CHAPTER 22-Hogsmeade Trip With Uninvited Guests
Friday has arrived. The last day of their detention was upon them. As they were running through their fitness course Harry noticed that they could all now run through it the three times required along with the extra two laps. That last lap was still a struggle but getting better.
He had noticed in the mirror after his shower today that while he was still too young to really develop a lot of bulk he could at least see that he had muscles. His endurance has really improved and he is actually better able to study and concentrate.
After today Professor Longbottom said they didn't have to run it on weekends if we didn't want to but they had to continue with it during the week days. Harry thought he might just continue everyday since it made him feel so good, and he was getting used to watching the sun come up.
Dueling was the same. They were well in the middle of year two in dueling. Twice a week the Professor set up a dueling course for them also. They would divide into two teams, different each time, and try to take the flag of the other team. The professor had a spell that marked you, almost like a paint ball would, when you were hit by a spell. When you were hit the color of the hit would determine if you were dead or how long you had to stay down. Yellow was five minutes, red was dead and green was two minutes and so on.
These were only for curses that they were not supposed to use on each other. They were using practice wands and they were all tied into that special spell. You could "stupefy" someone and it would actually do it because it was not harmful. Then a teammate could "Envenerate" you and off you would go. But if you threw a cutting curse the color charms would kick in and take you out of the game for awhile.
Transfiguration was slow. Some of them could transfigure a paw or two but the Professor said it would take a long time and it would appear she was right. Draco was funny in that he was finally able to transfigure one of his legs. But one of his legs was as big as he was so it would push him over and everyone would have to run over and help him until he could transfigure back. Everyone figured that this transfiguration was going to get worse before it got better and require a lot more people to assist.
The Twins had found out about the Friday night Order meeting, and the kids had plans to be there, uninvited of course. They also decided that they didn't need everyone out at the same time, just one of the Twins to handle the ears and Ginny said she would keep notes this time since Hermione was working on another project. They would go down to the room, they used last time, before the meeting and not leave until everyone was gone.
Their curfew would be changed to ten o'clock which was fine because they could use the library longer. Hermione had involved them in another project. As she told them, poor Dobby, who had really saved their lives, was stuck with that dark Wizard, that Death Eater. There had to be a way to save him and she was going to research the whole library and find it.
Draco said he would help her look for something. He really liked Dobby. Many times when he had been beaten, Dobby would sneak in food and medicine for him. Dobby couldn't heal the wounds because his father would notice but he would give him pain medication and 'skele-gro' to take care of broken bones.
So the teams went their way and Harry went to one of the unused classrooms to practice his wand-less magic. It was getting to the point where he felt the need to share with someone so that they could practice on each other. He decided on Neville. There was something about the guy that spoke hidden strength. Yes, he was a gentle soul as his Animagus spoke to. But there was also a strength there.
He found Neville sitting in front of the fire reading a plant periodical. "Neville, I've been practicing something for awhile that no one knows about and I was wondering if you would like to learn too?"
Neville smiled, then said, "Well, I guess that depends on what it is we are learning. Being around the Twins for over a month now I have learned to ask questions."
Harry laughed, "Smart move. I am learning wand-less magic. It is hard and takes a long time but I think you could do it. You have an inner strength and you are able to remain more focused than I am and that is what it takes. In fact you might learn it faster than I did. Do you want to try?
"OK," replied Neville. "I assume you don't want to do it here so where should we go? "
"There is a classroom down the way that is empty but has a lot of things you can move around and hex while we practice" said Harry.
The rest of the kids, Ron, Luna, Fred and Percy were helping Professor Longbottom plan a Birthday Party. They were under a vow of secrecy, not that there was to be a party, but what was going to happen at the party. She had decided that she needed help with this party thing. Ron, Fred, and Percy all came from a big family so would know how those parties worked and what the kids liked. Luna was a loner and Alice figured that this way they would not plan something that she would be uncomfortable with.
Around nine o'clock Alice told her crew to head on back. They knew why, but just played along and went back to the common room. Alice went on to the Order meeting.
George and Ginny were already in their room, waiting for everyone to arrive so they could put the ears in place. "You know what" said George, "We really need to get down here and check this place out when there are no adults around."
"I think you're right, there seems to be more down here than meets the eye. I don't understand having this much space if it is never used. Perhaps it is used and we just don't know for what."
Around midnight everyone was in the common room. It was Friday night and Detention was officially over so no one would be in to check on them. In fact at dinner time Professor Dumbledore officially released them and told them that while he hoped they would not have to repeat the last three weeks he wanted to thank them for the wonderful way they performed their tasks.
George and Ginny finally arrived and they looked sad. Fred offered them a couple Butter Beers that they had absconded from the kitchens. The drinks were gratefully accepted and everyone settled down for the report.
Ron started by letting everyone know that Professor Longbottom sent word that Luna's Father had been killed and she would be staying with her in their living quarters tonight.
Ginny started by saying, "Yes, they talked about that tonight. We weren't going to say anything but if they have already talked with her I guess it's OK."
George continued, "They are really worried about the friends of the 'Boy Who Lived'. Death Eaters have already attacked the Burrow, and would you believe that they burned down Snape's house and the Longbottom Manor."
Neville gasped, "Mom never said a word about it to me. No wonder she has been so worried lately."
George added, "Yeh, they are trying to get mom and dad to move back into Hogwarts for a while longer, at least until they can catch the people doing this. They have sent out Order members to talk with your parents Hermione, and try to get them to come to Hogwarts or move overseas for a while."
Hermione said, "I was worried about that. They are Muggles and can't defend themselves. If Malfoy is after me he would just as soon kill them as look at them. I don't know if they will take this seriously or not so I think I am going to send them an Owl and talk them into leaving."
Ginny added, "They also want to go back to Malfoy Manor to see if they can find any information that might help them in their search for the death eaters, but they didn't set a time.
Lastly, they are trying to figure out Draco's letter. They know that his ex-father wants him dead but they can't figure out the "Rat" situation. They talked a lot about who this "Rat" might be. They don't know if it means a snitch, or an animagus who is a rat or a real rat ...they just don't know."
"Lupin did tell a story about the Marauders" said George. "Do you know that we know the Marauders listed on our map Fred? Lupin was Moony or the Werewolf. Harry, your father was prongs or the stag. Sirus Black was a big black dog or Padfoot, and Peter Pettigrew was wormtail or in other words 'a rat'.
George continued, "I think they are really starting to wonder just where this map might be because it could show who might be in the castle that shouldn't be. The last time Lupin remembers seeing it was when Filch confiscated it during one of their detentions."
"Lupin is wondering if the Rat might not be Peter Pettigrew except he is supposed to be dead. That is why Sirus is in Azakaban, because he betrayed your parents Harry, and killed Pettigrew along with a bunch of muggles."
"Anyway they are grasping at straws trying to figure it all out" said Ginny. "There are a lots of people meeting in that room now and they're not all arriving from the hall way. There must be a floo in there, or at least it sounds like it. Some of them must have code names because they were calling them names like Merlin, Salazar, Helga, Rowena, and Godric. We know they are the founders and all dead so these people must be important so they tagged them with important nick-names."
"Yeh," said George, "They were talking about some prophecy that concerned Voldemort and the Companions. From what they were saying, the Companions have to face up with Voldemort when he returns and they are the only ones who might have a chance to beat back the Dark Lord."
"Not much of it made any sense" said Ginny, "But we figured that with all of us thinking and researching it, perhaps we can figure it out."
It looked as if Hermione was already thinking about it but Harry broke their concentration by reminding them that tomorrow was Hogsmeade day and if they wanted to enjoy it they should get to bed.
"Draco and I have more information about Dobby also, but we can share all that tomorrow" said Hermione.
They all agreed and headed off to bed.
Harry was up bright and early running the obstacle course. It seemed different today. Detention was over and he was doing this because he wanted to and it just felt different. After he showered and went down to the common room he found that all the kids were feeling like a weight had been lifted off their backs. It had been a long three weeks. In many ways it was a good three weeks in that they seemed to have formed a bond with each other. Their friendships were deeper and it was almost like family.
They all met up with Severus and Alice on the front steps of the castle. Well, the kids were there for half an hour before the professors arrived but finally they were all ready to head out to Hogsmeade. The professors told them all about the birthday party that they were going to have that evening at dinner and that one of their gifts was fifty galleons each. The kids were in shock, especially the Weasley kids.
"We feel you have earned much more with all the tasks you completed, but since you were on detention we will only allow you to keep the fifty galleons for spending money."
With money in their pockets and a place to spend it they were ten happy kids. All the shops were open and it would take much of the day to see everything and have lunch.
The Professors told them that they would be sitting outside the Tea and Coffee Shop, which is new and located at the center of town. If there are any problems or if anyone needs help all you need to do is yell or come get one of us. They were not to go to the shrieking shack or outside the town limits. They were not to go anywhere alone, they must always have at least one person with them at all times. With that said everyone went their own way.
Severus and Alice were perfectly happy to sit and watch the people go by. They rested, talked and just got to know each other better. The kids would stop by as they were shopping and check in once in a while and all was quiet. They all gathered at the Three Broomsticks for lunch and a lot of talk then they all headed back out for more shopping.
The quiet was broken when they heard four pops, and a loud scream from a woman down the street. They both grabbed their wands and headed in the direction of the scream. They knew that the pops were people apparating into town and there was a special place for that which was not in the middle of the street. This could only mean trouble.
Harry was with Hermione and Draco when he saw them arrive. Four Death Eaters appeared right down the street from them. Harry started to run toward them when he remembered his last visit with Snape on the couch. He grabbed Hermione's hand and yelled at Draco as they changed directions and headed back toward where Snape and Professor Longbottom were supposed to be.
They were running as fast as they could when Harry looked up and saw Snape. Snape yelled at him to GET DOWN! Without thinking Harry grabbed both Draco and Hermione and pulled them with him into a doorway to the nearest store. It was a good thing because the place where they had been standing blew up. Snape stayed on their side of the street and as he walked by them he told them to get in the store and stay there. Alice crossed the street and the two of them looked for the rest of the kids.
When Harry looked around he saw that Ron and Luna were already in the store. "Snape told us to stay here," said Harry.
When Harry looked out the window he saw Neville and Ginny coming out of the store across the street. Harry went over to the door and yelled to them to get back inside and stay down. They looked down the street at what was happening and Neville pulled Ginny back into the store.
Severus estimated that there were probably four Death Eaters from what he could see. Two curses nearly missed him and he got one of them with a cutting curse in the neck. It was not a killing curse but Severus figured that by the time anyone got to the guy he would be dead. He kept low and looked in the next store coming eye ball to eye ball with the twins. With sign language he told them to get down and they did.
Alice, saw one of the death eaters taking aim at Severus but he had not seen her. She worked a bit closer and hit him with "Stupefy" which hit him dead on, then she put him in a full body bind. She continued down the street, working her way slowly from doorway to doorway.
Severus saw a death eater drag Percy out of one of the stores. He had him by the hair and was getting ready to apparate out with him. Severus was behind him and hit him with a body bind before he even knew that Severus was there. He then told Percy to get back in the store and stay there.
Severus knew there was at least one more death eater out there and he had to find him. He was at the end of the street so he and Alice turned and started to work their way back. Harry and his group were still watching out of the window when they heard the back door, where they were hiding, open up. Everyone was able to find a place to hide except Harry. The Death Eater entered and pointed his wand at Harry and hit him with "Stupefy". He started to walk toward Harry pulling out a port-key so he could kidnap his prize. About that time Draco and Hermione, Ron and Luna all hit him with spells. One was "Furnuncular" which gave the guy boils, another "Stupify", and another was a blasting curse which sent him out the door. In fact, if Severus had taken one more step the guy would have hit him on his flight out the door.
Severus bound him up and took the boils away. He then checked on the kids and found that only Harry had been hit and he "Enervated" him, then checked him over to make sure he was alright.
About that time the Ministry Aurors finally showed up. Severus and Alice explained what had taken place and turned the Death Eaters over to them to take into custody. They then gathered the kids together along with all the shopping bags and headed back to the castle.
Severus sent a patronus ahead to let Albus know what had happened and that He and Alice would fill him in once he got the kids settled in the dorm. He walked them to Gryffindore Tower and then put his hand on Harry's shoulder and said, "Come with me we have a couple things to talk about."
Alice turned to Luna and said, "Luna let's take a walk there is something I need to talk to you about."
Harry felt bad for Luna. He thought he knew what Professor Longbottom had to talk to her about.
He walked toward Snapes office thinking, here we go again. What in the world did I do wrong this time? It seemed that the trip to this Snapes office kept getting shorter and shorter because in no time they had arrived.
They once again sat in the two chairs in front of the fire and Snape ordered tea for them while Harry was just thinking about another spanking.
Harry couldn't hold it in any longer, "What did I do wrong now?"
Tea arrived and Severus poured for both of them then said, "Actually Harry I wanted to let you know that I was very proud of you today. You didn't run toward the storm, you came to the adults who could help protect you. Not only that but you influenced two other students to do the right thing also, then directed two more to go into a store and stay hidden. That was very mature of you and I wanted to tell you that personally."
Harry was in shock! His mouth was still open and his tea cup was locked in position half way to his mouth.
Severus just sat there and let him absorb his words. He also wanted to know if Harry would be honest with him as he had seen his first inclination was to run into the face of trouble but changed his mind.
Harry closed his mouth and was holding his cup in his hands while he stared at the fire. "I know you don't give out many compliments so I want to take your words and run because they really make me feel good. But I really didn't do what you said. When I saw them I started to go to fight them, then I thought about the couch and my sp..., well anyway our last meeting and then changed my mind. So I don't deserve your nice words although I sure wish I did.
"I saw what you did Harry and I am even more proud of you that you told me the truth. I have said nothing that you don't deserve to hear. I don't care that your first inclination was to go in the wrong direction. You thought it through and then did the right thing. Now, perhaps next time, it won't take you as long but that is not the point. The point is, you did the right thing. In a few years you will walk with us toward them but you're not ready yet. Your job right now is to learn and stay alive."
Harry had tears in his eyes, but he didn't want Snape to see them so he sipped his tea and didn't speak for a couple minutes.
Severus knew what was happening and it was just part of growing up. Harry now knew that he was able to do good things and he now knew that adults were able to notice and praise him for doing right. From here on things could grow at a regular pace. He was still a kid and Severus was very sure they would have more meetings with the paddle but that was Ok.
I have a meeting with the Head Master to go to, and later we all have a birthday party to attend. With that said they both rose and walked together from the office.