(AN) REVIEW
Dumbledore sat alone is his dimly lit office doing the same thing he had done for much of his adult life. Worrying. Voldermort had not been seen in many weeks. However, even with his most loyal Deatheaters captured, Dumbledore's sources confirmed that his dark forces were gathering at a frightening pace. He tried to shield the students from the alarm that consumed the outside world, but the task had become nearly impossible. Even the faculty had become uneasy as the unforeseen loomed before them.
On top of all of this the strangest thing's were happening. Memories of his youth had been flashing before his eyes all morning never staying long enough for him to comprehend their meaning. Rubbing his temples Dumbledore let out a small groan at the pending migraine. He thought he would surely kill Fawkes if he didn't stop the confounded tapping on the window seal. Then he started to make out the anguished screams of a tiny voice.
"Headmaster Dumbledore! It's me Ron Weasley! Please open the window it's an emergency! You have to save them!"
Imminently he walked to the window letting the small green creature in. Dumbledore held out his palm, Ron swiftly landed going into a crazed jumble of horrified words.
Dumbledore unfazed by Ron's appearance, "Calm down Ron! Here have a lemon drop." He pulled out the candy from his robe placing it beside the pixie. The lemon drop reached Ron's knees. For the first time in his life Ron ignored the offering of food.
"Professor Harry, Hermione, and Malfoy were in the forest. They have been captured. There is blood, a lot of it. Hundreds of hoof marks. Their bodies were dragged away." Dumbledore's features turned grave.
"Fawkes alert Grimwald. Have all of the Order here imminently." The phoenix gave a squak and flew out the open window. "Professor Black and Salem please travel to your portraits in the Ministry, put them on high alert and send for as many aurors as possible for a search party into the forbidden forest." they did as they were told and a clatter went up around the portraits. "Now Mr. Weasley tell me all you know."
Dumbledore sat back down listening to Ron hurriedly recount the tale. It all started yesterday on the train. Malfoy came in and....(seven minutes later)... then I rushed back here."
Dumbledore could no longer hide his worry. Three students had gone missing their fate unknown. One of which was their greatest weapon against the dark lord. All of this because they had merely overlooked the obvious.
"Mr. Weasley in all your years at Hogwarts you have seemed to have forgotten one of the first rules to spells and enchantments. There is always another way, a loophole perhaps. The enlightenment curse, the one that holds you as a pixie, also has one of these loop holes."
Ron looked shocked, "What is it Professor?"
Dumbledore sighed, "You simply say the counter curse. Anyone can say the counter curse."
Ron paled and reddened at the same time, "That stupid lowdown scoundrel Malfoy lied to us!" if Ron had listened to himself it wouldn't have come to that much of a shock but at the moment he was steaming. This could be all my fault. My friends went into the forest for me if something has happened to them... his energy suddenly faded, weighed down by his guilty conscious.
Dumbledore looked down through his half-moon glasses, "Do not blame yourself Mr. Weasley. Neither Mr. Potter nor Miss Granger realized this either. It was a simple mistake."
Even with these comforting words Ron was slowly slipping into a depression. What if he never saw his best friends again? What would he do without them? Could he live knowing it was his fault. Hold yourself together man! You are jumping ahead of yourself here. He willed himself to look up at the Headmaster grim expression.
"We have to go after them."
"Mr. Weasley I have already sent off for..."
"No we have to go now! We must! They are getting farther and farther away as we sit here wasting time!" Ron was shaking now cold tears running down his dark green face.
"Mr. Weasley you are in no condition to go into the forest, especially in the state you are now."
"Then change me back damn it!" Ron's panicky voice broke through the sobs.
Dumbledore gave another forced sigh. He stode over to a wardrobe and pulled out one of his own robes. A royal blue with silver stars. "You will need this when you have changed back." He placed it on the floor, Ron in the middle of it's velvety fabric.
Dumbledore took his wand in his left hand and did a complicated swish and swirl. He mumbled something illegible under his breath. Ron closed his eyes feeling the tingly sensation in his limbs. Once it had stopped he opened his eyes. Ron looked down relif washing over him. He looked as his reflection in one of the portraits glass frames. He was dressed on the expensive blue robe but other than that he didn't look any different from when he had stepped onto the Hogwarts express the day before. He was human again.
"All right I am going to go get my wand and I will meet you back here in five minutes." He turned away preparing to leave the office.
"Hold on right there Mr. Weasley. As noble as your actions might be it is best that you stay at Hogwarts during the search."
Ron almost fell over. "What...what...No way I am going with you there is no way I am..."
"I have sent for the Order and Ministry. They are far more skilled in this sort of thing."
Ron clinched his fist, losing his temper, "You can not keep me here! I AM going to look for them and you can NOT stop me!"
"Mr. Weasley!" Dumbledore's voice raised to match the boys, a dark aura appearing around him, "You shall not go. There are far worse things lurking in that forest than centaurs and giants." he kind of deflated and his voice went soft "You will not be doing Mr. Potter or Miss Granger any favors if you go get yourself killed. Please just return to your dormitory." Dumbledore looked more tired than Ron had ever seen him.
Ron looked down ashamed. "Yes Headmaster, as you wish." his voice cracked. Ron left the office his spirit broken.
Dumbledore doubled over as another memory flashed across his eyes. There had been a girl holding a bow preparing to shoot an arrow at an unknown target. She had long chestnut hair and an emerald and black robe. The same uniform that had not been used in years. not since he was a student...Then the memory passed and Dumbledore was left alone. His hand went out to his desk to catch his balance as a spell of dizziness came over him. What is happening to me? Just then he heard the ca-plunk of people arriving in the next room.
He stood up straight ignoring his aching head. Wiping away the beads of sweat that had gathered on his forehead Dumbledore prepared himself to break the most devastating news ever uttered when talking of the pending war. Harry Potter is missing. Our last hope against the Dark Lord has vanished. If it had been anyone else this would have been the breaking point of sanity. But not for out dear Dumbledore, he still held hope however useless that might have been.
Straightening his robe Dumbledore stepped out into the room full of aurors. Years of worry finally showing on his tired face.
HaRrY's StOrY
Harry had awoke with a start by a dark shadow looming over him. He put on his glasses that had miraculously been fixed during the night.
"Jeez Salogel you don't just sneak up on people like that."
Salogel showed a toothy grin, "First lesson Mr. Potter always be prepared." He threw a long stick that Harry had mistaken for his walking cane.
" What is this?" Harry caught the stick and ran his hand down the smooth surface that ended in a sharp point.
"This my dear young wizard, is a spear." Salogel pulled out his own identical spear.
"You will pull your own while you stay with the clan. Only then will you earn their respect."
"So I will win their approval with a pointy stick?" Harry raised a eyebrow.
"No you stupid boy!" Salogel gently knocked him in the head with the blunt end of his spear. "You will earn their respect in sparring. You will learn to fight. You will become a warrior."
Harry's eyes threatened to pop out, "A..a...warrior...me. You mean hunting."
"Yes you will go hunting with McGorian when you are ready. You must first prove yourself a stallion....or well man." Salogel added on a second thought.
"How do I do that?" Harry wondered if he really wanted to know.
"You shall have to complete the trials appointed by the clan that every male must go through." Salogel looked thoughtful.
Harry looked scared. "What are those?"
"That isn't something you need to worry about now Mr. Potter. Now we shall focus on your first lesson in sparring."
Harry's stomach rumbled.
Salogel laughed. "But we shall have breakfast before that. Come this way"
Salogel opened the flap to the tent.
Harry asked one more question, "Who will be teaching me to spar?"
"Ah our best warrior. Bane." Salogel stepped out of the tent. Harry stood still horror etched onto his face. The same creature that had given him the lashes still burning on his back would be his teacher in war.
(AN:) Mufahahahahaha this was rather short for one of my chapters. If we make it to 100 reviews I shall kiss you all! Or well I will be eternally grateful! So do we want a Hermione/Draco next or a Ron/Harry? PLEASE REVIEW!