Chapter 79 - Settling In
Petunia Dursley sat on a bed by the windows in the recently-created dormitory for guests just off the Hufflepuff common room, looking in turns miserable, scared and confused. Once the distress of seeing her Dudley and Vernon turned over to those . . . . freaks in what passed for a hospital in this place had worn off, and the fright she'd gotten from her encounter with those two criminals who collected them from Privet Drive had passed, she did not know what to think. Oil paintings moved and spoke! A ghost – a GHOST – had welcomed her to this place! She could not begin to fathom what sort of freaks lived here!
She was lost in thought, worrying the corner of the duvet on her bed, when a sweet-looking girl with long blond hair in a braid down her back gently touched her shoulder. "Ma'am, would you please come into the common room now? Professor Sprout, our Head of House, wants to welcome our guests and get you oriented to Hogwarts. I'm sure you'll feel better once you get your bearings." Numbly and silently, Petunia followed her through a short stone corridor into a surprisingly cheery, if very out-of-date, room with lots of comfortable couches and chairs, a scattering of small tables, and an enormous fire place the dominated an entire wall. It was a nice big room, although Petunia quickly felt the flutter of her claustrophobia and moved immediately to a place near one of the big windows, to try to get a look at the sky.
Petunia finally stole a look at the other people in the room. A few looked strange – she assumed they were freaks. The little woman who seemed to be directing things seemed to be a no-nonsense sort, if you looked past the dirt-encrusted clothes and that ridiculous hat. A goodly number looked like ordinary people. She wondered again what was going on that normal people like her and those others found themselves in a place like this.
To Petunia's dismay, a very old woman wearing a totally out-of-date dress and a hat that Petunia thought had never been in style at any time in human history, joined her in her window seat. She scooted away from this embarrassingly absurd creature, hoping the old woman would go away. To her shock, the old woman gave HER an appraising look, followed by a disappointed shrug, and then looked away.
The little dirt-encrusted woman stood to address the group. Petunia sniffed in distaste. She introduced herself as a professor at this school – well, that certainly said something for the quality of the institution! "Many of you are only now discovering that you are actually squibs, rather than muggles – you actually do have a small bit of magic in you. That can be a bit of a shock, but you'll get over it. We welcome you to our new guest dormitories here in Hufflepuff House. We are located on the ground floor, so it's easier for you to reach, and I think you'll find that Hufflepuffs are the most welcoming of witches and wizards. These are most extraordinary and dangerous times!" Well, of course they are! Why didn't the police respond when she rang them? And then those two awful – whatever those freaks were – they assaulted her and took her here! Dangerous times, indeed! "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named sent a spell into the world, throughout the world, that put all humans to sleep. Harry Potter sent a pulse of magic out into the world that enabled him to wake everyone with magic." Petunia could not contain a "harrumph" at the mention of her worthless nephew's name, earning her nasty looks from several who overheard her.
"We are bringing in at least those muggles who are related to students and staff here at Hogwarts. We don't know yet how to wake the sleeping muggles, but at least the ones we bring here can be sustained while they sleep off the spell. We are also inviting members of the magical community who desire the protections of the wards of Hogwarts to join us, so it will be getting crowded. Some will be living in the Houses in which they lived here as students, others will stay in tents erected in the courtyards." Petunia rolled her eyes at that – tents! What sort of people would find accommodations like that acceptable? "We will need everyone to pitch in and help. If you have medical training, we need you in the Infirmaries – we've expanded the one we have, and have added several other rooms to serve in this manner. If you have skills in potion-making, we need help in the laboratories, too. Finally, I need help in the greenhouses. We grow a vast array of magical plants and herbs here, many used in potions and some in the kitchens, and I've released most of the students and magical beings who usually help me there to other duties. Think on what you'd like to do over breakfast, and we'll get you organized after that. Breakfast, and all our meals, is in the Great Hall, we'll go there now and get you pointed to the appropriate tables."
Petunia fell in with what looked like a group of normal-looking people as they walked along enormous corridors with more of those moving oil paintings, into a positively vast room. Was it open to the sky – it looked like sky and clouds up there! There were half a dozen fireplaces the size of small rooms, and huge leaded glass windows up above, several open to let in breezes. Her group was directed to one of several long tables that stretched the entire length of the room. She somewhat awkwardly climbed over the bench seats, which also stretched the length of the room, and wondered how on earth the wait staff was going to handle distributing food in such a strangely set-up space. There weren't even plates on the tables! She did a double-take when, out of nowhere, food was on the table in front of her, as well as some surprisingly high-quality china and silverware. All those around her immediately began serving themselves from platters piled high with beautifully prepared, heavenly-smelling baked goods, egg dishes, fruits and cereals, and began commenting on how delicious it all was. Hoping she'd be able to taste this food, Petunia served herself, and was bitterly disappointed to realize that nothing was different – this food was as tasteless as everything else had been since the fall.
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Hermione was deep in thought up in the Headmaster's Office as she pored over the volumes of Salazar Slytherin's notebooks that Harry had already translated. She'd already briefed the older wizard on the results of her research from last year, and shared what she had on all the ancient spells. They'd shared a round of Pepper-Up potion, followed by some breakfast brought by the house elves, and Professor Dumbledore had told her what little he had learned about the situation from Madam Bones when she visited. Hermione knew they'd have to repeat most of this when Professor Snape and Harry joined them, but she needed the background to enable her to use this time most profitably. In truth, she was absolutely delighted with the chance to be part of the effort to counter Voldemort's attack. Everything was always on Harry, and it pleased her to know that she could do some work to ease his burden. The honor she felt was tempered by fear of what this situation mean not just to wizards but to muggles everywhere. So much was at stake!
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After a further sleep of several hours, Harry's eyes finally flicked open, to the sight of Severus slumped over him, still holding the Heart Stone over his heart, his head resting next to that. Harry smiled warmly at the sight, and freed one hand from his blanket to gently smooth away some of the black strands falling across his bondmate's face. At his touch, Severus' eyes opened. For once, neither stopped or tried to deny their potentially embarrassing behavior. Harry took one final opportunity to stroke Severus' black hair, and Severus continued to study the brilliant green eyes that were finally, joyously, studying him back.
With a thready voice, Harry finally broke the moment. "How bad is it?"
Severus sat up and leaned back. "Voldemort sent out a sleeping spell, one of the very few spells to which muggles are susceptible. It sent everyone – magical and muggle – straight to sleep. Amelia Bones was here earlier, and reported that this was world-wide, not just at Hogwarts or here in England. Your spell seems to have awoken everyone with magic, again world-wide. The problem for the muggles is that this spell put them to sleep but not in stasis, and we estimate that they will all remain asleep under this spell for three months or so. By then, of course, they all will have perished from dehydration. Your Miss Granger and the Headmaster are in his office right now, I suspect reviewing her research into those ancient spells and your translations of Slytherin's notebooks. We have also begun bringing the muggle relatives of Hogwarts students to the school, to be able to provide them with medical support as we work out a broader approach to helping them. Remus Lupin and your friend Mr. Weasley were leading those efforts, which explains their absence when you awoke."
Harry struggled to sit up and was unpersuaded by Severus' efforts to have him stay in bed. The two were still tired and not fully recovered, but they realized that time was of the essence. Madam Pomfrey had come running when her tracking charm indicated that Harry was attempting to get out of bed. She was originally planning on holding him in the Infirmary until tomorrow at least, but it was clear to her in an instant that neither Harry nor Severus would hear of that. She spelled Harry into his clothes and led the two to the floo in her office, and tucked two large bottles of Pepper-up Potion into Severus' hands. Goodness knows, they'd need them.
The Headmaster directed a chastising glare at Severus when he and Harry appeared out of the floo in his office, but Severus simply glared back. To their mutual surprise, it was Harry who defended their appearance: "There is no time to waste, Professor. We can sleep later." With a sigh, Albus had to acknowledge the truth of that. "Well, my boys, it is nearly lunchtime. Let me ask the house elves to bring us some sandwiches, tea and chocolates, and Miss Granger and I can bring you up to date with what we have while we break for lunch."
Hermione consulted her ever-present notes, as she ran through the chronology, starting with dinner last evening, the information from the Ministry, and as she was about to discuss the rescue missions that began in the middle of the night, Remus Lupin stepped through the floo with an armload of books for her. He greeted Harry warmly and joined the group for the rest of the debrief and a few of the sandwiches. Just as Hermione had predicted, Harry was indeed pleased to learn that everyone was pitching in and bringing muggles, and a surprising number of squibs who thought they were muggles, to safety. Hermione was quick to assure Harry, as Severus had already done, that Ron had been to see him in the Infirmary last night, but was now involved in rescue missions.
"What about squibs? Who turned up?"
Hermione smiled as she reported on her parents' arrival in the company of Augusta Longbottom. Remus looked guiltily at his hands in his lap, and he took up the narrative. "As Hermione said, we were bringing in all the muggle parents and relatives of Hogwarts students." All eyes went to Harry to see his reaction to what they knew would follow next. "Based on what you said about giving people opportunities and second chances even when it seemed that they really did not deserve them, Sirius and I went to Privet Drive to collect the Dursleys." Severus watched closely as a host of emotions flashed across Harry's face, but they all seemed positive. It seemed Miss Granger did know her friend's heart. "To our surprise, we found your uncle and cousin sleeping soundly, being tended to by your aunt. It turns out that Petunia is a squib, and you woke her. The men are in the Infirmary, and Petunia is among the squibs and guests we've settled into some new dormitories in Hufflepuff House."
Albus chimed in at that point. "That did seem the safest place to put them, especially the ones who are new to magic."
Harry was looking at Remus, and felt that there was some part of this story still unspoken. As if in answer to Harry's questioning look, Remus continued his story. "Petunia wasn't very nice, and she accused Sirius, me, all of us, of creating this problem. She said some horrible, evil things. At one in particular, well, I lost my temper and I slapped her in the face." To Remus' immense relief, there was no censure or disappointment in Harry's face, but a look of amusement. Petunia had managed to provoke the most even-tempered person he knew! "You and Sirius did the right thing, Remus, both in going to collect them, and in showing Aunt Petunia what you thought of her comments. Thank you."
Albus added "We have a few other surprising faces among those now residing in Hogwarts. You know that we have always got some Aurors connected to the muggle government, and in addition to helping us get the Prime Minister and a few other heads of the government into St. Mungo's for treatment, one was able to take a panicked call from Buckingham Palace. It turns out that the two princes are squibs! They gave us access to the palace, and we were able to get the Royals to St. Mungo's, too. We brought the princes here – nice young men."
Harry expressed his thanks for all the others had done, and then reported as much detail as he could recall of his efforts to awaken everyone, sharing as much as he could remember of the ravens' commentary and advice. He told of his panic at discovering he did not know how to get back, and of his encounter with the Black Wyrms and their help in leading him back home. He went over in great detail all that they had told him of their perception of the events of last night, and about earth magic and ley lines. Hermione did what she did best – made careful notes for later review and research. By tomorrow, Harry was sure she'd know more about Black Wyrms than any wizard alive.
Severus had been very quiet to this point, listening and observing. However, he did have something to contribute. "Voldemort definitely sucked the magical power he needed out of his Death Eaters. It appears that the silver bands on my Dark Mark blocked most of it, but even with them, the drain on my magic was enormous. There were two students who had recently taken the Mark who were rendered comatose by the drain. Even your counter-spell did not awaken them; they are still in the Infirmary. In thinking on this, I believe that I felt the pull on my power not 10 seconds before I fell asleep, and I think, Harry that you woke me not more than 20 or 30 seconds later."
Hermione could not help but notice how tired Harry and Professor Snape looked, even after having had something to eat. "Why don't you two get some sleep? We were already doing further research on the spells we found last year, and we obviously need to look into earth magic and ley lines now, and I want to do some research on Black Wyrms, and we can ask Madam Pomfrey explore the impact of the drain on the power of . . . "
Holding back a smile (really, if you left her to it, Hermione's list of potential research topics would never end), Harry interrupted her. "No, Hermione. Not yet. I only translated three of Slytherin's notebooks, and what if the best lead or idea is in one of the others? No one else can work with them. Severus, can you help me? I'm sure I can do it faster, if I can just find a way to make myself stick to English."
"Actually, let's discuss the books first, because we don't have time for you to translate everything. If we can identify a few sections that seem most promising for our immediate needs, I'll charm a quill to transcribe your words – you'll just read and speak the text in English, and the quill will write the words on parchment for you. We do need to move with haste. By my calculation, the muggles have been asleep for 18 hours already. A healthy muggle can live two or three days without water; it's getting close to the point where the less healthy will be in distress, and even the healthy ones will experience dehydration. If possible, I think we need to come up with something in the next 12 to 24 hours.
Albus nodded with approval at Severus' suggestion that they all needed to focus.
"I think we all agree that ley lines will be key to delivering whatever solution we find. This is a world-wide crisis, and we need a solution that can be delivered world-wide, and the ley lines seem the most efficient means to do that. And that means that our solution must be a spell or a charm, something that can be sent through ley lines. We cannot use something physical, like a potion."
Harry nodded at that. "And what sort of solution do you think we should pursue? Waking them, or preserving them as they sleep?"
Severus had been thinking about that himself, ever since Madam Bones had informed them of the Ministry's research. "The Ministry had determined that Voldemort used a modified sleeping spell for which the only counterspell requires a pulse of magic into the magical core of the person under the spell. Muggles don't have magical cores, and they are far more numerous than magical folk. Unless we can quickly find an alternative means of waking them that does not involve a magical pulse, I think we need to focus on preservation. Headmaster, do you think you could persuade the Ministry to share its research on the spell? If Madam Bones understands that we are exploring possible solutions in ancient magics no longer known to or used by wizards today. . ."
"Excellent suggestion. With Fudge under arrest, the level of paranoia in the Ministry is much lower these days. I think Amelia will cooperate. I will floo there immediately to speak to her."
With that, lunch was over, and the work began in earnest. Albus flooed to the Ministry. Remus gave Hermione the books he'd brought from the Black libraries in Grimauld Place that he thought would be helpful to her research, and he took his leave to go back to Ron, Sirius and all the others still working on rescue missions. Hermione transfigured a spare table into a larger desk, equipped with parchment and quills, for Harry and Severus to use, and provided them with the Slytherin notebooks, before she settled back at the desk she'd been using earlier.
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Out in the greenhouses, Petunia looked totally horrified by the plants, some of which sensed her fear and were trying to attack her. She'd chosen work in the greenhouses over the other options, because, first, it was in a place that would be open to the sky, and second, she assumed that gardens in a castle would be similar to those described at country estates, about which she'd read in her glossy magazines. Her own (or rather, Harry's) work in the garden was restricted to tending decorative flower beds just like all the other families in the neighborhood had; anything more would either suggest that she herself was eccentric in some way, or even worse, if she had a vegetable garden, that the family lacked funds to buy fresh food at the grocer. She volunteered for this assignment expecting to be surrounded by beautiful flowers and fragrant herbs, with maybe a few rows of vegetables for the table. Instead, she'd been issued heavy gardening gloves made of some strange-looking leather, and a big leather apron, and then been scared half out of her wits with warnings about not getting to close to this plant, or standing where that plant could reach you. She was tasked with gathering mature leaves off of a row of plants that seemed intent on defending their foliage at all costs. These things moved! And spat! And did all manner of things that fruits and vegetables are just not allowed to do in the normal world.
She had hoped to be able to strike up a conversation with some of the other normal-looking people in the greenhouses, but the greenhouses were huge and no one was working near her. She felt horribly alone, and totally miserable. And it was all her nasty nephew's fault.
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Ron Weasley and Remus Lupin had spent the night, morning and most of the afternoon organizing the teams that were going out into the world to find the families of muggleborn students. They participated in a few rescue missions themselves, but tried as much as possible to get upper year house members to help take care of the more junior students in their houses, with one of the adults along to provide assistance in transporting sleeping relatives. There were some happy stories that ended with parents and siblings being transported to the Infirmary for care, or in joyous reunions like Hermione's with family who turned out to be squibs rather than muggles. There were a few rescues of squibs who had been awoken and were found wandering around in shock at the state of their families and neighbors. Sadly, there were also some stories of family members who fell asleep at the wrong time, or in the wrong place, and who did not survive the experience.
Ron had gone with Draco (eyebrows were sky-high over that development, but as Ron pointed out, family is family) to see if his father was alright. Draco had become nearly hysterical after he'd heard about the sorry state of the two students who had been all but drained of their magic when Voldemort cast his spell. Actually, Lucius Malfoy was in a sorry state too. His wife was away visiting friends, so he had been alone. He'd resisted the drain as soon as he felt it, but it overtook him, and left him too weak to move at all after he awoke from Harry's spell. The boys arrived at daybreak, and Lucius had not yet been able to move. They were able to get him back to Hogwarts, and put him in a room in Slytherin House, after Madam Pomfrey provided some potions and prescribed a day or two of further bed rest for his magic to regenerate.
It turned out that Lucius was a lucky one. When news of his situation became known in Slytherin House, a number of Slytherins began to worry about their parents, and many flooed or apparated home to be sure all was well. While quite a few were in the same situation as Lucius, at least three parents who had the Dark Mark had died from the drain on their magic, and several were in such depleted states that Madam Pomfrey was not optimistic of their regaining their ability to function as wizards. An awful sense of betrayal was added into the crushing grief that was felt by many of the students in the dungeons as a result.