Soul of the Enemy
By Willow Spirit
Disclaimer: I only own the plot. Everything else belongs to the wonderful J. K. Rowling.
A/N: Thanks for the reviews! I also want to point out that for the purpose of my story, Ginny will be a sixth year prefect for Gryffindor. As far as I know, Ginny is not made prefect in HBP, but I'm just making this small change for the sake of my plot. Just wanted to let you all know.
Chapter 15 – Bed Time Stories
The past few weeks had been much too quiet. In fact, there hadn't been many reports of Death Eater attacks since around Valentine's Day. That in itself should have been enough warning. But of course, that was the way that Voldemort worked.
And so, it shouldn't have been a surprise when a large barn owl appeared in Great Hall one evening at supper.
The solitary owl seemed strangely out of place. It caught the attention of many students and professors as it gracefully swooped through the air, before it came to a graceful landing in the middle of the Head Table…right in front of Dumbledore.
Dumbledore gazed thoughtfully at the owl as he graciously accepted the envelope from its leg. He nodded slightly to the large bird and it gave a loud hoot in response. Then, in a ruffle of wings, it was airborne again and it flew away into the night.
Some students didn't want to stare at the Headmaster, so they politely turned their heads away and continued their conversations. Others did not look away, including a select group of Gryffindors who were very curious.
"I wonder what this is all about," Ron said. "Seems strange to me that Dumbledore would get a letter in the middle of supper time."
"Maybe it's important," Hermione shrugged. Harry and Alex, on the other hand, were too focused on Dumbledore to say anything.
"I hope it's not bad news," Ginny said.
They continued to watch Dumbledore as he carefully opened the envelope and removed the letter from inside. They watched as he began to read the letter, hoping for any clue as to what was going on. But if they were hoping for anything spectacular, they would be very disappointed. Dumbledore's face barely changed. Harry, however, noticed the subtle changes that the others were sure to miss. He could tell; he had witnessed the various sides of Dumbledore that other students never got to see.
Dumbledore's face grew slightly pale and his eyes changed as well. Harry knew that look; Dumbledore was concerned and afraid. Whatever was in that letter was not good news. Harry's eyes never left Dumbledore, even as the professor stood to address the student body.
"May I have your attention please," Dumbledore fought to keep his voice even. It didn't take long for everyone to settle down; it didn't take a genius to realize that something big was going on here. "Thank you. I am afraid I have some unpleasant news. I think it would be best if we ended supper for tonight. But before you leave, I must ask that our Head Boy and Girl stay behind, along with one prefect from each house and the following students: Natalie MacDonald from Gryffindor, Stewart Ackerley and Orla Quirke from Ravenclaw, Ernie Macmillan from Hufflepuff, and Eliza Derrick from Slytherin.
"That will be all. I ask that everyone return immediately to your dormitories. As for the prefects who do not stay behind, please ensure that all the younger students arrive safely to the dormitories. I assure you, all your questions will be answered in due time. Now, if you would all please leave in an orderly fashion."
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"This is not good," Harry muttered to himself as the entire student body left the Great Hall. "There's no way this can be good. Dumbledore never does things like this."
"What do you think it is?" Alex asked. The two of them were walking together in the middle of the mass of students. Ron and Hermione had to stay behind because of their positions, and Ginny was the Gryffindor prefect who volunteered to stay behind.
"I don't know," Harry replied. "Nothing like this has happened in months. I mean, our last real scare was the whole Department of Mysteries thing nearly two years ago. Sure, we've been fighting ever since then but nothing really major. That's what has me so worried, you know. It's like Voldemort has been playing with us up until now. Something tells me he was just building up his troops until he could do something worth while."
"And you think this is it?" Alex glanced at Harry carefully.
"I hope it isn't," Harry sighed. "'Cause if it is, then that means things are going to get much worse."
Everyone eventually made their way back to their common rooms. Harry, Alex, and the rest of the Gryffindors were all waiting impatiently around the room. Everybody was utterly confused and no one wanted to go anywhere without hearing what was going on.
So they sat or stood around and waited for what seemed like forever. Where was McGonagall? Where were the others? Then, startling everyone and causing silence to envelop the room, McGonagall appear with Hermione, Ron, Ginny, and Natalie right behind her.
Harry's heart sank when he saw Natalie, who was currently being comforted by Ginny. He just happened to make eye contact with Ginny when she briefly raised her eyes and looked directly at him. Harry saw a combination of fear and despair in those bright brown eyes. Good lord, this was not good.
"We have just received terrible news," McGonagall got straight to the point, though Harry noticed that her voice wavered ever so slightly. "There has been a large Death Eater attack on several wizard families. No survivors have been found amongst the attacked. We have lost 36 witches and wizards today, some of whom were aurors and others were family members of students here at Hogwarts.
"I ask that everyone give the grieving students some personal space for the moment. All of you are to stay here in Gryffindor Tower for the rest of the evening. I strongly recommend that you stay in your dormitories for now. I know this is a difficult time for everyone but I am counting on you all to stay calm."
A few students nodded slightly, while others could do nothing but stare at McGonagall. What could they say to something like that! McGonagall took one last glance around the room, then turned to look at Hermione. The look clearly said, 'I trust that you'll keep things in order.' Hermione gave a brief nod to the professor as she swiftly left the common room, leaving the room full of frightened and confused students.
That's when all hell broke loose.
Everyone suddenly found their voices again, and they were all shouting questions at Ron and Hermione.
"What's going on?"
"Are we in danger?"
"How do we know who is hurt?"
"Is You-Know-Who coming here?"
"What are we going to do?"
"I need to send a note to my parents!"
"We still don't know anything!"
"How long do we have to say up here?"
"Will there be classes tomorrow?"
"When will find out more?"
"Why did Professor McGonagall leave us?"
"What are we supposed to do?"
"Are we allowed to send out owls right now?"
"SILENCE!"
Hermione shouted above all the others, doing a very good McGonagall impression. Her face was stern and her eyes were flashing dangerously. She made her way over to a chair at one of the tables and stood upon it so that she could see everyone in the sea of people. No one spoke another word, their eyes were transfixed by the sight of their Head Girl.
"Thank you," she said curtly. "You all heard what Professor McGonagall said. I also strongly recommend that everyone go to their rooms now before I have to do anything drastic, like take away house points. If you think I'm joking, just try me."
No one had to be told twice. The common room quickly began to empty, as everyone made a mad dash towards the stairs. Hermione jumped down from the chair and joined the others.
"I think I'll take her up to her room," Ginny said quietly, nodding her head towards Natalie, who was still crying softly in her arms. "I might be up there for a while."
"Sure," Hermione looked at the poor girl with great sympathy. "Take your time."
So Ginny lead Natalie away, leaving Harry, Hermione, Alex, and Ron alone in the common room.
"So…feel like going up to your rooms?" Ron asked.
"No," Harry replied shortly, plopping himself down on a couch in front of the fireplace.
"Me neither," Ron said as he and the girls joined Harry.
"So what happened down there?" Harry finally asked after a moment of silence.
"Not much," Hermione admitted tiredly. "After you all left, Dumbledore told the five students that their parents had unfortunately been killed in Death Eater attacks, you know, the students he called by name. Anyway, then he told Ron and I that he would need our help in maintaining order around the school during the next few days. That was pretty much it. He said a few words about how he was sorry for their loss. Then the prefects who stayed behind had to help escort the students back to their houses. It was awful. You think Natalie was bad up here, you should have seen them all down stairs."
"It was scary," Ron shuddered at the recent memory. "Some of them were even screaming. I never saw anything like it."
"It's starting," Harry suddenly said quietly.
"What's starting?" Hermione asked.
"The war."
"Hate to break it to you, mate, but I think the war started after we busted into the Department of Mysteries," Ron said.
"No, don't you feel it?" Harry asked urgently. "It's like everything up until now has been a test, like Voldemort's just been playing with us. Nothing this big has ever happened so far. I think this is the first step in his larger plan. We're on our way to something much bigger and I feel that it's going to be one huge battle."
"Oh, I certainly hope you're wrong, Harry," Hermione looked very frightened.
"Someone, Hermione, I don't think I am."
Alex was the only one who hadn't said anything throughout the entire conversation. She just sat there the whole time, gazing into the fire. Her face was completely blank, void of any possible emotions. Her eyes, however, told a much different story, if anyone had bothered to look. Their depths were filled with anguish and confusion. If anyone had bothered to look, then they might have wondered why.
But no one had time to notice Alex's eyes, since there came a sound from the dual sets of stairs leading up to the dormitories. All four heads turned and saw four first years, two girls and two boys, standing together in a huddled clump at the bottom of the stairs.
"Ellen, Peter, Kayla, and Geoffrey, what are you doing down here?" Hermione asked curiously.
"Don't be mad, Hermione," Ellen spoke up for the rest of the group. "We were just…well, we were wondering if…could we maybe…"
"Would you like to join us?" Hermione smiled at the younger students. For a moment they looked stunned. It wasn't everyday first years got to sit with Harry Potter's group.
"Okay!" the four quickly scampered over to the fire area. The four seniors moved over to make room for them and soon everyone was quite comfortable.
"So little munchkins, what brings you downstairs?" Ron asked.
"We didn't want to stay upstairs," Peter shifted nervously. Ron looked at his friends and all four exchanged an amused yet worried glance.
"Really?"
"Is there anything wrong?" Hermione asked them.
"We wanted to make sure the girls were okay," Geoffrey answered immediately.
"Geoffrey!" Ellen hissed.
"Oww!" obviously Ellen gave Geoffrey a good discrete pinch.
"That's not true," Kayla finally spoke up, but there was a strange sort of quiver in her voice.
"We're worried," Peter said. "Is Natalie going to be okay?"
"I hope so," Hermione tried to sound reassuring.
"But is she going to be okay?" Alex nodded towards Kayla, who looked like she was on the verge of tears.
"I'll be fine," Kayla croaked.
"Kayla is Natalie's cousin," Ellen explained gently. "So it was her aunt and uncle who died today."
"Oh, Kayla, I'm so sorry," Hermione wrapped her arm around the miserable girl.
"It's okay Kayla, we won't leave you," Geoffrey insisted urgently as he took one of her hands in his. The gesture made the senior students share another significant glance. These four young ones were so much like them it was scary.
"Absolutely," Peter agreed. "It's one for all, and all for one."
"Thanks everyone," Kayla sniffed and tried to smile.
"You're lucky to have such good friends," Harry said.
"I know."
"Well, is there anything we can do for you?" Hermione asked.
"Actually…" Kayla hesitated slightly. "Could we just stay here for a while with you guys? I don't think any of us want to go back upstairs."
"I don't mind," Hermione shrugged, looking to the other three seventh years. They all shrugged in return. No one had the heart to send them away yet.
"Brilliant!" Peter exclaimed. "So what are we going to do?"
That was a good question. Harry, Ron and Alex didn't have a clue. Then Hermione just had to open her mouth and suggest it. "We could tell you some stories, if you want." Her friends looked at her like she had three heads.
So did the younger students.
"Please," Ellen rolled her eyes. "We're not little kids anymore. We're eleven, not five."
"Speak for yourself!" Geoffrey looked scandalized. "I'm twelve years old now, just one more year before I'm thirteen."
"Oh, excuse me," Ellen gasped in mock concern.
"Oh, come on," Hermione tried again. "Everyone likes to hear stories, no matter how old you are."
"Well, what do you have in mind?" Peter asked, trying hard not to appear too interested.
"Hum…let me think. Ah, I've got it! How'd you like to hear Sleeping Beauty?"
"What's that?" the four young ones looked a bit confused.
"You don't know Sleeping Beauty!" Hermione was completely shocked. "Oh, I'm so telling you this one. Okay, once upon a time there was this kingdom that was ruled by a nice king and queen. So one day…"
And Hermione started the story filled with romance and adventure. She had everyone's attention the whole time. All four boys didn't seem to like the mushy parts, but were more excited when Hermione got to the part when the prince fights the dragon. After a while she finally finished the story.
"That was so sweet," Ellen and Kayla sighed dreamily.
"Mmm, it was okay," Geoffrey shrugged.
"Well how about if I try one?" Ron suddenly suggested. All heads turned to look at him.
"You?" Harry tried hard not to laugh. "Tell a story? I'd like to hear this."
"Me too," Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"What's the story?" Peter asked.
"I'm going to tell the story of the end of our first year," there was a certain kind of confidence in Ron's voice.
"You mean our fiasco with the Philosopher's Stone!" Hermione squeaked.
"Yup!"
This really perked up the four young first years. They had heard bits and pieces of the Gryffindor Trio's adventures but never the full stories, and never from the Trio themselves. So Ron had no trouble grabbing their attention. Even Harry and Hermione were sort of interested. Everything had happened nearly six years ago, so they barely talked about it anymore.
"So there we were…" Ron was nearly finished. "…on the chess board, almost at the end of the game. That's when I looked at the remaining pieces and saw it."
"Saw what!" Ellen gasped.
"The opening we needed for a checkmate."
"Oooo…"
And all too soon, Ron abruptly ended the story with his fall off the knight.
"Well!" Geoffrey exclaimed.
"And that's it," Ron sat back into his seat.
"That can't be it!" Kayla cried.
"For me it is. I was knocked unconscious at that point. If you want the rest of the story, ask him," Ron waved his hand towards Harry.
"Oh, please, Harry! Please, please, please, please, please!" four sets of pleading, puppy dog eyes were fixed on Harry. Good Lord, how could anyone resist.
"Well…" could he do it? It's not like he had to tell the story of the Department of Mysteries. Maybe he could do this if would cheer up the kids. Harry looked to his friends for support. Three heads nodded for him to do it.
"Alright. Well, I had to leave Hermione with Ron. I knew I had to continue on alone…"
Harry surprised even himself at how easily he told the story. Of course, he did a teeny bit of editing for the sake of the first years. They didn't need to know the details of their conversation. But it was amazing just the same. They loved it! Hell, even Hermione and Ron loved it.
"Has it really been six years?" Hermione asked when he was done. "It's so strange; some days it seems like it was yesterday and other times it feels like a million years ago."
"And just think," Ron added. "We were the same age as these guys when it happened."
"Now don't go filling their heads with ideas, Ron," Hermione wagged her finger at him.
"Oh, don't worry," Geoffrey assured them. "We wouldn't dare. Besides, we wouldn't have the boy-who-lived on our team."
"Err, yeah," Harry shifted slightly in his spot. There was a slightly awkward moment as no one quite knew what to say. Of course, it didn't last too long when someone stated the inevitable…
"Hey, Alex never told us a story yet," Ellen pointed out. Again there were four chanting pleas for another tale.
Alex meanwhile, just looked incredulous. What were these kids thinking? Weren't they scared of her? "You want me to tell you a story!"
"YES!"
"Seriously, do you want to have nightmares tonight?" she asked them dangerously. "'Cause that's all you'll get if I end up telling you anything. Besides, I don't know any good stories."
"Oh, come on, Alex," Peter nearly begged. "Everyone else did."
"And if everyone else jumps off a bridge…" Alex muttered to herself.
"Why don't you, Alex?" Harry looked at her, a bit concerned. "You must know something you can tell. Or just make it up. It doesn't matter."
"Oh…fine! Just bloody fine!" Alex finally relented and the young ones cheered. "But you all asked for it. Don't come crying to me and Hermione when you wake up screaming. And I'm warning you now, it's really long. So here goes. This is story of the Lord of the Rings…"
As Alex suspected no one seemed to really recognize the name, except maybe Hermione. 'Probably because it's so old,' Alex smirked to herself.
This was going to be good.
Who knows how long Alex spent telling the story. No one really cared. The events of story slowly unfolded, and eventually Alex was up and out of her chair, acting out the various parts with passionate energy. The others were a wonderful audience, too. They laughed, clapped, cheered, gasped and cried in all the right places. It was fantastic. Too bad it had to end.
When it was over, no one could say anything for a few moments. Ellen's and Kayla's faces were laced with tears and Peter and Geoffrey were discreetly trying to wipe theirs away. Ron and Harry just sat there, completely stunned. Hermione looked highly impressed. Suddenly Geoffrey found her voice.
"That was bloody amazing!" he cried.
"That was the best story I ever heard!" Peter added.
"It was beautiful," Kayla said in an awed, hushed voice.
"I want to be an elf princess!" Ellen exclaimed. "If I can marry a ruggedly handsome man like Aragorn, then sign me up!"
"Anyway, maybe you four should be getting up to your rooms now," Alex took a glance around the room. "What time is it anyway?"
"10:00," Hermione raised her eyebrows with a smirk.
"WHAT!" Alex let out an uncharacteristic screech. "You mean I've been at this for about an hour and a half! Alright, that's it. You four up to bed. This is the last time you trick me into telling you a long story."
"But we're not tired," Peter said. "Especially not after a story like that."
"Like I really give a damn," Alex gestured to the staircases. "Scatter! Now!"
Not needing to be told twice, the four first years were gone in a wink, leaving the four seventh years behind.
"That really was an amazing story, Alex," Ron said. "You sure know how to tell it too."
"Yeah, well, I know it really well," Alex plopped herself back into her spot on the sofa.
"It must be one of your favorites," Hermione looked at her carefully. "My dad read it to me when I was younger."
"Yeah? That's nice," Alex suddenly was up in a flash again. "Err, you know I'm a little tired after all that storytelling. I think I'm going up to bed early. See you all later."
And before they could say anything else, she was already gone and away up the stairs. "There she goes again," Ron muttered.
"You know, I think I was getting close to something," Hermione said thoughtfully. "You realize that she gets all secretive whenever we get close to discussing her past."
"Sure, but there's nothing we can do," Harry looked towards the staircase with concern. "Not until she decides to talk to us. How many times have we been over this before?"
"Too many, I know," Ron rubbed his temples in circles.
"Well, then, it pointless doing it again," Harry sighed as he let his head fall back onto the sofa.
"Let's not worry about it," Hermione said. "Not after such an amazing story. You do realize that hardly anyone tells stories like that nowadays. We used to have wonderful spoken traditions, a long time ago. You know the Druids actually had to memorize all of their knowledge and customs. No wonder it took them years to become a Druid…"
"Alright, I'm tired now," Ron made a mad dash to the staircases. "See you tomorrow!"
"Honestly," Hermione huffed. "How could anyone find the history of the Druids boring?"
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A/N: Hey, please review.
Next Chapter: A possible DA comeback...and Alex needs to dish out some payback