Yeah, yeah, I know long time, but be glad there is a new chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

Chapter 19: The Dark Arrow

By: tojot

Harry, Ron and Neville were the last ones left packing as Hermione came into their dormitory. Dean and Seamus had already finished.

"Hey Hermione, what brings you here?" Neville asked.

"Hello, I need to speak with Harry." She stated as she grabbed a handful of his robes and pulled him into the bathroom, closing and locking the door behind them. Seeing as She may not want to be over heard Harry cast Muffliato on it as well.

"Thanks Harry." She smiled as she looked at the door, she then turned to face Harry. She forced him against the wall and kissed him. The white pulsing returned. They remained like that for a couple of minutes before Hermione broke it off.

"That is an interesting way to speak." Harry teased with a raised brow. "Is this the only reason you pulled me into the bathroom?"

"Well, not exactly." Hermione admitted sheepishly. "What I wanted to do was give this to you." And she pulled Lily's ornate silver knife out of her pocket and put it in Harry's hand. "It rightfully belongs to you since you are her son."

Harry shook his head and handed the knife back. "Look Hermione, my mum's body gave it to you. You should have it. In addition, I have no clue what spells the knife are used for, while you probably know many."

"Are you sure you want me to keep it?" Hermione asked in confirmation.

"I am sure." Harry smiled. She smiled and threw herself into his arms, giving him a tight squeeze. Harry relished the feel of her warm and loving embrace.

"Are you going to study over the holidays?" Hermione asked suddenly.

"Hermione!" Harry groaned.

"I guess not." Hermione chuckled. "Just promise me that you keep working on your animagus and going though any information I send you about the Phoenix Blaze."

"I may. Does this mean you have already found a way to write without the time lapse?" "Harry inquired. His scar and her markings had stopped glowing by this time.

"I have. But I need to work on it tonight."

"Thanks Hermione." Harry said as he tightened his embrace around her and then let her go. "I am sure Ron and Neville are curious as to what we're up to. Are we done in here?" Harry asked Hermione. He received a nod in reply. He removed the Muffling charm as Hermione removed the Locking charm.

"How was it?" Ron asked as they stepped out of the bathroom.

"Ron!" Hermione said in an incredulous tone.

"Don't worry, no one else is here." Ron smiled. "Neville went down to see if Ginny has already packed. He doesn't suspect a thing. He's a bit dim and innocent. So how was it?"

"Who says we were doing anything of the sort?" Hermione shot at Ron.

"Ah mademoiselle." Ron teased with a high French accent. "You both 'ave zat 'Just Been Snogged' look, no?" followed by an annoying giggle.

"Is it that obvious?" Hermione said in defeat. Ron took her arm and directed her to Harry's mirror. "Oh."

"It's the same look Luna got last night in the broom closet." Ron admitted.

"Oh so you admit that something is happening between you and Luna." Hermione teased. An owl that tapped on the window soon interrupted them.

Harry let it in. It had a letter addressed to him in loopy writing. He opened it to read:

Harry,

I request a meeting with you that I had promised before. Please bring Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger with you. I seem to have an affinity with Apple Rings this season.

Dumbledore

"That was simple, wasn't it?" Ron asked.

"Let's go." Hermione said, "And then maybe we can get some answers to this madness." And she headed out the door.

The two boys glanced at each other and Ron said, "Well she is your girlfriend." And he left to follow Hermione leaving Harry to think momentarily about the word 'girlfriend' only to realize that they had left him behind. He quickly ran to catch up with them at the opposite end of the corridor that led to the tower.

"I was wondering when you'd catch up." Hermione smirked at Harry as they walked quickly toward the headmaster's office.

"Oh, put a sock in it." Harry muttered and Ron chuckled.

On the way past the Defense Against the Dark Arts Corridor, they saw McGonagall and Trelawney speaking with each other. A broken crystal ball was in the divination professor's hand.

"I am sorry, Sybill, Avi is incapacitated at this time. She is unable to see anyone, let alone fix anything." McGonagall stated.

"I see." Trelawney said in her ethereal tone. "Say, doesn't she seem a little peculiar to you too?"

"I am not going to deny that, but I do know the reasons behind that. But as her friend I will not betray her trust."

"What was that all about?" Ron asked quietly as they continued on their way.

"I don't know." Hermione said. "But the events of this morning seem somehow linked with Gryphon."

"How so?" Ron inquired.

"Let me explain, that creature we saw is Gryphon's Boggart, her greatest fear. The only reason that I know is I encountered it while she was looking for Boggarts for the third year classes in October."

"Is that when you asked her to fix the mirror?" Harry asked only to be answered with a simple nod.

"Apple Rings." Hermione said. Harry turned around to see that they had already reached the spiral staircase to the headmaster's office without him realizing it.

'Moody would be on my tail for that one if he knew.' Thought Harry when he realized he had let his 'constant vigilance' ebb slightly. They mounted the stair and knocked at the door once they reached the top.

"Come in." Dumbldore's muffled voice sounded. Hermione pushed the door open and all three filed in. Dumbledore was sitting at his desk examining the black arrow Harry had seen him carrying when he had made his announcement.

"I trust that all three of you are packed and ready to go in the morning?" Dumbledore said.

Harry looked to the other two and said, "Yes."

"Please have a seat." Dumbledore motioned to the three chairs in front of the desk.

"Professor can you tell us what is going on?" Hermione started

"As I said before, a sprite or Alljandre to be correct, who helped protect Hogwarts had been attacked."

"Do you have any clue if it was Voldemort who attacked her?" Harry asked.

"It may have been." Dumbledore sighed. "I have recently heard evidence from the centaur herds that a young foul had gone missing just last week." He then held up the arrow. "This is a dark arrow. There have only been five in recorded history. They are only used by centaurs who have been possessed by dark magic."

"So it was a Centaur who shot the Al-Al-." Ron said.

"Alljandre, Animalistic Wood Sprites." Hermione aided. "Though the book does not say any more about them."

"Do you have any clue which Centaur did it?" Harry asked.

"Evidence proves that it was the foul that disappeared, they are more susceptible to be lured away and possessed by dark magic." Hermione added. Harry looked at her in surprise.

"Indeed so, Miss Granger." Dumbledore affirmed.

"Can you tell me why Professor Gryphon fears the Alljandre." Hermione pressed.

"That is something that only Avyllynn can tell you herself. It is a very personal matter to her." Dumbledore said.

"Was she attacked by it at young age?" Hermione asked. "She said that I didn't want to meet an uncollared one."

"Again, it will be she that will tell you why she fears it." Dumbledore repeated. "As for the uncollared sprite, what she speaks is rightfully so. They are dangerous in that state."

"So are we safe now?" Ron asked

"For now, yes." Dumbledore answered. "Unless someone is foolhardy enough to remove the collar once more. Or at least seeking a death wish to be granted."

"Why would you even bring something like that to the school?" Hermione demanded.

"Miss Granger, that sleeping sprite outside is the very thing that is keeping dark creatures out. Like Dementors and Lethifolds, the very creatures that feed on hope and humans. All because she is a very rare creature, you don't always find a sprite like that that is a Night Roamer. Since their numbers are very few in every race and rarely in the same place… Do you know something about them, Harry?" Dumbledore questioned when he noticed Harry's eyebrows shoot up.

"Er…" Harry blurted when he was caught off guard. "…No." He lied quickly. Harry had been certain that Gryphon had told Dumbledore about Harry being a Night Roamer, considering that Madam Pomfrey mentioned that DADA Professor was greatly loyal to the Headmaster.

"Now, the dark arrow holds a message, or shall I say a memory for a recipient. This time the recipient is Harry." Dumbledore said but made no intention to hand the arrow to him. "But Sometimes the message can be deadly. Almost all the recipients of the Arrow have died after the message was unlocked. These arrows require blood of the recipient claiming there lives in the process."

"What is to be done to hear the message and not have it take my life?" Harry asked.

"A drop of the recipient's blood mixed with Acromantula venom." Dumbledore replied.

"I get it." Hermione said as her eyes lit up. "The arrow is cursed with a dark curse, Acromantula venom has been the only thing known to destroy dark curses placed on objects without the curse harming you physically or mentally."

"Correct." Dumbledore nodded and turned to Harry. "Do you consent to the method?"

Harry nodded with a solemn look on his face. Dumbledore reached into his desk and pulled out a silver needle and a tiny vial contain a small amount of yellow opaque liquid. He handed the needle to Harry and the vial to Hermione.

"What you must do is mix the blood with the venom before hand." Dumbledore instructed. Harry heard Ron gulp as he steadied the needle over his left index finger. He also felt Hermione's eyes upon him and looked up to see a worried expression on her features. She unstoppered the vial and Harry pricked his finger and saw a small blood droplet grow in size. Once large enough, Harry took the vial from Hermione and used the rim to swipe the droplet from his finger and into the vial. It made a trail of red all the way down the side of the vial. Hermione recorked it and handed it back to the Headmaster. With a couple of shakes the venom turned orange. The Old Man then picked up the arrow and poured the vial's contents onto the arrowhead, which started to hiss and screech. Harry could hear a voice in the noise.

"BOY-WHO-LIVED, I, LORD VOLDEMORT, OFFER YOU ONE LAST CHANCE TO JOIN ME. A CHANCE TO LIVE AND BE ALL-POWERFUL UNDER MY REIGN. IF YOU CHOOSE TO DEFY ME, THEN SO BE IT, YOU AND THE ONES YOU HOLD DEAR WILL PERISH UNDER MY WRATH. MY FINAL CAMPAIGN WILL BEGIN THREE MOON CYCLES FROM NOW. I HOPE TO RECEIVE YOUR ANSWER BEFORE THEN."

The voice stopped speaking and the noise ended. Ron and Hermione were still looking at the arrow intently. Dumbledore on the other hand looked at Harry, an inquisitive look marking his features.

"Harry, would you fill us in on what was said in the message?"

Hermione looked immediately to Harry, Ron looked at Dumbledore in disbelief. "You mean we missed it? A load of hissing?" He spat.

"Parcel-" Hermione started.

"-Tongue?" Harry finished. With a nod Dumbledore confirmed it so and motioned to Harry to translate.

"Basically, Voldemort is offering me a chance to join him or die… A-And that he starts his final campaign in three months." Harry stuttered

A weary expression replaced the calm demeanor on Dumbledore's face as he stood and crossed the room to the window

"Sir?" Ron asked in curiosity. "What is going to happen?"

"It seems that Voldemort wants to finish it." Dumbledore turned from the window and looked at Harry. "After twenty years he is returning."

"What are you talking about Professor?" Hermione demanded abruptly.

"Twenty years ago, Tom applied to the open position of teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts. But because he had the physical appearance of someone who had lost themselves completely to the Dark Arts, I turned him down. And a month later he revealed my fears."

"Is the snake off his rocker?" Ron said in disbelief. Harry looked at the Headmaster in shock.

"Harry, what is your choice to Tom's offer?" Dumbledore asked.

"I refused him years ago, and that refusal still stands." Harry announced. "No one is safe from him, not even his followers. I have seen brief glimpses into his world and he maltreated many who angered him."

An exhausted but relieved smile appeared on the old man's face. "I thank the three of you for your assistance. I hope you found a few answers to your questions. You are dismissed."

All Three walked back to the common room, each concentrating on his or her own thoughts.

"Harry." Ron spoke quietly, "How come you didn't tell him that you were a Night Roamer?"

"I don't know why I did it."

"I am glad you didn't tell him." Hermione said seriously and quietly. "I have a gut feeling that it is best that the fewer people know of it the better." Her eyebrows then knitted together in confusion, "What I don't understand is why Gryphon didn't tell Dumbledore."

"Hermione, do you remember that dream I told you about at the beginning of the year? And that white winged creature in it?" Harry asked. The only secrets Harry and Hermione were keeping from Ron now was their Animagus Training and the fact that Hermione was marked.

"Yes."

"I think she was the other Night Roamer Dumbledore was talking about. But I find it weird that it's real form and Night Roaming form are very close in similarities."

"That aside, I can't believe Voldemort is coming so soon." Hermione changed the subject and forgetting to lower her voice. "What I really can't believe is how Dumbledore is training you for the final confrontation…" she was stopped from talking when Harry gently covered her mouth with a hand.

"Shhh." He hushed her as he whispered into her ear. "You should never trust the halls and walls of Hogwarts. You never know who could be listening, and that is not information I would like spread."

Harry looked around and pulled both Ron and Hermione into a hidden passageway. He pulled them up it to the seventh floor corridor to the tapastry of Barnabas the Barmy. Passing the wall opposite three times and all the while thinking for a secure room where he could talk to his friends in privacy. The door appeared and he pushed them in and locked the door behind him. The door disappeared into the wall.

The room was stark except the sconces that lit the room and its three comfy chairs. It was exact to the room that Gryphon and Dumbledore brought Harry to before they put him into hiding.

"Harry, how are we going to get out of this?" Hermione said staring at the wall where the door once was.

"The door will come back when we are done here." Harry said to her as he sat down in one of the chairs. "Please sit." He said indicating the other chairs. "Now, Hermione you are able to speak your piece here with out anybody except us knowing."

"Well, basically Harry," She started as she chose one of the chairs. "What should we do concerning this new turn of events."

"Well, we have been speaking about being able to instant message each other over the holidays." Harry said.

"Yes."

"I think we should include Ron in on this. So we can keep each other up to date, Since you are going to Japan and Ron is going to Romania to see Charlie.

"I see no problem with that." Hermione said, "I was about to suggest the same thing."

"So you have been devising a way to contact to each other instantly?" Ron interrupted.

"Yes." Harry and Hermione said together.

"Well, just make sure there is plenty of security on whatever you do." Ron said, "Like… alternate personas… You know like the Marauders."

"That sounds interesting." Harry said.

"I guess that it's just me who thinks that idea is the stupidest thing I have ever heard." Hermione said sardonically.

"Come on Hermione. Just agree with us here." Ron pleaded.

"Okay. But I am not taking credit for this idea." She gave in. "But I do believe that we should be a little classier than the Marauders."

"So what would you suggest?" Harry asked.

"That we go by 'Sir' or 'Lady' instead of 'Mr.' Or 'Ms." Hermione replied.

"Hey, that sounds reasonable to me." Ron said.

"I've already have a name for you, Hermione." Harry smirked.

"And?" Hermione said as she turned to Harry.

"Lady Claws." He laughed, bringing his hands up to form claws.

"Hmm." Hermione contemplated. "Maybe."

"What!" Harry said in alarm. "I was just joking."

"Joke or not, I still like it." Hermione told him.

"I think I have one for Harry." Ron said. "Sir Scar."

"No." Hermione said in distaste. "I think 'Sir Myst' works much better."

"Why mist? I seriously don't see him turning into a bunch of tiny water droplets." Ron said.

Hermione laughed. "Oh, Ron, the 'Myst' is short for 'Mystery.' A lot of things concerning Harry are a big 'Mystery' to the lot of us."

"I could see that working." Harry said thoughtfully, "Too many people could recognize 'Scar' as being me and I really don't want to be known for my scar. So I guess Sir Myst it is."

"I guess that just leaves me." Ron said.

"How about we give you something fun." Hermione said in thought.

"Sir Chess." Harry snorted.

"Ha Ha." Ron retorted sarcastically. "How about 'Sir Knight?"

Author's note:

Alljandre: Pronounced All-zjon-der. It can have both a singular or plural meaning.