Harry Potter and the Book of Shadows

A Wylde Night

Hermione sat waiting on Ginny's bed while Ginny brushed out her long red hair, getting ready for the feast, or more accurately, the concert afterward. Most everyone else was in the common room talking about the Hogsmeade visit or what Katrina might perform that night.

"Aren't you ready yet?" Hermione asked, exasperated. She'd been watching Ginny brush her hair and use Straightening Charms on all her clothes for almost an hour. The only reason Hermione hadn't abandoned her long before was she didn't want to face the inevitable questions undoubtedly waiting for them in the common room. "It's not even like we're in dress robes or anything, what's taking so long?"

"Hermione, Katrina Wylde is performing. What if she does autographs? Or pictures?" Ginny looked in the mirror again, assuring herself she looked as good as she could in her school uniform.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "You really think she'll notice?"

"What if the Daily Prophet is there?" Ginny countered. Taking one last look in the mirror, she sighed. "All right, I'm ready. Let's go join everyone else in the common room till it's time to go down."

As they walked out of Ginny's room, Ginny hesitated, making Hermione wonder if she too, had just been stalling. After all, everyone was bound to know what had happened in Hogsmeade by now. Or at least some bizarre exaggeration of what had happened. Hermione quickened her steps, hoping Harry and Ron weren't being hounded by the other students, wondering if they too, had put off appearing.

They passed Lavender and Pravati talking excitedly as they made their way through the crowded common room. Trying not to make eye contact and initiate conversation, Ginny and Hermione squeezed by. To their relief, Katrina Wylde was the subject of their conversation, not Hogsmeade.

"I went to one of her concerts last year. It was brilliant," Lavender said breathlessly. "She didn't sing my favorite though, Wings. I love that song."

"I do, too!" Pravati agreed emphatically. "It's so romantic!"

"Real fans, them." Ginny rolled her eyes. Hermione gave her a questioning look. "It's not a romantic song. It says right in the album jacket she wrote it for a friend, not a boyfriend. Besides, she never sings that song at her concerts."

"Why?" The only wizarding music Hermione heard was when she stayed with the Weasleys.

Ginny shrugged. "No one really knows. There're tons of rumors about it. All of a sudden she just refused to sing it. Maybe because her music style changed? She hardly sings any of the first album songs anymore, anyway. I don't mind so much, Betrayal is my favorite, from her second album."

Hermione didn't voice the comment that sprang to mind. They spotted Harry and Ron in a corner by the windows, half hidden by the heavy curtains. Relieved they weren't being mercilessly questioned, they made their way over.

"How are you holding up?" Hermione asked.

"We came down early and sort of snuck over here," Ron said. "We've been playing cards, trying to keep out of sight. No one's asked us anything, yet."

"How are you, Harry?" Ginny asked.

The Cheerful Chew had worn off hours before, replaced by a disquieting sense of confusion. It left Harry wondering what had happened in Hogsmeade. The more he thought about it, the more he was convinced the disjointed thoughts that had filled his mind when the Dementors attacked were not his. His scar had never hurt like that before, either. He'd almost hoped Dumbledore would insist on seeing him, but so far he had not been summoned.

"I feel all right, I suppose." The others didn't look convinced. Before they could ask, Harry shrugged. "I don't know what happened. I wish I did."

"We'll figure it out, Harry," Hermione assured him.

Worried someone was going to use their conversation as an opportunity to bring up the details of the Hogsmeade incident, Ginny thought a change of subject was in order. "The concert should be good, don't you think?"

"Absolutely!" Neville had come upon them without them noticing. "I still can't believe she's actually here."

"Hey, Neville." Ron nodded in greeting, though he looked at him suspiciously.

Neville shot a nervous look over his shoulder. "So...um, how was your Hogsmeade visit?"

Hermione's eyes narrowed. "You know how it was. Probably everyone does by now."

"No, I don't!" Neville exclaimed then lowered his voice. "No one really does, except you." Obviously jumpy, words tumbled out in a rush. "First they were saying the Dementors attacked Harry and Persephone saved him. Then it was the Dementors attacked Persephone and Harry saved her. Then someone said Persephone attacked Harry and someone sicced the Dementors on her..."

"You forgot the one where Harry and Persephone ran off on Free because of their forbidden love." Ron added. Neville stopped mid-sentence to join the others, staring at an indignant Ron. "What? I didn't make it up!"

"See?" Neville said. "We just wanted to know what really happened."

"Who is 'we'?" Ginny asked pointedly.

Neville seemed to wither under her sharp gaze. He cleared his throat and looked down. "The other Gryffindors, mostly."

"The whole school, probably." Hermione frowned and stole a glance at Harry who looked exhausted by it all. She made a decision. "Fine. We were having a usual Hogsmeade visit when the Dementors came out of nowhere and headed for Harry. The three of us," She indicated herself, Ginny, and Ron, "tried to hold them off with Patronus Charms. Persephone...couldn't help and Free charged them when they moved toward her. Professor McGonagall and Professor Dunn used their own Patronus Charms to get rid of them. Harry came back here in case it wasn't safe. End of story."

As soon as the other students had noticed Neville talking to Harry, everyone had stopped talking to listen. The room was silent when Hermione finished.

Someone called out, "What about-"

"That's all that happened." Hermione stated loudly and with finality. He crossed her arms and glared as if daring anyone to argue.

Neville looked to Harry who shrugged, not wanting to draw further questions. "That was pretty much it."

The other Gryffindors looked disappointed, but the low babble of voices gradually returned. Mumbling his thanks, Neville wandered back to the group he'd been with before, looking a bit uncomfortable.

"Maybe you should have stayed in your room until right before the feast started," Ginny said.

Harry shook his head and sighed. "It was going to happen sooner or later. Better here than the Great Hall. We were just waiting for you, anyway."

Ginny looked surprised. "Us? Why?" Hermione gritted her teeth, wishing they had told them that as it might have saved her an hour's worth of Straightening Charms.

Ron held up Persephone's inexpertly Spellotaped wand. "I was going to see if we could find her before the feast started and figured you'd want to come along."

Blinking at her brother's unexpected thoughtfulness, Ginny agreed and the four made their way toward the door. A few students watched them with interest, but no one made any motion to intercept them. Lee, standing by the opening, said, "They're not letting anyone hang around the outside of the Great Hall if that's where you're going." He was obviously disappointed.

"Um, no we're uh, going to..." Ron started.

"The hospital wing," Harry finished. The others looked surprised for a moment, then quickly confirmed.

"Oh," Lee's forehead creased. "You're all right?"

"Yeah." Harry was a little surprised at the concern in Lee's voice.

"Well, see you at the feast, then."

Once outside the portrait, Harry shrugged to the others. "It wasn't a lie. First place we should check, don't you think?"

They agreed, but after arriving, Madame Pomfrey told them Persephone had already left. "Said she had to help set up for the feast."

Figuring they could honestly say they were trying to return Persephone's wand, the foursome headed to the Great Hall. Contrary to what Lee had said, when they approached, there didn't seem to be anyone chasing students away from the corridors leading to the Hall.

Coming down the stairs, they could hear the plink-plink of a piano being tuned. After a moment, the notes turned from distinct 'plinks' into a melody. Soon, a voice joined in, adding the words.

When I needed a hand to hold,

I found you.

Your spirit strong, your heart so bold,

I found you.

What I needed most, you gave to me,

With your love I can be what I'm meant to be.

You are my wings,

You freed my soul.

You are my wings,

You made me whole.

You are my wings.

"That's Wings!" Ginny exclaimed.

"Katrina must be warming up," Ron guessed. "That's why they didn't want people hanging around."

Ginny's brow creased. "I don't know, that doesn't sound like her. And she hates that song."

They quietly walked to just outside the door and peeked in, still expecting someone to tell them to leave until it was time for the feast. To their surprise, they saw it was Persephone singing at the piano. Ron was about to call out and tell her they had her wand when a door slammed open across the room. Harry recognized it as leading to the room where the weighing of the wands had taken place for the Triwizard Tournament.

"What did I say about that song?" A raven-haired woman stalked out of the room and across the stone floor, her azure robes billowing out behind her.

Ginny elbowed Hermione and whispered excitedly, "That's her! That's Katrina Wylde!"

"It's bad enough they still play that tripe on WWN. I refuse to have to listen to-" She stopped in obvious shock. "Persephone Hade."

Persephone stood and turned around. "Hello, Katrina. It's been a long time."

"Persephone Hade," she repeated with a rather unladylike expletive between Persephone's first and last names. Her expression turned furious. "Of all people, for you to have the audacity to sing that song. What the hell are you doing here?"

"Tuning a piano," she replied mildly, though her heart was racing. She'd been dreading the confrontation all week, knowing it was inevitable. She knew that song would get Katrina's attention.

Katrina whipped her wand out and aimed at Persephone. "Why are you here?"

"I work here. It has nothing to do with you." Persephone put her hands up, showing they were empty. "And you can put that away. I'm wandless."

"I don't believe you." Katrina continued to aim at her.

Persephone shook her head, dropping her arms. "Can't say I'm surprised."

"Why are you here?" Katrina yelled again.

"That's a long story I'm sure you have no interest in hearing," Persephone replied coldly. She took a breath, in an attempt to calm herself. "In all truth, it has nothing to do with you. I kept my promise, Kat."

"Don't call me that!" she shouted. The echo made her pause and lower her voice. "Why did you do this? Half a world away, why now? Why here?"

Persephone looked at her once friend and sighed. "Katrina, please believe me, I didn't plan this. I couldn't ask them to cancel or not show up myself. Since there was no way to avoid it, I thought it would be better for you to find out now, in private." Katrina's wand dipped lower. Persephone's voice grew quiet. "I didn't want it to be a shock when you came out."

"How kind of you," Katrina said sarcastically. She seemed on the verge of saying something, but her eyes suddenly narrowed. "Does anyone know?"

Ginny and the others exchanged confused glances, but held their breaths. Being discovered now would be catastrophic.

Persephone looked momentarily surprised, but quickly recovered. "No."

"Maybe I should tell them." Katrina's expression was fierce.

"You won't," Persephone stated.

Katrina's wand rose again as though Persephone had threatened her. "And why not?"

Persephone gave her a hard look. "I think you know why."

"I know what I saw," Katrina said with conviction, though her voice was shaking. "I know what you are."

Persephone clenched her hands. Harry and the others could see her almost shaking with anger? Frustration? It was hard to tell.

Katrina took an involuntary step back, looking almost afraid. After a moment, Persephone's fists relaxed and her shoulders slumped slightly as if in defeat. Katrina lifted her chin and put her wand back in her pocket. "If you were innocent, you would have come back."

Persephone lifted her gaze and their eyes locked. A long moment passed, and Persephone turned to walk away.

"I had nothing to go back to."

The foursome in the hallway shuffled backwards, hoping to conceal themselves behind a suit of armor by the door as Persephone left. Luckily, she was too upset and distracted to notice them. When she had gone down the dungeon stairs and out of sight, they crept back toward the Great Hall to see if Katrina was still there, but the hall was empty, the door to the small antechamber closed.

"What do you think you're doing here?" A voice demanded from directly behind them.

They all jumped, Hermione recovering first. She turned to face Professor McGonagall. "We um, wanted to return..."

"Persephone's," Ron halted under McGonagall's glare, "uh, I mean, Miss Hade's wand. Madame Pomfrey said she was in the Great Hall."

McGonagall gave them a suspicious look but when Ron produced Persephone's battered wand, her expression softened. "I'll see that she gets it." Looking into the great Hall, decorated for the Halloween Feast but empty, she sighed. "Well, it's almost time for the feast, you may as well just go in."

Seeing no reason to argue, they hurried to claim seats at the Gryffindor table. It wasn't long before students began to arrive, the initial trickle quickly becoming a torrent as students scrambled to find seats. Now inside the Hall, they had a better view of the stage that had been set up, much as it had been for the Weird Sisters. Ginny tried to catch a better look at Persephone at the Head Table, but from where she was, she didn't notice anything amiss in her expression. It was as though the conversation they had overheard had never happened.

The excitement in the air was palpable as the feast began, students chattering in anticipation. There was a brief lull in the noise during which a lone owl flew into the Hall.

"Odd time for mail," Hermione mused.

Ginny watched the owl drift toward the front of the room. "I wonder if it's for Katrina."

Ron paused, his third helping of scalloped potatoes teetering precariously on the serving spoon. "Looks like it's for..." Ron scowled, "Malfoy. What's he up to now?"

Most of the students were looking over at the Slytherin table curiously. Malfoy, obviously enjoying the attention, took the small package the owl held.

"Why would he be getting mail now?" Ginny wondered out loud.

"And from whom?" Hermione added. "That's not his family's owl." At Ron's openmouthed stare, she quickly added, "It had tags from the Post Office in Hogsmeade."

Ginny shrugged. "Maybe he bought something today and had to have it delivered."

Harry and Ron had the same thought. Ron spoke first. "If he got the new Quidditch gear..."

Obviously aware of the commotion his package had caused, Malfoy took his time opening it. Craning his neck, Harry saw what looked to be a glass jar of some sort. Malfoy scanned the tag attached to the vessel's neck, then pulled off the lid.

Students seated by him, including Crabbe and Goyle, jumped aside as liquid splashed out, soaking Malfoy's robes. Even the professors' attention was attracted as Malfoy yelled an expletive and jumped up.

He quickly sat back down when it became clear that, whatever the potion was, it was rapidly causing his clothes to become transparent. Draco attempted to grab a robe off one of the students sitting close to him, but everyone hurriedly scooted further away, not wanting to get any of the liquid on themselves. Face flaming, he grabbed several napkins and ran out of the hall, most of his clothes now invisible.

The sniggers that had started when Malfoy stood erupted into full-blown howls of delight not limited to the three non-Slytherin tables. Ron and Harry took one look at the door, then each other, then burst into hysterical laughter. Hermione had covered her eyes and turned around as soon as Malfoy stood, but even she was snickering. Ginny's hand was over her mouth, still too shocked to laugh. After a moment, the professors attempted to compose themselves and calm everyone down. The riotous laughter eventually subsided as students returned to their food.

Harry was the first of the foursome to regain speech. "What do you think that was all about?"

Hermione snuck a look at Persephone, which the others caught. She was biting her lip to keep from laughing, but looked just as shocked as everyone else. Ginny shook her head. "No, she wouldn't do that. Especially not after what happened that first day."

"There's no way she could have set something like that up, not after the attack," Harry added.

"And with a broken wrist and no wand," Ginny added.

"Then who?" Hermione asked, looking perplexed. "And why?"

Ron suddenly sat up, realization lighting his face. He doubled over in laughter again. "They never could get that Invisibility Potion to work right!"

Ginny's eyes widened and she joined her brother in a new bout of laughter. Hermione and Harry exchanged confused looks. It dawned on Harry after another second. "Fred and George. Payback for the bludger, I bet."

Hermione mouthed a wordless 'oh', then pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. "He's going to be very angry."

The hubbub, as well as the feast, now over, the tables cleared themselves of dishes. Dumbledore stood. "If everyone would please move away from their tables, thank you."

Whatever snickering vestiges of conversation were left quickly ended as students shifted around. The House Tables were pushed against the wall opposite the stage that had been set up. With a wave of his wand, Dumbledore conjured seats for all the students, divided by house color. There was a bit of scrambling for the ones closest to the front, but a stern word from Dumbledore averted any potential altercations.

Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione managed to get seats three rows from the front and only slightly to the right of center stage.

Two guitar players and the drummer came out and took their places. Waiting just long enough to build dramatic anticipation, but not make people wonder what had happened, Katrina came out of the small antechamber, waving and smiling. Students cheered wildly as she took center stage. "Thank you! It's an honor to be invited here to sing for all of you tonight. I've got some great songs for you, so let's get right to it!"

Ginny was glancing between Persephone and Katrina, but neither gave any indication their earlier conversation had ever happened. Persephone looked politely interested, her expression neutral. Katrina's stage smile never faltered as the opening chords of the first song started.

Rain...

Falling cold,

Cold as your words.

All I believed in is gone,

Lost in the lies you told.

All I loved,

Can't find the truth,

Washed away with the rain.

Broken glass, like broken dreams,

Betrayed by one I loved.

Pouring hurt in crimson streams,

Deceived in all you've done.

Betrayed.

Ginny clapped with delight, forgetting about everything else as she heard her favorite song live for the first time. By the time the concert was over an hour later, Katrina had sung most of her hits, playing both the piano and violin as accompaniments. After granting one encore, she waved and smiled, headed back into the small room off the main Hall.

"That was excellent!" Ginny's eyes shone with excitement as they joined the exodus.

"I didn't know she played the violin, too," Harry said.

Ginny nodded enthusiastically. "Violin, piano, flute. She's great at a lot of instruments. She's really talented."

"I almost feel bad Malfoy missed it," Ron said with a devilish grin. "Almost."

"He didn't," Hermione said. Ron would have stopped in shock if the crowd wasn't making that impossible. "He came back just before it started."

Ron eyed her suspiciously. "You seem to know an awful lot about what he's doing."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Well, someone has to keep an eye out. After all that, he's bound to be after one or both of you."

Ron humphed but seemed mollified. They dropped the subject as they headed back to Gryffindor Tower, joining in the discussions about the concert with the other students.

Persephone waited until it was late, after everyone had left and the hall was empty, before going back to take care of the piano as she had told Dumbledore she would. Moving slowly to the stage, weariness seemed to weigh her down with every step. Before sending the piano back to storage she sat and picked out part of a song that sounded like an oddly embellished version of 'Happy Birthday'.

Abruptly, she pounded her fist into the keys, producing a loud discordant sound then slammed the cover shut. With an angrily muttered spell the piano disappeared. Knowing the house-elves would take care of the rest, Persephone left the hall, thankful the day was finally over. Lost in bleak thoughts as she climbed the main staircase, she forgot to skip the trick stair and her left leg sank in up to her thigh. Suppressing an oath, she struggled to free herself, but failed when the heel of her right shoe snapped and she sank further, slamming her right knee against the edge of the stair in the process. Unable to keep the yelp of surprise and pain from escaping, she cringed when she heard gleeful cackling from above her.

"Poor Persephone. Pondering your pickle?" Peeves crowed at her. He had been speaking in alliteration all week, much to the annoyance of everyone unable to avoid him.

Reaching for her recently returned, though somewhat worse for wear, wand, she cursed when she saw it had rolled down the stairs and out of reach. Looking up, she saw Peeves had somehow gotten a hold of one of the large punch bowls from the feast that had held a fizzy pumpkin juice punch. Students had exclaimed over the enchanted koi-shaped ice cubes that swam around keeping the drink refreshingly cold. Seeing the gleam in his eye she warned, "Peeves..."

His only reply was a loud raspberry as he overturned the bowl and five gallons of ice-cold punch rained down over her. Peeves laughed riotously as he bounced down the hallway, abandoning the bowl on the head of a suit of armor, leaving it to teeter precariously until either someone retrieved it or it fell.

Watching a few of the ice fish in their futile attempt to keep swimming, Persephone fought the laughter that threatened to bubble up, knowing it would quickly rise to an insane pitch she would never be able to stop. Resting her forehead on the step in front of her, she took a deep breath and wondered how bad it would be to be found by a student in the morning.

She heard steps on the stone floor, and wondered if in moving her right leg, the step would just swallow her whole and save her from complete humiliation. Looking over her shoulder, she confirmed it was, in fact, the person she least wanted to see her doused with pumpkin punch and trapped in a staircase.

Closing her eyes, she turned back to the stair in front of her. "Go ahead and laugh. It's funny." She almost lost her own battle with the threat of maniacal laughter.

Snape did not laugh, nor did he say anything as he climbed the stairs to stand behind her. She felt his hands just under her arms. With a smooth motion he pulled her free of the staircase and set her on her feet, holding her steady as she untangled her soaked robes. Reaching down, she took off her broken shoe, the other forever lodged in the stair. She didn't look at him as she pushed aside a dripping lock of hair and turned to go up the stairs.

"Persephone..."

As she turned, she steeled herself for the acerbic remark she knew was coming, but Snape only held out her awkwardly taped wand. She took it, seeing not even a hint of amusement in his expression. "Thank you."

When he didn't respond, she turned and slowly plodded up the stairs, drops of slightly fizzing orange liquid marking her path.

Most of the school slept late the next morning, students having been up late rehashing the concert and burning off the excitement it had generated. Most of the professors were just exhausted from the previous week and trying to keep things under control the night before. Ginny left the very empty Great Hall after eating breakfast by herself, wondering if she should brave the cold to visit Free. Deciding she didn't have anything better to do at the moment, she stepped outside into the weak November sunlight.

Arriving outside the paddock, Ginny's enthusiasm turned to concern when she didn't see Free anywhere in the enclosure. "Where could he be?"

"Probably out grazing."

Ginny jumped slightly, not having noticed Persephone behind Hagrid's hut, opening a new bale of hay. "Good morning."

"Persephone. Good morning. I didn't see you." Ginny tired to slow her heart. She suddenly felt awkward. Persephone didn't know she'd overheard her conversation with Katrina. Thinking it best to act as though she didn't know, she tried to keep her tone casual. "Did you let him out?"

"Nope."

Ginny's eyebrows drew together. "Then how...oh."

"It's a good sign." Persephone said then whistled long and loud. They heard the thump of hoof beats before they saw him crest the hill, coming from the direction of the quidditch pitch. Free slowed and whickered when he saw them. Walking to where they stood, he nosed the empty feed tray by Persephone's feet.

"You've been grazing since dawn, you can't be hungry." she said to the horse. Ginny smiled. They'd been slowly weaning Free off grain, to encourage him to forage for himself.

Ginny's eyes widened as she remembered something. "Oh! Ron had your wand. Professor McGonagall said she'd-"

"Yes, she gave it me last night." Persephone smiled. "Thank you for hanging on to it for me." Free pawed the ground and snorted, obviously annoyed he wasn't the center of attention. "Looks like he wants to go for a run."

Ginny stepped back. "Oh, okay. I'll see you later then."

Persephone gave Free a contemplative look. "Want to give it a try?" Eyes lighting up, Ginny didn't have to say anything. Persephone smiled. "All right, I'll give you a leg up and let's see how you do."

"Now?" Unprepared, Ginny's voice squeaked. "As in, right now?"

"Why not?"

Remembering Persephone had years of equestrian experience while she had practically none, Ginny's enthusiasm flickered for a second as she jumped up, trying to land lightly on the stallion's broad back. Holding tight onto his mane, she looked down at Persephone, thinking the ground suddenly seemed very far away. Unsure, she cleared her throat. "Um, any advice?"

"Don't fall off." Persephone gave Free a slap on the rump. The Granian stallion took off full-gallop and Ginny finally truly understood his name.

Ron looked down after catching Harry's attempt at a goal and saw a flash of sliver and black streak by the quidditch field. They'd decided on a quick practice after breakfast. Harry had suggested inviting Ginny, but when they didn't find her immediately, they went by themselves. Harry followed the blur as it drew nearer, then turned and tore down the path away from Hogwarts.

Ron looked back to Harry. "Tell me that's not what I thought it was."

"Um, it wasn't Ginny riding Free?" Ron turned his broom and Harry knew he fully intended to follow. Reaching out quickly, he caught Ron's sleeve. "Let her go, she'll be fine." He remembered his first ride on Buckbeak, knowing Ginny was probably having the time of her life. He didn't want Ron to ruin it.

Ron looked torn but sighed and turned back. "I guess so, I promised Hermione we'd be back in an hour to do research for the potions essay, anyway."

Harry couldn't hide his surprise as they touched down. Ron choosing homework over quidditch? "Why'd you do that?"

Ron looked toward the library windows of the castle and shook his head. "I have no idea, Harry. I have no idea."

They joined Hermione who had already spread books all over the table she had claimed and begun to scribble notes. Snape had assigned them to modify a Wit-Sharpening Potion and had implied if they did it to his satisfaction, they would be allowed to use it before the next exam. While most students not in Slytherin doubted they would ever do anything to his satisfaction, everyone was scrambling to come up with the perfect recipe.

They both chose random books and started to skim them for useful information. Ron and Hermione made short work of one stack. Harry watched them between jotting down comments, thinking they were a good team when Ron finally decided to get to work and Hermione didn't have to spend half her time prodding him along. Eventually, Harry abandoned his notes, feeling too distracted and figuring he could get them later from Ron. Pulling out Beyond the Body, he flipped to where he had left off. At Hermione's look of annoyance, he whispered, "I need to look this over before tomorrow. I can get the notes later." Before she could protest he added, "We're sharing them anyway, what's the difference?"

She didn't seem to have a suitable retort and so went back to scanning pages with Ron. They were just about finished when Ginny breezed into the common room, a huge grin on her face. She dropped into the seat next to Ron.

"Practicing Cheering Charms?" Hermione inquired, closing the last book, but continuing to scratch away at a sheet of parchment.

"I don't think any spell could ever even come close," Ginny replied, still glowing.

Hermione stopped writing and looked up. "What are you talking about?"

"She rode Free," Harry answered.

Ginny turned to him in surprise. "How did you know?"

"We saw you take off from the quidditch field," Ron muttered, "Did it even cross your mind how dangerous that was?"

Ginny struggled not to laugh, because it had. Not that she regretted it even one tiny bit. "You sound like Mum." Her eyes glittered with the memory of the ride. "Besides, I think now I can make the world's strongest Patronus Charm."

Even Ron had to smile at that.

Later, Harry was alone in the boys' room, looking for his old potions notes. Finally giving up and despondently letting the lid of his trunk fall, he stumbled back when Dobby appeared only inches from his face.

"Dobby! Don't do that!" Harry breathed out.

"Dobby is sorry, but Dobby had to talk to Harry Potter alone." He looked around the room anxiously.

Harry's forehead wrinkled with concern as Dobby rarely sought him out. It usually meant something was very wrong. "What's wrong?"

"Dobby is not supposed to be here," he whimpered. He looked around for an object to hit himself with.

"Dobby, it's all right. And I don't think Dumbledore would make you punish yourself anyway. What is it?" Harry tried to calm him down.

Dobby seemed to be struggling against the urge to hurt himself. "Dobby should not be asking...but Dobby thinks Harry Potter might be able to help..."

Harry tried to sound reassuring. "It's all right. I'll help if I can."

"Dobby wanted to know...that is...wanted to ask..." Dobby trailed off, looking anxious.

Harry was losing his patience. "What, Dobby? What is it?"

"What does Harry Potter think of Miss Persephone?" Dobby asked in a rush. He covered his mouth as though he had said something awful.

Harry didn't know what to say, it certainly wasn't a question he was expecting. "I think she's all right. I mean, she's been pretty nice to everyone except Malfoy, but you can hardly blame anyone for not liking him. Why? Has she done something to you? Something bad?"

Dobby's eyes widened. "Oh, no, sir! She has only been good to us. Even Winky." Dobby looked around guiltily. "Which is why... because Dobby remembers..."

"Remembers what? I mean, you remember what?" Harry prompted, thinking of his own suspicions and the conversation he'd overheard the night before.

"Remembers seeing her at the old master's house once, and hearing others from Miss Persephone's family talking about..." Dobby stopped, shaking with fear. Harry figured he still couldn't bring himself to speak about the Malfoys. "...They were friends of Dobby's old masters. And all the old master's friends are bad wizards. Very bad!" Dobby looked shocked at what he had just said then cringed at Harry's look of utter astonishment.

"What? What do you mean?" Harry demanded. "Is there something you need to tell me?"

Dobby backed away, obviously frightened and confused. "Dobby should not have bothered Harry Potter...Dobby should not have made trouble... Harry Potter should forget what Dobby asked...Dobby must go!"

"Dobby, wait!" Harry yelled, but he was gone.

Harry stared at where Dobby had been. Why hadn't he put it together? That memory he'd seen during Occlumency, Lucius Malfoy had been restraining Persephone. Their families obviously must have known each other. So, of course Dobby would know about Persephone if she knew Lucius. But what was he worried about? And how did this fit with what Katrina had said? He sat in front of his trunk trying to puzzle it out, but nothing he came up with made sense, there were still too many pieces missing.

Walking back to the common room, he couldn't focus on what Ron and Hermione were talking about. Nor did he really respond when Ginny asked what was wrong. He didn't think he should tell them what Dobby had said, because he didn't know what it meant. Sleep that night was a long time coming.

"The others are asking if there is word of her..." Wormtail cowered in the doorway of a dimly lit room.

Only the sound of pages turning slowly could be heard.

"My lord?" his voice was hesitant.

"She has been found." The cold voice echoed slightly in the high-ceilinged room.

"Then why has she not rejoined us?" Wormtail cringed with realization. "My lord?"

Silence rang out as Voldemort ceased turning the pages of the ancient tome before him. A skeletal hand held out a sheet of parchment. "Find these."

Wormtail took the sheet with a shaking hand. "Yes, my lord."

As he left, Voldemort smiled evilly at the page before him. Immortals could be incredibly foolish at times.

Harry woke with a start. He hadn't had a vision like that in months. It hadn't been merely sounds like the last one, but the light had been very dim. Harry didn't know if it was how the room had actually been lit or because Voldemort still thought he and Harry had lost their link. He only hoped Voldemort hadn't felt his presence. Staring at the canopy above him, Harry tried to hold on to what he had seen. Even in the faint light, he had been able to make out what Voldemort had been reading and finally knew what he was searching for. Harry cursed the arrogant vampire that had chronicled his family line's possession of the Book of Shadows.

The next morning, Harry woke long before the others. After dressing, he paced in the common room until he thought Dumbledore might be in his office. Though he tried to take his time getting there, telling himself if he was too early he'd only have to wait, he quickly found himself only a few corridors away. Not paying attention to his surroundings, he bumped into someone coming around the other corner.

"Careful Harry, wouldn't want to end up wearing this." Persephone smiled at him, holding a large bucket in front of her with two hands. The purple solution it contained was bubbling slightly, giving off a strong acrid smell. "Haven't we done this before?"

Harry smiled back weakly as they walked down the hallway, trying not to think of the odd conversation he'd had with Dobby. "What's that for?"

They reached the stone gargoyle in front of the door that lead to Dumbledore's office. Persephone nodded towards the stone floor. "Peeves got a hold of the third year's attempts at Adhesion Emulsions." Harry looked down. "And one of the cushions from the staff room."

He almost laughed at the feathers and down stuck at odd angles all over the stones. "That's some mess."

Harry looked up as Persephone bit back a snicker. "You should see Filch."

The momentary distraction over, Harry's unease returned as he went up the spiral staircase to Dumbledore's office.

"Harry, I didn't expect you so soon," Dumbledore greeted him. Seeing his confusion, Dumbledore folded his hands and leaned forward. "I take it Professor McGonagall's message is not what brought you here?"

A part of him was relieved Dumbledore had sent for him after all. Shaking his head, Harry sat. "I had another dream. I know what Voldemort is after."

If Dumbledore was surprised, he hid it well. "Tell me what you saw."

"He was reading a book. It was large," Harry held out his hands to illustrate, "and it looked very old. An Immortal, a vampire, kept a history of his family, as the Guardians of the Book of Shadows."

A brief flicker of surprise showed in Dumbledore's expression. "What else?"

"He gave Wormtail a list, I think of other books that mention it. I couldn't read the titles." He paused. "I read about the Book of Shadows in A Warrior's Will. I thought it was just a legend. Does it even really exist?" Harry asked worriedly.

Dumbledore sat back, contemplating. "Yes, Harry it does, though few know of it as anything but legend. It is an ancient book of Necromancy, something we stopped practicing, and teaching, a very long time ago. Powerful Dark magic is contained within those pages. Should it fall into Voldemort's hands, it could be disastrous."

Harry tried to remember what A Warrior's Will had said about it. "I thought only the Guardian knew where to find the Book of Shadows. Zeigerdorff said the Guardian was unknown, and he wrote A Warrior's Will over two hundred years ago. There's no way Voldemort can find out who has it now, right?"

The gravity in Dumbledore's expression worried Harry. "There are ways to ascertain who the Guardian is, because only the current Guardian knows the book's location, and should they die before passing it on, certain safeguards are in place so it will not be lost forever."

"Maybe it would be better to if no one could find it," Harry mumbled.

"Loss of knowledge is never advantageous," Dumbledore replied. Harry didn't look entirely convinced.

"I could see, in this dream, too," Harry added, thinking it might be important to tell Dumbledore. "The light was really dim, but it wasn't just sounds like the last one. Do you think Voldemort knows I can still connect with him?"

"Did it seem like he knew you were there? That he fet anything in his mind other than his own thoughts?" Dumbledore asked. When Harry shook his head, he merely nodded. "Then I would think he is still unaware you've been having these visions. Was there anything else about the dream?"

"No..." Harry almost shook his head. "Wait, yes. Wormtail asked about someone, it sounded like they had been missing. He didn't say who. Voldemort said she had been found but hadn't rejoined them."

Dumbledore frowned, obviously concerned. Harry waited for him to say something, but when Dumbledore spoke again, it was to change the subject. "I was going to ask to speak with you this morning, about what happened in Hogsmeade."

Realizing Dumbledore wasn't going to expound on what the rest of his dream meant, Harry resigned himself to the inevitable questions.

"I'd like to hear your view of what happened." Dumbledore patiently waited for Harry to answer.

Trying to turn his mind back to the Hogsmeade incident, Harry's brow creased in concentration. "When the Dementors showed up...I thought we'd be able to handle them. Hermione, at least, had been doing really well with her Patronus Charm last year." Harry stopped, frustrated with himself. "And I drove them off that one time. More than were in Hogsmeade, too."

Dumbledore nodded and waited for Harry to continue.

"I thought Persephone, I mean Miss Hade," Harry quickly corrected himself, "was going to help, too, but I think something happened. Then my scar hurt...It's never hurt like that before, not even the Crutacius Curse hurt like that. And there were these thoughts in my head. I don't think they were mine. I couldn't think, or help. Even after it they were gone, I still hurt all over. I guess we were lucky Professor McGonagall and Professor Dunn showed up."

Looking up, Harry saw Dumbledore watching him intently. "I see." Dumbledore seemed to mull over what Harry had said. "We're looking into who sent the Dementors, if anyone. They may have acted independently. I assume you planned on going on the next Hogsmeade visit?"

Harry nodded, a sinking feeling he was about to be forbidden to go settling in his stomach.

"Then I recommend you work on your Occlumency even harder," Dumbledore suggested. Seeing Harry's surprise, he smiled. "I know better than to forbid you to go. How are your lessons progressing?"

Taking a moment to think it over, Harry decided, for all he and Snape still hated one another, the lessons themselves were going rather well. He'd certainly improved since last year, though he did wonder why he couldn't seem to move past his current level. "I've gotten much better, but I seem to be stuck where I am." Harry's shoulders slumped a bit.

Dumbledore nodded sagely. "A burdened mind can only do so much, Harry. You'd best get to class."

Harry left, not realizing until halfway through breakfast that Dumbledore hadn't told him much of anything at all.