyle alerted him to his visitor. Ah, Remus had already arrived! Excellent. "Come in, Remus." He called to the werewolf as the man raised a hand to knock on the door. The wolf had taken most of Remus' vitality, but Dumbledore held hope that having such a purpose would restore some life to the man. The boy liked Remus, after all, and Remus was fond of Harry. The door opened to reveal a tired werewolf leaning on his cane.
"You wished to see me?" Remus sank into a chair as Dumbledore poured out tea and passed a cup to Remus.
"Yes, Remus, I did." Dumbledore started. "I have a bit of a mission for you, should you wish to accept it." Remus gave him an interested look. The DADA professor was still there, then, and wishing for action. "I need your help in finding Harry."
"Harry is still missing?" Remus gave a worried frown at Dumbledore. "I thought you knew where he was." He said as he sipped his tea.
"We know that he is in England, at a Muggle boarding school. Which one or where, well, that's a different matter." Dumbledore explained. "I need an extra man on the search team to look for Harry." Dumbledore pulled out a large list. "I have found that the Muggles have a lot of boarding schools, Remus, a rather large number, in fact. The other professors and I are going to start searching the schools, one by one, until we find Harry." Dumbledore told him. "I'm sure that Harry will be more inclined to come forward with you on the team." Dumbledore motioned to the list. "The first school is very close to Privet Drive, and it branches out from there. I hope to have Harry back with us soon."
"Of course I'll help you." Remus told Dumbledore. "I've been waiting for an assignment from you for a long time, Headmaster." Remus took the offered list and skimmed it, looking to see if St. Jude's was mentioned at all. No. Someone else must have it.
"Excellent. The next meeting is tomorrow evening, at 7:00 pm." Dumbledore wrote out the time on a slip of parchment. "I'll see you in the Great Hall then." Remus nodded and hobbled out on his cane, clutching the list and parchment. He knew that Dumbledore had not given him the whole list of schools. There had to be more than that in England. That meant anotherhad the name of Harry's school. He hurried out of the school and to the gate so he could Apparate. He only hoped that Harry would like a surprise visit.
Author's Note: Okay, gang. That's it for now. I hope you all liked it. We're moving right along. I can't wait to get to what happens next, because Harry finds out about – never mind! I almost let it slip! ;) You'll have to wait until the next chapter. I won't give a date, because I truly don't know when that will be. I'll try to make it soon, but I can't guarantee it. (Sniff, sniff) I have another paper due next week, German this time, so I'll let you know how that goes, as well. The better my grades are, the more I let myself write. Talk to you all later!