The Alliance

Chapter 4

Child of Darkness

Harry awoke to the distinct smell of the Hogwarts' infirmary.

He tried not to groan.

Usually whenever he woke up in the infirmary it meant that something had gone horribly wrong. When he remembered why he was there this time his first instinct was to get up out of the bed.

"Relax," came the voice of Hogwarts' Headmaster,and a hand gently pushed him back onto the bed. "You're going to have to take it slowly for a while; that was a very dangerous thing you accomplished."

Harry's mind was blank for a second before he realized what Dumbledore had been speaking about. Then it all came rushing back as to what exactly he had done.

When he had picked up the broken form of Draco the night before and Apparated, he had no idea just how far away from Diagon Alley he really was.

It barely took a split second for Harry to realize his mistake.

He felt as if he was being ripped apart. His body felt as if it was an elastic that was being stretched way beyond its limit. It was as if all his body parts were on the brink of being disband. In the end he had almost given up, and just when he had, he had made it. Even more amazing was that he had still been holding Malfoy in his arms.

At that point all he had wanted to do was to crumble to the floor and never wake up for a long time, but he didn't.

The truth was that he hadn't because he simply couldn't.

When they arrived, Diagon Alley was dark and deserted. Ever since the war had broken out the shops and stores began to close early. Even The Leaky Cauldron had been closed.

Taking out his wand, Harry had tried tapping on the doors or even open them to get help, but the shops were empty and the protection spells prevented anyone from entering.

On and on he went until he had gotten to the end of the alley. By that time he felt so exhausted that his world began to darken and the corner of his vision became blurred. His every step felt as if had feet had the Impedement curse on them and even Malfoy began to feel too much for him to carry.

So he had tripped and fallen to his knees, not realising that his wand was outstretched.

Then the Knight Bus arrived and Harry began to laugh histerically.

How could he have forgotten about the Knight Bus? It was just that it had been so long since he had taken it that he had quite forgotten that it existed.

Needless to say, as soon as he entered he had collapsed onto one of the beds.

"Is Malfoy okay?" Harry asked quietly, pulling his mind away from his memories.

Dumbledore smiled gently.

"Madame Pompfrey has healed him as best as she can and is now still trying to remove all the curses placed on him, but he's still unconcious and should be expected to remain like that for a few more months."

Harry nodded in understanding, but he couldn't help the feeling that all his risks would be for nothing.

*******************

Virginia Weasley may have been eighteen years old but she still felt as if her parents treated her like a child.

When the war had broken out two years ago she had only been sixteen years old so she was forbidden to fight. She understood that. It was the fact that she was now eighteen and still being protected from the war by her family that was irritating her.

As soon as she had graduated from Hogwarts her parents tried to send her to another Wizarding school in Europe, but that wasn't what she wanted to do. She wanted to fight and no-one in her family understood that.

They all fought, she knew that with certainty. Even Bill and Charlie helped in the war somehow. She hadn't seen Ron or Percy or the twins for over two years now and her parents were becoming more and more distant from her as the war wore one. That had helped somehow, especially since she had been able to convince them to let her take a year off before she began university. Still they were adamant about her not fighting.

"I'm not a child," she mumbled, and was immediately sent some weird looks from the Muggles around her.

She was in a Muggle shopping centre since it was one of her favorite places to be in Muggle London. Diagon Alley was not neccessarily the safest place in Wizarding London to be in anymore. Besides, some of the Muggles fashion were pretty extraordinary.

She was so caught up in her inner turmoil that before she realized, she crashed headlong into another person sending their shopping items flying through the air.

"I am so sorry," Ginny said flustered as she tried to gauge the other person's reaction.

The first thing Ginny noticed when she looked across was a curtain of straight black hair and dark brown eyes. In a way, the other girl was one of the most beautiful girls that Ginny had ever seen.

Without even the slightest change of expression the stranger asked "Are you a Weasley?"

Ginny was shocked.

"You're a witch?" she asked in a whisper.

When the other girl nodded Ginny grinned. "Then yes, I'm Ginny Weasely. You know my family."

A strange expression crossed the other girl's eyes before she smiled slowly.

"I'm Petals, and as a matter of fact, I also work for the Resistance."

******************

Ron and Hermione walked along the passages of Hogwarts holding hands and reminiscing about the seven years they spent there.

"What do you suppose his password is today?" Hermione asked when they approached the two gargoyles at the entrance of the Headmaster's office.

"Probably a sweet." Ron answered and Hermione grinned.

"Actually it is, but I doubt that matters anymore." came the teasing voice of Dumbledore behind them.

They turned to him but he waved them away.

"You can greet me later, Harry is awake."

He didn't have to say it twice since the two were already scurrying away.

********************

Harry had just gotten dressed and was preparing to leave when Ron and Hermione burst into the room.

Hermione gave a rather high pitch squeal and immediately launched herself into Harry's arms.

"Oh my gosh we were so worried when we arrived and heard that you were still unconcious."

She gave him a none too gentle punch on his arm.

"You idiot! What if you'd killed yourself?"

Harry shrugged as best as he could with her still latched on to him.

She let go of him then and he and Ron hugged as manly as they could.

"So now that you're back in the land of the concious, what do you want to do now?" Hermione asked when they were finish hugging.

Harry didn't hesitate to reply.

"Fly!"

Ron laughed.

"Always the Quidditch player, huh Harry."

Harry shrugged again but Hermione did not look pleased.

"Not that it has ever affected you before, but you do know that it's dark outside. You've been unconcious for nearly twenty four hours."

Harry's expression didn't change in the least.

"You're right, that has never affected me before."

Hermione's expression changed to one that meant she was not to be disobeyed.

"How about you eat first, then fly?"

Harry, who wasn't afraid of that expression in the least, smile then kissed her on her temple.

Wiggling his eyebrows at her he replied.

"How about I fly first then eat," he said smiling as he opened the door, "That way I don't throw up all over the Quidditch pitch."

Much to Hermione's embarassment that immediately threw Ron into a fit of laughter.

******************

"Where is Mr. Potter?"

When Ron and Hermione entered the Great Hall and approached the head table, Proffessor McGonagall's question was the first to reach them.

Apart from her, seated at the table were Proffessor Dumbledore, Proffessor Lupin, Professor Flitwick, Proffessor Pinch and Proffessor Hagrid. Apparently, everyone else, not involved in the war, somehow had gone home for the summer holidays.

Ron waited until he and Hermione were seated before he answered the question.

"He's on the Quidditch pitch flying."

Remus' face got a look of concern.

"Is he supposed to be putting such a strain on his magic so soon? The Apparation he completed was

no small feat. In fact, there was quite a huge risk that he could have died."

That got both Hermione and Ron's attentions, but it was Hermione that commented first.

"Well we tried to warn him about Apparating across an unknown distance but he wouldn't listen. All he was concerned about was getting Malfoy to safety."

Dumbledore laughed indulgently.

"Yes that is very much like our Mr. Potter isn't it? I don't suppose you two figured out quite how far you really were?" he asked, still smiling.

Hermione blushed deeply, though the question had been intended for both of them.

She shook her head before she said softly, "No Professor, we haven't tried to figure it out."

For a split second, Ron thought he saw their ex-headmaster wink at Hermione but it was done much too quickly for him to dwell on the thought.

"Wales is where ya were!" Hagrid exclaimed "At least that's where we all figured from the power drain that Harry went through."

Ron and Hermione were struck speechless.

From Diagon Alley to anywhere in Wales were about five to six apparition points. This was of course dependent on if you knew the direct location of where you were and where you were headed. Since

Harry had not known where he was located it meant that he had apparated past all those stopping points and across all that distance at one time.

Harry had done it and was still alive.

"Bloody hell!" Ron muttered, "I know he's a powerful wizard and all but that just takes the cake!"

Dumbledore definitely winked at Ron this time as he smiled.

"Ah, but Mr. Weasley you are forgetting one important point." he said.

Ron looked curious.

"What?" he asked, but suddenly Hermione knew before the answer was given.

"Malfoy," she whispered, "He was also there."

Dumbledore nodded but Ron was even more confused.

"But he was half dead!" Ron exclaimed, "It wasn't as if he was in any position to offer Harry any help. I doubt his magic was accessible to even him at the time."

Professor McGonagall looked at him solemnly.

"Never underestimate the Malfoys Mr. Weasley," she said as she looked at him, "Especially not Draco Malfoy. He may not seem like much but remember that his reputation as one of the stronger dark wizards has preceeded him. Mr. Malfoy may in fact be just as powerful as our Mr. Potter."

Ron nodded slowly, but Hermione could see that it would take a while for him to admit that this could even be possible.

******************

Muggles, muggles everywhere...

"Don't you just love Muggle shopping centres?"

And a Weasley witch to spare.

Ginny's companion smiled radiantly as an answer.

Ginny smiled also.

"Why don't we get a cup of coffee," Ginny suggested, "Then we can spend the rest of the night getting to know each other a bit better."

Assuming that I want to spend another second in your presence.

She knew that this was not an opportunity to pass up though so she smiled again and nodded.

It was all the answer that the auburn hair witch needed before she took her hand and began to lead her towards the food court.

A few minutes later they were seated at opposites end of a table for two.

"I didn't know that you work for The Resistance."

Ginny blushed at the other's conjecture.

"I don't," she said softly.

There was a flash of something unknown in the other person's eyes but it was quickly replaced by sympathy.

"You are eighteen right? Don't you want to work for the Resistance?"

Ginny nodded emphatically.

"Of course I do! More than anything right now, I wish I could help. My parents want to protect me from the war."

Again, there was the flash of something unknown in the stranger's eyes.

"I have an idea," she said slowly, "You could work for The Resistance as an undercover ally."

"Really?" Ginny's face began to shine.

"Yes, we can work together."

The answer was slow and deliberate again. It was as if a plan had just formed in her head.

It was perfect.

"Well what do we do? Where do I start?"

"Well," she paused slightly, "Since I am not always in Wizarding London to hear of any new

developments or plans, perhaps you can be the one to supply me with any information issued."

Ginny beamed.

"Oh that will be easy!" she exclaimed.

Her companion's eyes took on a guarded look.

"You will have to be careful though," she warned, "Remember that your parents would not approve of this. You are supposed to be undercover for me. No one can know that you are giving me this information."

Ginny nodded enthusiastically.

"Of course not," she assured her new friend, "This will be our secret."

"Good."

Again, Ginny began to smile. Her eyes were shining with a new sense of worth.

"Thank you so much! I can't believe that I am now working officially in The Order! I've always wanted to work for The Resistance!" she babbled softly.

It was quite unfortunate that Ginny was so lost in her world of enthusiasm that she didn't notice the gleam in the other woman's eyes.

*****************

Harry was floating.

Harry was flying.

Harry was suspended between the heavens and the earth.

Harry adored flying.

To Harry flying was so simple that at times he forgot that it would take many hours of intense training to acquire the speed and grace that he had naturally.

Staring up at the star scattered night sky Harry tried to remember the last time he had flown above Hogwarts' quidditch pitch.

Quidditch matches...

Griffindor against Hufflepuff.

Griffindor against Ravenclaw.

Griffindow against Slytherin.

Captain against Captain.

Seaker against Seaker.

Potter against Malfoy...

Harry's mind immediately conjured up images of his childhood nemesis as he remembered him from Hogwarts. That Draco had seemed so strong and proud. It seemed to Harry that throughout the entire seven years Draco had somehow remained the same. He had only gotten taller, his hair longer, his eyes greyer, his choices clearer, yet he had remained the same.

Then he remembered the Draco he had saved.

That Draco was different. Covered in blood, broken and unconscious, there was nothing there to remind Harry of the Malfoy he had grown to hate. It had just seemed so obvious that he should help him. There had been nothing there to remind Harry of Malfoy's nastiness.

Now he wondered what effects would occur from his brave act. The more he thought about the risk he had taken was the more unreal it seemed that he had done it at all.

Yelling in frustration he began to spiral upwards, relishing the feel of the wind whistling in his ears.

Why? Why did I save him? Why did I save him? What did I save him from?

"Death?" he asked, but there was no answer so he stopped spiralling.

What if it's a trick? What if he's still a Death Eater?

"He's not!" Harry shouted, shattering the silence, but the doubt was still there.

But he was...

Harry sighed in defeat.

"Yes, he was and he still could be." he whispered.

*****************

// How is Draco?//

// He is as expected.//

There was a pause and a nod of understanding.

Silence stretched across the bond as the other battled with an internal question. Albus only smiled and waited.

// How is The Alliance?//

Severus felt Albus' amusement. Albus knew that he had skipped the question he really wanted to ask.

// The Alliance is doing well... As usual.//

The point could not have been missed.

The Alliance were the most trained individuals of The Order. They had to be because they did the most dangerous work. They could take care of themselves, especially the other three main members.

Severus sighed internally. Albus felt the fear he was still hiding.

// Why don't you ask what you really want to know?//

Silence ensued for a moment before Severus gave in.

// Is Remus okay? I know that the full moon was two nights ago. Was he given the potion in time?//

//Yes. I prepared it myself.//

The answer may have been serious but the amusement could not have been hidden.

Severus decided to blatantly ignore it.

// I think he misses you.//

// Has he said that?//

// Of course not. He's Remus.//

// Then how do you know?//

There was a sad smile.

// The light has gone out of his eyes. He is still our Remus but I get the feeling he's wasting away.//

Severus's internal pain and sadness was so deep that Albus almost gasped with the full extend of it being relayed through the bond. He was still the only person that ever had the opportunity to experience this rage of emotions from Severus. It was almost humbling to know that the externally cold Potions master of Hogwarts could feel such deep emotions.

// I have a potion that I'm developing...//

It was only after the rage of emotions had run its course that the words were distinguishable enough to be relayed. Albus was curious but he was patient.

// If it works then I may be able to see him again.//

// What will it do? Azkaban is guarded against apparating without permission. I'm sure you are aware

of that.//

// Yes. I won't be apparating.//

// Then what?//

// If it works then I will be able to be in two place at once.//

Silence.

// That sounds very dangerous. What if you cannot get back to one form?//

// I haven't worked out all the details yet, but when I do it will work properly.//

Albus shrugged and Severus took that as an approval.

The connection was broken soon after.

Albus sat in a pensive mood for a while. If Severus could truly develop such a potion then it may do wonders for The Resistance and The Alliance.

***************

"Is he still up there?"

"Yes."

Ron had been sitting at the window, watching the dark, tiny form of his best friend flying above the Quidditch pitch.

It had been hours since he had been up there and Ron was becoming worried.

"Do you think we should get him to come in now?" he asked as he turned to face her.

Hermione considered her options for a while. She had also been worried that Harry may suffer from magical exhaustion ever since their ex-professor of Defense Against the Dark arts had told them of the strain Harry had put on his magical abilities. On the other hand Ron, Harry, Severus and herself had grown to be very close, though in the case of Severus it was more of a case of mutual respect. As a result of this, the four knew enough to understand the others' limitations.

Against her better judgement, Hermione understood that Harry could take care of himself.

"He'll be alright," she assure Ron softly, "We've been through worst and he did just fine."

Ron nodded but he still looked a little worried.

"We're leaving tomorrow. I think he needs all the rest he can get." he said slowly.

Hermione smiled teasingly. She was usually the one that was insightful while he was spontaneous. In fact, their identities in The Alliance was based directly on this difference in personality traits.

"Oh but I thought you understood his need to fly!" she exclaimed.

Ron smiled at her and the glint in her eyes.

"Yes, but even I would have drawn a line a few hours ago." he stated.

Rising from his position by the window, he walked over to her and kissed her lightly on her forehead before he continued with what he had been saying.

"You know, you have to wonder what he could possibly have to think about so much," he whispered to her, "I hope it's not the war. Merlin knows that he has enough to think about already. Hogwarts is supposed to offer sanctification."

Hermione smiled sadly as she wrapped her arms around his neck and laid her forehead on his shoulder.

"You know Harry, he has grown to take his duty wherever he goes. It's a part of him now."

Ron scoffed then groaned in exasperation.

"Harry worries too much. It will be the death of him one day." he declared.

Hermione was noticeably silent in her agreement. As she glanced outside to watch the swooping figure on a broom, she couldn't help wondering if they were right about Harry and the war.

Somehow I don't think it's really about that...

***************

"What are you doing here?"

Ginny had barely left the food court when her previous companion was accosted. The newcomer had grabbed on to the accused wrist and a look of anger burned in the depths of his eyes.

"Let go of me!" she whispered back angrily and pulled her wrist away from his grasp angrily.

His expression didn't change in the slightest.

"What are you doing here?" he asked again. "Why were you dining with a Muggle lover?"

The female's eyes began to glare icicles.

"What I do with my time is my own business," she stated.

The other person's eyes began to show his own anger.

"No. Not when you dine with a Weasley. Not when you're found in Muggle London." He grabbed her arm again and glared first at the conveniently glowing Dark Mark then at the woman again. "Not when you wear this on your arm."

Pulling her arm away again, she smiled almost sweetly.

"If the Dark Lord though that I had betrayed him he would have removed his Dark Mark then killed me. Like Draco. Yet it is still here," she pointed out.

This time the other person shrugged.

"He may not know yet. Perhaps you are a spy in our midst. Perhaps Draco was just a decoy who served a purpose much more than was told to us."

With an almost innocent look on her face, the woman sauntered up to the man. When she was pressed up against him, she wrapped her arms around his neck and tilted her lips to his ear.

"Don't you trust me?"

He didn't move as he answered her in a very serious tone.

"I may do a lot of things when it comes to you and break a few rules while I'm at it, but I will never trust you. That would be a weakness that I cannot afford. In your case, a weakness like that would be dangerously lethal."

She smiled at his words as pride swelled within her. She may have no level at which to stoop to but when it was important, she was still very unlikely to be underestimated and that was very important to her when it came to her kind.

"Then know this," she whispered, "Ginny Weasley is my pawn. I intend to use her long enough for her to betray her family and The Order, then I'm going to very much like disposing of her like the disgusting garbage that she is."

Perhaps it was the sheer glee that was present in her voice, or maybe it was that such truth and determination could not be hidden deep enough within her eyes; whatever it was though it made all the doubt disappear from the other's eyes. Slowly, he began to smile as he untangled himself from her grasp.

"Shall we leave then?" He glanced at his now glowing Mark. "Our Dark Lord is calling. I am sure that whatever you have planned will be taken very well by him at this point."

Smiling also, the woman removed whatever Illusion spell that she had cast, without his knowledge, around them. Then brazenly winking at him, she took his hand and they began to walk to the nearest Disapparation point in Muggle London.

A few minutes later Pansy and Blaise disapparated to Azkaban.

***************

"Harry are you feeling alright?"

"Yes. Why do you ask?"

"Oh no particular reason."

"Alright, but then why did you ask?"

Hermione was silent as she decided whether or not it was important enough to answer his question. Harry was trying not to groan or roll his eyes.

She was worried about him. He could see it as plain as day in her eyes. He would know that look anywhere, especially since he carried around his own variations of it for each member of the wizarding world. Even for those he didn't know. It was a look that seemed to have become a part of their features since the war had begun.

"You were really pensive yesterday," she offered as a sort of opening.

Unh uh! Now how did I know that this was about that?

He didn't voice his thought though. Instead he gave their entwined hand a gentle squeeze and said, "I know. I had a few things to think about."

"Draco and the war?"

"Yes."

From the other side of Hermione, with his arms wrapped just as snuggly around Hermione's waist as hers was around his, Ron gave each a slight glare.

"When did the two of you start referring to Malfoy by his given name and Harry, why would you want to waste precious thinking time on a sodding bastard like Draco Malfoy?"

Harry glared right back but luckily enough they had arrived at the place where the gargoyles guarded the entrance to the Headmaster's office, which was where they had actually been heading.

It opened before they could even think of a likely password. It only did that in times when the visitors to the office were members of the Order whose presence at Hogwarts were meant to be kept a secret; and were in a hurry to leave.

As soon as they stepped into the office, Professor Dumbledore gathered them in a very tight group hug of which they were only too happy to return. Then closing his eyes in concentration, it was about a minute later, with his eyes still closed, that he spoke to them.

"The wards are temporarily down. You may leave."

Turning to Harry, Ron grinned.

"I wonder how they manage to do something like this at Azkaban on such a large level without anyone going any crazier. With all the comings and goings that happen there at once by the Dark minions, whoever controls the wards must be one very messed up Wizard."

Which he was in fact quite a psychotic wizard indeed since the Dark Lord trusted no-one with the many wards of Azkaban. It was a pity that Harry couldn't reply as such though.

The Trio had already disapparated.

********** *** ************