Yes! Chapter 22 is done! And by the weekend, too. I'm so glad not to have disappointed…. I hope…*cough, cough. Awkward shuffle* Um, anyways. This is a birthday present for Canada and America! (am I a Hetalia fan? You bet'cha!) So to all/and Canadian or Americans who read this story…um…yeah. Happy birthday to your countries. :D Please make sure to review and tell me what you think! Love it, hate it, want to lodge large speckled turtle as me for taking so long to update…. .

Anyways! I hope you all enjoy! ^_^

"Speaking"

"Thinking"

"Sounds"

"Flashbacks"

Flashback Four

Andy

They had been flitting along the borders of the school, testing the magical barriers that prevented them from entering. They searched for any sign of weakness. So far, though, they had had no luck, and Andy could tell that they were growing frustrated. The young Centaur had been watching them curiously for a while, secretly glad that the very barriers the strange pair were trying to break also kept him cloaked from their eyes. Although his instincts were demanding he tell the Elders about these strange intruders, something was keeping him from doing so.

They had mentioned Darren.

It had only been once, but for Andiamus, it was enough. Ever since then he had followed them whenever he saw them.

It was nearing the twilight, and he had spotted the strange, green skinned boy just an hour before. The centaur had been watching the two long enough to know the basics of their schedule. Soon enough, the other man arrived. He was silent in his approach, making the scaled boy jump nervously when a large hand was laid on his shoulder. He spun around, looking relieved when it was his older companion. The man began to speak, but it was too quiet for Andiamus to hear. He guessed it was a scolding, from the way the boy's head drooped and the ashamed look on his face. Andiamus took a few more cautious steps towards the strangers, near enough to the barriers that he could hear their muffled voices.

"-eight hours? You need to rest." The red haired one murmured, not looking at the younger. The scaled boy shook his head, not saying a word in response. Andiamus watched them for over an hour, tracking them as they walked along the edges of the invisible barriers. He had a hand on his bow at all times, prepared to defend if it was needed. Never once did they show any sign of detecting his presence.

The scaled child was stumbling, yawning every few minutes. The almost full moon was high above them, sending blue tinged light down upon everything, and casting long shadows.

"Mr. Crepsley, why don't you just ask him?" the boy asked as he stumbled over a root. "It's obvious he knows how to get into the grounds, so…." He trailed off as Crepsley stopped, turning to face his young companion.

"We have only recently met him, and he does not yet trust us, Evra. We won't be able to get reliable information from him." Crepsley answered quietly, eyes staring over Evra's head and towards the darkness of the forest. Andiamus felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickle uncomfortably and he scuffed at the ground, his back hoof breaking twigs. The noise echoed through the night, and Crepsley stiffened.

Evra looked nervous when he noticed the glare that the vampire was casting at the darkened woods. He couldn't see anything, thanks to the wards. Andiamus took a step back, his grip tightening on his bow. Crepsley looked uncomfortable and nervous, but Evra's reaction was completely opposite. The snake boy took a few steps forward, eyes wide. He looked hopeful.

"Darren? Darren, are you out there?" he called quietly, eyes scanning blindly across the trees and right over where the centaur was. Crepsley lay a hand on the boy's shoulder, fingers tightening slightly as an urge for silence. Evra glanced up at him, looking uncertain at the touch. The scale covered boy visibly deflated as he received no answer.

Andiamus closed his eyes for a second, his mind filling with questions as he pondered all that he had seen and heard of the two. They were connected to him. He had heard their hoarse, desperate whispers as they discussed Darren, and the faint scent that lingered on their clothes confirmed that the two had spent quite some time with the young vampire. Andiamus pawed at the ground with his front hoof, letting a heavy huff of air out through his nostrils. It clouded the air, and the fog hung like crystals in the cold night until it spun lazily up and above his head, and above the wards, and finally disappeared somewhere into the star spotted sky.

The scaled boy was shivering when he directed his attention back towards the strangers. Without looking at the smaller one, the red haired man removed his cloak and placed it over the boy's thin shoulders, scolding him quietly as he turned to take a few long strides in the opposite direction, still pushing at the magical barriers. Andiamus hummed thoughtfully at the unintentional display of thinly veiled affection. These two cared for one another, in a tense and wary sort of way. They most certainly cared for his young friend, as well.

Taking a deep breath, the centaur made his decision. Gripping his bow tightly, and adjusting his quiver so that it was easier to reach, he closed his eyes. He was a centaur; he had been born in the forest, on the grounds. He had lived here for the entirety of his life. He knew how to manipulate the barriers, even if it was only for a moment. He pushed through, the magic clinging to his form like spider webs.

Before he was completely free of the magic, and was still cloaked, he spoke.

"I believe I can help you."

Harry Potter P.O.V.

Harry had been having a hard time sleeping. It wasn't just the nightmares, or the prickle of fear about Sirius Black, or the many eyes he knew were watching him carefully. It was also the iron clamp that latched itself onto his heart whenever the thought of the Ministry coming so soon for Darren. He knew the others felt the same way, too.

He had seen the pale, sick complexion that his friends-and even some of the teachers-sported. He had tried to think of a way to help. He had sat with his friends and brainstormed for hours at a time. He had even made discreet, passing mentions and questions at the teachers he knew were on the same mind set as himself.

No one knew what to do. There were no spells, no tools, and no potions that could get Darren out of his metal prison.

There was no hope.

That seemed to be the conclusion they reached. There was no time. The Ministry would be coming in just over 24 hours, and there was no way to help Darren.

After a few sleepless hours of lying in the darkened room and staring up at the ceiling from his bed, Harry got up. He stepped quietly and carefully from the room, his bare feet barely making a noise as he padded across the carpeted floor and down the stairs. Stepping down the stairs and heading straight for the comfortable chairs by the fire, Harry paused when he saw the dark shape of someone sitting in one of the chairs, and a flash of bright red hair.

"Ginny?" he whispered, stepping closer. "What are you doing still up?"

The second year glanced up at him, her eyes tired and rimmed slightly in red. "What are you doing?" she returned, giving him a weak smile. Then she sighed and hunched a bit in her seat. "Just can't seem to get to sleep."

Harry nodded in understanding and sunk into the chair beside her.

"I…I'm scared, Harry." She whispered, pulling up her legs and folding them under her. "What if we can't help him? What if the ministry takes him away?"

Harry shook his head silently. He didn't have an answer to that question. He had been asking it himself, and he still had no answers. "I don't know. I can't think of anything we could do. There's no way to open the cage, unless we have the correct spell."

"Do you think that Dumbledore might have it?" the red head asked, suddenly straightening. Her eyes bore into Harry's, and a grin spread across his features. Just as quickly, though, it was gone. Hermione had told him earlier….

"Even if he did have it, he couldn't use it. They would know it was him, and he'd be in a lot of trouble." Harry said quietly, quoting his friend almost word for word. Ginny sighed and put her head on the arm of the chair, eyes closing.

"What're we going to do?" she asked, lips barely moving enough to form coherent words. She was met with silence. After a moment, she sighed and whispered "Maybe I should just go to bed."

"Yeah. I suppose I should, too." Harry replied standing and stretching. Ginny followed his lead, and they bid each other a good night.

However, when the dawn broke the next morning, casting rays of warm light into the common room, Harry was still fast asleep in one of the overstuffed armchairs.

Later that morning, directly after breakfast and as the students were shuffling slowly towards their various classes, Harry and Ron both received bruised ribs as Hermione slammed her elbow into each of their sides.

"Ow! Bloody hell! What was that for, 'Mione?" Ron demanded, too astonished to be immediately angrily. She gestured towards the staff table, where Dumbledore was leaning over to whisper something in McGonagall's ear. The woman was looking rather pale, and on Dumbledore's other side, Lupin looked like he might be sick. Hagrid was standing nearby, dabbing at his running eyes and sniffling.

"Something is wrong." The bushy haired witch hissed, hazel eyes wide and worried.

"Let's go." Harry murmured, his hand catching Neville as the other boy passed by. Hermione grabbed Ginny and Luna, who were walking together.

The group made their way towards the headmaster's office, waiting for the halls to clear a bit. They reached the large door and stopped, each one leaning forward and resting an ear against the polished wood in an attempt to hear what was being discussed inside.

"You can't allow them to do this, Albus." Came the quiet, but desperate and firm, voice of Remus Lupin.

"I have no control over it. This is what the Ministry has decided, and I can do nothing to change their minds." The Headmaster sounded tired and defeated, and Harry felt a slight chill go down his spine.

"But to do such a thing, and to a child no less; it is unacceptable!" McGonagall's voice was shaking with outrage, and something else.

"Minerva, please calm yourself. Perhaps if we can think rationally, we will be able to-"

"No, Albus! If the Ministry isn't interested in a 'live specimen'-" she spat the words like acid, and Harry could almost see the fire that sprang into her eyes that promised pain to any student or adult that dared to cross her. "-then they have no right to come here at all. But instead of being reasonable, and leaving the boy alone, they're going to come here and dispose of him themselves? That is unacceptable!"

Harry felt his heart stop.

Ginny jerked away from the door, her eyes enormous and mouth hanging slightly open. Luna stepped back and lay a gentle hand on her friend's shoulder, but her own eyes were unusually sharp and clear. A tiny frown was on her face.

Neville had his mouth hanging slightly open, a shocked and angry expression on his usually altruistic face. At his side, his hands were fisted tightly, the knuckles going white and fingernails biting into the flesh of his palms. Ron looked like he might be sick; his face going a bit green around the edges, and freckles standing out against the discoloration.

Hermione was still for a second, and all was silent. Then, the witch let out a shriek and slammed her fist against the door. Everyone jumped, shocked at the sudden violent action. Her eyes were alight with fury, and her cheeks were flaming red. A scowl was etched into her features. No one spoke from the other side of the door, but it swung open only seconds after Hermione had hit it. Dumbledore stood there, flanked by Lupin and McGonagall on either side. Somewhere in the room and over the headmaster's shoulder, Harry could barely make out the shadowed form of Snape. Dumbledore didn't seem very surprised to see the six students huddled outside his door.

"What do you mean?" Hermione hissed, glaring up into the faces of the Professors. "What do you mean, 'dispose of him'?"

The adults seemed too surprised to move at first, shocked at the unexpected change in the usually docile and understanding young witch. Ron and Harry both moved forward, laying comforting and restraining hands on her shoulders, while at the same time glancing behind to check up on the other girls. Neville was with them. Professor McGonagall took a shaky step forward, trying to even out her own breathing before she spoke. "Ms. Granger, you have no-"

"Don't you dare say that we don't understand the situation." The bushy haired witch almost yelled, never backing down.

"There is nothing we can do." Dumbledore whispered, blue eyes closing.

Hermione stared up at him, eyes filling with tears and lower lip trembling. Then, she whirled around and stormed away, dragging Harry and Ron with her. Neville gave the Headmaster a long look, and then followed his friends. Ginny went after him, refusing to meet the professors' eyes as she stomped away.

Luna was the last to leave. She stared at her elders for a long moment, a small understanding smile stretched across her features. Then she walked up to the white bearded man, took his hand in hers, and patted it gently. "It's alright, sir. We don't blame you." Then she, too, turned on her heel and padded lightly away.

The adults silently watched them go.

"Perhaps it is time for you all to make your way back to your classes." Dumbledore finally said, smiling at his staff. He was met with silent nods.

As they gathered their things and began the descent to their classrooms, Dumbledore suddenly cried out "Ah, but before you go-" Lupin, McGonagall, and Snape paused and turned back, each with varied levels of curiosity scrawled across their features. "-have a lemon drop!"