Chapter Forty Five

"Harry?" Luna asked, walking over to the Slytherin table.

It had been two weeks since Draco was poisoned. As Madam Pomfrey had said, he'd been as right as rain by the next evening, although he was still a little weary of eating anything from his treats basket. He'd even been well enough to pass his Apparition test with flying colours, as had Harry, Pansy and Neville; meaning they could all now legally apparate once they turned seventeen.

"That's my name, don't wear it out." Harry grinned, patting the seat between Draco and him for her to sit down," You OK?"

Luna nodded, "Yes, I'm fine. I can't stay though, I have revision to do. I have something for you, from Dumbledore."

Harry reached out with a slightly trembling hand for the scroll of parchment, "Thanks Luna." he said, forcing a smile.

Luna shrugged, "No worries." and skipped away after giving Draco a quick wave.

"I thought you weren't going to have any more lessons." Daphne whispered.

"I wasn't." Harry told them, "Not until he'd found a Horcrux…"

Harry quickly scanned over the note, it was only a few lines as normal.

"It's tonight, Dumbledore wants me to meet him tonight." Harry told them, excitement and fear building inside him.

"I can't believe you're actually going to go, to get rid of one of the awful things." Pansy said, "Are you nervous?"

"I honestly don't know." Harry said with a slight laugh, "I don't know what I feel…"

Harry failed dismally at his lessons that day, even the Half-Blood Prince's notes couldn't save his potion as it nearly blew his eyebrows off. He was trying, but every time he wasn't focusing one hundred percent of his energy on his task his mind wondered back to what was going to happen that evening, slowly dragging more and more of his attention away from the task at hand.

Dumbledore was struggling. He had been badly hurt trying to destroy the Horcrux that had been in the ring and Harry wasn't sure that he would be enough help if Dumbledore had to face something similar this time.

"Dear me, Harry!" Slughorn gasped, looking at the smouldering blue sludge that lined the bottom of Harry's cauldron, "Are you feeling all right?"

Harry nodded, feeling highly embarrassed as every pair of eyes in the room were firmly locked on him, "Yeah, sorry I just got distracted."

Slughorn frowned, "Well, happens to the best of us, I suppose… best get this cleared up and try and focus a bit more next time, eh m'boy."

"Of course Professor. I'm really sorry." Harry told him truthfully as he got to work trying to save his cauldron.

"You need to eat something." Draco told him that evening, "You're going to need your strength."

It was fried chicken and chips for dinner that evening, normally a meal that Harry would of jumped at, but worry was starting to creep in too much for him to be hungry.

He picked at his plate, every mouthful feeling far more dry than it should of in his mouth.

"Why don't we go and get some snacks from the kitchen?" Pansy suggested, after seeing Harry manage to eat a grand total of four chips and half a bit of chicken.

Harry checked his watch. Seven o'clock, meaning there was still a long, torturous hour until he met up with Dumbledore. Any distraction was worth it at this point.

Hermione and Neville came with them. Neville seemed more excited than worried, Hermione was more worried than excited which for some reason made Harry laugh.

They stopped off at the Come and Go room to grab the spare bezoars. Harry wasn't sure that they would come in any use but he'd much rather have them and not need them than the alternative.

The kitchens were, in many ways, far quieter that Harry was used to. There was still the normal noise and steam but at a lower level, with far fewer house elves at work; all of the meals for the day finished with they only had some prep to do for the next day.

Dobby spotted Harry and his friends almost straight away and gave them a distracted smile, wiping his hands on his uniform.

"Harry Potter." Dobby said, coming over and giving them a bow, "Is everything all rights?"

Harry nodded, "Yeah, yeah. I… I might be going out this evening… and… with Dumbledore, not getting into trouble myself or anything… Dobby are you all right?"

Dobby was looking vaguely into another corner of the kitchen, "Yes? Sorrys. What was Harry Potter saying?"

Hermione stepped forwards and knelt down so she was on the same level as Dobby, "Dobby, what's wrong?"

Dobby rubbed his large eyes, "Nothings is wrong. It's just… just I can feels mum."

"Maybe she's coming to visit?" Draco suggested, "Is she OK after… after I got sick? She looked a bit off herself."

Dobby shrugged, "She is just very confuseded but I thinks she will be fines. It would be nicest to see her again."

"It's not long until the holidays, I'm sure Dumbledore would give you a few days off, let you go home and spend sometime with her." Pansy smiled.

Dobby flapped his ears happily, "That would be goods. Anyways what can I helps you with?"

Harry grinned, "I was wondering if I could get some snacks? Just easy to eat things for when I get back."

Dobby nodded but frowned, "Where is Harry Potter goings?"

Harry felt the butterflies in his stomach flare up once again, "I'm not really sure yet."

Dobby frowned, the lines on his face growing even deeper, "Harry Potter should stay safe…"

"I will Dobby. I promise." Harry assured him.

Dobby slapped on a rather forced smile and wondered back into the kitchen. It wasn't long before he returned with a neatly packed picnic basket. It was filled with two large stone bottles of pumpkin juice, half a dozen sandwiches, cakes and cream filled doughnuts; Harry was surprised Dobby was able to life it by himself.

Harry took the basket gratefully, "Thanks so much Dobby."

"You is welcome Harry Potter." Dobby smiled, flapping his ears again.

They left the house elves and the kitchen, wandering slightly aimlessly through the halls, not wanting to have to separate. As the minutes ticked by, Harry's nerves grew.

He didn't like not knowing at least some of what was going to happen, and currently he had no idea.

The clock finally crept round to eight o'clock and the six of them found themselves wondering towards Dumbledore's office.

"Mother? Father?" Draco said, as they all stopped in their tracks, "Not that I'm not pleased to see you but what on earth are you doing here?"

Narcissa hurried over and wrapped her son in a hug, "You haven't heard?"

"Heard what?" Daphne asked.

Harry felt like he was about to be sick, something was wrong, very very wrong and he didn't know what it was.

"Corvus was rather brutality attacked." Lucius told them, "We were called in as his guardians, the Ministry have also been informed, of course."

"What?" Harry gasped, mingled with similar outcries from his friends.

"Do they know who did it?" Hermione said quickly.

"Is he going to be OK?" Draco asked.

Narcissa raised her hand to quieten them, "All we know is that he was attacked, he should be all right. He was found by some first years in the bathroom near the Charms classroom, bleeding very badly and struggling to stay awake. We don't know who is responsible yet, but we're on our way to see him now."

"I'm sure that we could take a couple of you in with us, if you wish? Draco?" Lucius suggested, "We were informed he is awake, I'm sure some friendly faces would do him some good."

"I have to go see Dumbledore." Harry said absently, his brain was somewhere else though, trying to put together pieces of a puzzle, something he'd never been very good at.

"We won't all be allowed in anyway." Neville pointed out.

"Right." Pansy said, shaking her head to try and let her think straight, "I suggest that Draco and Hermione go with you," she gestured to Narcissa and Lucius, "Neville you need to go and tell Thomas that Corvus has been hurt, and then try and get him to the hospital wing as well."

Neville nodded, "Yeah, Thomas and Corvus will want to see each other for sure."

"Daphne and I will go to the common room and see if we get any information, as well as dropping off the picnic basket. And Harry, you're going to be late for Dumbledore." Pansy finished, "So you should get going."

Harry nodded, "Yeah, yeah you're right."

The crowd of people dispersed, most of them walking back down the corridor they'd just come from, but with Narcissa and Lucius either side of Draco protectively; leaving Harry standing alone.

He still was sure that he was missing something as he stepped onto the moving staircase and knocked softly on the door.

Dumbledore was waiting for him, as always, and gave him a small smile as he entered the circle office.

"Good evening Harry." Dumbledore said, "I assume that you have heard of the incident involving Mr Corvus that transpired?"

Harry nodded, "Yes sir, we ran into Narcissa and Lucius on our way here."

"We?" Dumbledore asked, raising an eyebrow, "Your friends were coming with you?"

"No… well, just for the walk." Harry explained.

He took several steps further into the office, heading for the desk on autopilot and froze.

On the desk, sitting on a silver plate, was a slightly blood stained dagger, an intricate BL engraved on the blade, blood soaking into the grooves.

Harry forced himself to breath again, "Where did you get that?"

Dumbledore looked at it absently, "It was found with Corvus, Madam Pomfrey believes it was what his attacker used."

"This is Bellatrix's!" Harry said, far more loudly than he meant to, "It belongs to Bellatrix Lestrange."

Dumbledore smiled at Harry, slightly patronisingly, "I highly doubt that a wanted witch has managed to slip into the school."

Harry took a deep breath, wondering why on earth Dumbledore was being so dense, "No, I doubt it as well, apart from anything else, someone would have seen her. Her daughter however…"

Dumbledore sighed, "I know you have been rather worried over Gemini this year, Harry but there is no evidence that she attacked, and nearly killed I might add, her own brother."

"The fact she had this knife proves she been talking to her mother which she's banned from!" Harry pointed out.

"It proves nothing." Dumbledore said simply, "We have no proof that she even had this knife. Now-"

"Someone did!" Harry snapped, he felt like screaming, "Oh gods… and Dobby said he could feel his mother! It all makes sense."

Dumbledore watched patiently as Harry began to pace back and forth.

"It's Gemini; she's going to use Petal to get her mum into the castle! I know it!" Harry said, "That's why Petal couldn't remember getting here and-"

"The school is protected Harry, they would not be able to enter." Dumbledore said simply.

Harry shook his head, "House elf magic is different, we know this! You know this!"

"Why on earth would Bellatrix want to get into the school?" Dumbledore pointed out.

"I don't know, but it makes sense." Harry said.

"And how would Gemini control Petal?" Dumbledore asked with a small shrug, "She is a most loyal servant, why would she not simply tell her keepers of this 'grand plan'?"

"Dobby…" Harry said with a deep breath, "Bellatrix could control Dobby, she made him think he was being abused and that I was in danger… Gemini is using that same magic to control Petal."

"You have no proof of this." Dumbledore said firmly, "Now, I must talk to you about-"

"But people are in danger!" Harry pleaded, "There's no way that Bellatrix will come alone, people are going to get hurt! How can you even be thinking of leaving?!"

Dumbledore turned his icy blue eyes firmly on Harry, "How dare you think, for one moment, I would put anyone in this school in danger!"

Harry took a step back from the power being directed at him. He'd never seen Dumbledore so angry before.

"If you leave, you will be putting them in danger." Harry said, surprisingly calmly but firmly holding his ground.

Dumbledore gave him a small smile that didn't reach his still angry eyes, "I would never do such a thing Harry, and I am most disappointed that you think so little of me. But it is of no matter right now. Right now, we must prepare to collect the Horcrux I have managed to track down."

Harry frowned, annoyed that Dumbledore had cut him so short and seemed to think he was being over dramatic.

"Now, this will almost certainly be very dangerous and I need you to do exactly as you are told." Dumbledore told him, calm once again, "Do you agree?"

Harry nodded.

"I mean this Harry, it is of most importance." Dumbledore said firmly, "If I tell you to run and save yourself you will?"

Harry didn't answer but Dumbledore didn't seem to notice.

"If I tell you to hide, you will." Dumbledore said, "If I tell you to throw down your wand, to not fight, you will do so. You must follow my every instruction. Do you accept this condition?"

"No."

Dumbledore stared at Harry in a moment of pure shock before composing his face again, "Harry, this is very important."

"I know." Harry said levelly, "But I can't, or rather wont, do what you're asking of me."

"This will be very dangerous, I wont always have time to explain everything…" Dumbledore hissed, his temper bubble like Harry had never seen it before.

Suddenly, everything was crystal clear, "If you wont explain everything to me, then my answer is definitely no. You tried keeping secrets last year, and Sirius still shows no sign of waking up because of it."

Dumbledore rubbed his forehead and took a deep breath, "Harry, the options are very simple, you either agree to obey my every command or you do not come with me."

Harry took a deep breath, confused over how relaxed he felt and looked Dumbledore squarely in the eye, "I know, and I respect that. I'm not coming. I wish you luck though, and if it's not too much to ask, I would be grateful if you would let me know how it goes."

Dumbledore looked at him in shock, "You are not wanting to come?"

"I want to come, but I won't follow you blindly." Harry shrugged, "Not after everything that has happened."

"If this is because you think I didn't take your unfounded worries seriously enough this evening…" Dumbledore said, fury rising within him that he was desperately trying not to show.

"It isn't." Harry told him, "At least not entirely."

"Harry-"

"Good night Professor." Harry said, even managing a small smile, "As I said, I wish you luck."

And with that, Harry turned and left the office.