Xchange Students

Xchange Students

Chapter 9: Raid on Hogwarts

Marie was shaken awake roughly by a masked figure in black who was levelling a wand at her face. She was herded with the rest of the Sixth Years out into the corridor.

Another shrouded figure was standing by the head of the stairs gesturing with her wand. Marie saw that the Fifth and Seventh Year girls had also been roused, and were standing huddled together. With Lavender in front, the girls began to file towards the stairs.

Marie joined the queue, but was stopped at the stairhead. "You--you're one of those Americans! Who are you? What are you?"

She replied evenly, "Who I am is Rogue. What I am is your worst nightmare!"

It was a line worthy of Logan, Marie thought, and what followed did Wolverine's training proud. The intruder was clothed from head to foot, gloved and masked--so much bulky clothing made her an easy target. Parvati, just behind Marie, saw a blurred whirl of arms and legs, heard the clatter of a dropped wand, a meaty thud and a groan, before the masked woman slumped at Rogue's feet.

Surprised, the other stranger whirled, saw her companion fall, and was mobbed by the furious girls. Wandless and pinioned, snarling like a cat, the woman defied her captors. Marie watched amazed as quiet Parvati drew off and landed a solid left on the woman's jaw. The woman staggered, then dropped to the floor.

"Bring them downstairs!" said Lavender. "We'd better see what's happened with the boys."

Marie gripped the first downed woman under the arms. Parvati and Lavender took the other. "Where did you learn to throw a punch like that?" Marie asked Parvati.

"Watching Ron Weasley knock seven bells out of Draco Malfoy!" Parvati replied with a grin.

Marie shook her head. "Can't wait to meet this Ron."

"You'll like him. It's a shame Hermione Granger got her hooks into him before anyone else could," Parvati said ruefully.

Don't go there, thought Marie, as they manhandled the inert women down the stairs, that's soap opera territory.

The boys were already in the Common Room, debating how to get up the stairs into the Girls' Dormitory. An open window revealed how the raiders had entered the tower. The girls deposited their victims next to two unconscious, but similarly dressed, men.

Lavender, who had stopped to pick up her wand, applied binding charms to the intruders before throwing herself into Neville's arms. "Are you alright? What happened? What's going on?"

"I'm fine, love, settle down!" Neville reassured her.

The girls learned that the boys had been awakened by raiders entering their room. One of the intruders approached Peter's bed. Peter jacknifed upright and delivered a thundering punch to the man's gut, sending him gasping and writhing to the floor. Even while tying him with a bedsheet, Peter managed to quip, "You know what a grouch I am if I don't get my eight hours." Bobby and Neville overpowered the other raider, holding him until Peter trussed him up as well. Then, they rushed to the Common Room, intending to rescue the girls or to ambush their captors.

"Get the masks off these four!" ordered Neville. The masks came off easily enough, but nobody recognised the faces underneath. "Doesn't matter," said Dean, "somebody in the school will know 'em!"

Nearly Headless Nick floated into the room in a state of agitation. "To arms! To arms!" he cried. "We are invaded! The lackeys of the Dark Lord have breached our walls!"

"Right!" barked Neville. "We're in control here. Sir Nicholas, will you find out what's happened to the teachers? Check the other Common Rooms and dormitories, as well. Also, see if you can find Dobby; it may be that the house-elves can help."

"Sir Nick," added Lavender, "if the other students have dealt with their raiders, ask the Prefects to meet us here, unless the teachers have taken charge. I think that if the staff were able to do anything, McGonagall would have been here by now."

"As you desire, gentles! I shall return as swiftly as chance allows!"

"OK." Neville thought for a moment. "A couple of people had best stay down here to watch these four and listen by the door. The rest of us should dress--particularly you girls. We lads are getting quite an eyeful!"

Lavender giggled. The female nightwear on show ranged from the floor-length flannel to oversized shirts over knickers. Lavender's eyes scanned the boys. "It's not just the lads!"

Surprisingly few of the boys wore traditional pyjamas; some Muggle habits had penetrated Hogwarts. Neville and Peter, in particular, wore only boxer shorts. Those girls who were not ogling Peter's physique were casting surprised but appreciative glances at Neville's slim, well-muscled form.

After a few more leers and grins, everyone went back up to the dormitories to dress. As Lavender pulled on a sweater, she turned to Marie, and started. Instead of her normal clothes, Marie had donned a close-fitting outfit of supple, black leather. On the belt buckle was a badge, a simple X in gold on black. So, that American school did have uniforms, after all!

"Welcome back...Rogue," said Lavender.

"You catch on quick, sugah," replied Rogue with a wink. "C'mon, let's go find out what kind of trouble we're in."

When they arrived, the Common Room was already crowded, not just with Gryffindors, but with members of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff as well. At the big table, Neville was poring over a map along with Sir Nicholas and a half-dozen older students Rogue recognised, but didn't know by name. Colossus and Iceman were standing nearby, both in uniform, she noted approvingly. Neville looked up. "Ah! Lavender, Rogue, come over here. We need to make plans."

Sir Nick reported that the teachers had been magically sealed in their rooms, except for Professor Snape, of whom no trace could be found. All the dormitories had been invaded, but defended ably, except for Slytherin. Something of a brawl had erupted there. About a third of the students, led by Malfoy, had sided with the invaders. Though the invaders had been disarmed with the help of the Bloody Baron and Peeves, the student battle still raged. The outcome was in doubt.

Iceman and Parvati took over watching the captive invaders so the other students could go off to dress. Ginny and Colossus took up positions by the door. Ginny had not seen Peter in uniform before, and, for the first few minutes, she was more than a little distracted. She snapped to attention when she heard the sound of feet hurrying along the corridor. Pansy Parkinson came dashing around the corner. Clutching her wand, Pansy looked scared, angry and determined.

She said, "I know you have no reason to trust me, or any of us Slytherins, but most of us want to help. We've cornered Draco and his gang in a dormitory. I've come to tell you that the rest of us are ready to do what we can!"

Ginny looked hard at Pansy. She seemed sincere, but who could trust a Slytherin? Pansy saw the doubt in Ginny's eyes and stepped closer, speaking confidentially. "Look, I've thrown over Draco. He doesn't really like girls, if you know what I mean. Another thing, Ginevra, you and Rasputin here know something about me--about how I've had feelings for Harry. Bandying that news about would finish me in Slytherin! Hold that over my head if you must, but believe what I'm saying now: I'm here to help."

Peter was convinced. He looked at Ginny, who nodded. "Glad to have you with us, Pansy," said Ginny. "Go on in!"

Inside, the others at the table were shocked to see Pansy. She spoke directly to Neville. "Three things: One, we Slytherins are not all gutless wonders like Malfoy. Two, not all of us agree with the Death-Eaters. Three, this doesn't mean we like you, Gryffindor! Now, what do we need to do?"

Neville was about to reply when the fireplace flared. The flames turned green, and Dumbledore's head appeared. The Professor said, "I do not have much time. Intruders have breached our defences but we do not know why. I managed to send for Aurors before the castle's Floo network was cut off from the outside world, but it will take time for them to arrive.

"Stay in your Common Rooms until help appears. Work together, exercise caution, and expect the unexpected. Mr. Longbottom, you should know that an active Shrouding spell will limit the usefulness of your map. I must end now. Once again, take care!"

After Dumbledore's image disappeared, Neville activated the map. All it showed was a number of vague blobs, which seemed to be groups of people. "There are three main groups," Neville concluded. "One searching the towers, one the middle floors, and the other tackling the dungeons. Right! Assuming these are all wizards, they're probably ex-Hogwarts students, so they'll know the castle as well as we do--no advantage there.

"We need to lure them to one place--the Great Hall will be best--and hold them until the Aurors get here. Any thoughts?"

"Guerilla warfare!" Pansy said eagerly. "We have to harass and herd them. Small group ambushes. Can we do that?"

They decided they could. The Gryffindors would take the towers while the Ravenclaws secured the middle floors and the Slytherins cleared the dungeons. The Hufflepuffs were to set up a fortified position in the Great Hall, lying in wait for the arriving raiders.

Finally, Neville turned to Marie, saying, "Rogue, you three Americans are welcome to stay with the rest of Gryffindor. But, you do have different abilities. Is there a better way we can use you?"

Rogue nodded. "I've checked, and our communicators work in here; they're combat gear - EMP shielded. We have four. I'll stay with you. If I give one to these Hufflepuff guys, Colossus goes with the Slytherins, and Iceman with the Ravenclaws, we can stay in touch."

Once everything was decided, things moved quickly.

In the dungeons, Peter and Pansy led a group of determined Slytherins. The attackers had made the mistake of believing the students were locked in their Common Room. After a few skirmishes, the students gained the upper hand.

Everything was going according to plan as Pansy and Peter proceeded along a corridor toward the entrance of the dungeons. This was a large chamber where the main staircase from the upper levels ended. The students had managed to push back the invaders this far, but they still needed to force them up the stairs.

Pansy wondered about the young man beside her. He was big, yes, but otherwise wasn't so different from any other student. Like many of the Slytherins, she had been less than thrilled by the decision to invite non-Wizards into the school. She still had no clue as to what a Mutant was; she had first heard the word four weeks ago, and there was nothing in the Library about such people. The three strangers had certainly fit right into Gryffindor, which made her distrust them. Pansy had heard Draco raging about the way Drake had humiliated him, and she had tried to make sense of Crabbe's and Goyle's gibbering accounts of their encounter with Rasputin. She had also heard, at third or fourth hand, about what had gone on in the forest.

But, there was no substitute for experience. Two attackers jumped in front of them in the corridor. Pansy nearly leapt out of her skin when Colossus transformed into his armoured form. A woman collapsed as her companion's Stun spell rebounded from Colossus' chest. The big Gryffindor stepped forward and knocked out the other with an open-handed slap. For all his size, Colossus was quick and precise in his movements, impossibly strong, and he seemed immune to magic. Perhaps Dumbledore was not such a fool as some made him out to be; if other Mutants were as formidable as this one, they were better as friends than enemies!

Now, as they ran through the archway into the ante-room, Pansy heard a whistling sound. A huge shadow loomed over them. Colossus turned and shoved her behind him, shielding her with his body. There was a crash and a splintering sound, then the American released her. Nearby stood a hulking, ugly Troll, staring stupidly at the stump of his club.

Colossus grinned down at Pansy. "Y'know, I almost felt that!" He turned to the Troll. "Look, big fella, I've got no quarrel with you, and you obviously don't know what you've gotten yourself into. Just back off, and we'll say no more about it, OK?"

The Troll's response was to roar, toss away his broken club, and heave his fist at Colossus. There was a mighty thud; Colossus flew across the room to crash into the wall. The Troll howled with pain as it dimly realised that punching steel hurt. Colossus scrambled to his feet, his face set. "OK, now you've made me mad, pal!" he said, and charged.

Neither the students nor the raiders could do anything but watch the ensuing battle. It was an awesome, brutal scrap. The Troll was much larger than Colossus, but apparently no stronger, and though his hide was thick, he was not made of metal. He fought stupidly, using stubborn savagery to withstand blows that would have shattered stone. Colossus landed a final blow that was truly spectacular; Pansy would never have believed a nearly seven-foot-tall metal man could leap gracefully into the air to deliver a decisive flying kick! That ended it; the Troll collapsed in a heap.

The raiders stood gaping at their secret weapon lying in a battered lump on the floor. Pansy took in the situation at a glance and yelled, "Forward, Hogwarts!" Under a barrage of curses, and with the invincible metal giant advancing on them, the raiders fell back to the stairs. "Keep pushing!" urged Pansy, "We've got them!"

She was right. The raiders were in full retreat, making for the Hall, where they promptly ran into a volley of spells from the well-entrenched Hufflepuffs. Pansy sealed the door behind the last of the raiders and turned to her troops. "Right! We have to get round to the other side and reinforce the Hufflepuffs quickly. That lot are as bloody-minded and stubborn as anyone can be, but they don't have our skill."

As the Slytherins headed toward the back door of the Hall, Colossus caught Pansy's arm. "Look, I think I can get us some reinforcements. I'll see you in there, soon!" Then he was off, moving toward the front exit. Pansy shrugged, she was not even going to try to give orders to that one--he was a typical Gryffindor, lots of guts but no great quantity of brains. She took off after the other Slytherins.

Once outside, Peter switched to his human form so he could run at top speed. He sprinted across the grounds to Hagrid's hut. As he went, he triggered his communicator. "Colossus to Rogue. The Slytherins have trapped the raiders in the Hall."

"Roger that, the Hufflepuffs just reported in. Are you going to reinforce?"

"The Slytherins are. I'm going to see if I can get Hagrid's help. He'll come in handy if it turns into a brawl in there."

"OK. Be careful. The rest of us are on schedule. Rogue out."

Peter had reached the hut. Inside, Hagrid was pounding heavily on the back of the door and yelling, "Dang it! Jus' let me out of this an' somebody's goin' to get a slappin'! Teach 'em to mess with Hogwarts, I will!

Colossus grinned. He approached the door and called loudly, "Professor Hagrid?"

"Who's tha'?"

"It's Col...Peter Rasputin, Professor."

"Peter! Dumbledore tol' me the students were doin' somethin'. I can't open this flamin' door! Can you?"

"I'll try. Stand back."

Colossus switched to his armoured form, then kicked hard at the centre of the door. The spell on the door was designed to keep things in, not out. The door splintered, and Hagrid peered through the frame in astonishment. "How'd you do tha'? What've you done to yerself?"

Hagrid had only glimpsed Peter in his Colossus form once, at the edge of the Forest, when he'd been preoccupied with the distressed and fainting Marie. Now, Hagrid goggled as Peter shrugged and changed back to his human shape.

"Nature did it to me, Professor. I just make the best use of it I can!" Quickly, Colossus filled Hagrid in on the situation, ending by saying, ".... so I don't know the number of raiders, but there are lots more students. All the spell-slinging will kinda stalemate after a while, I bet. So, I get the feeling that things are gonna get physical down in the Hall sooner or later, and that's where we come in. You up for a scrap, Professor?"

Hagrid smiled broadly and nodded. "Yer do ask some daft questions, lad! Just a tic!" He stepped back into the shack, coming out moments later carrying a blackthorn cudgel that looked like about half a tree. "Right, Peter! I know a way into the Hall without goin' in the main doors. Let's gi' them buggers a bit of a surprise, shall we?"

The two big men set off across the grounds.

Inside the castle, Iceman was discovering how very different Ravenclaws were from Gryffindors. He had been assigned to a team that included Padma Patil, Luna Lovegood and Cho Chang. Padma was the only Ravenclaw who had any idea of what Iceman could do.

"I've done a bit of research on Mutants," Padma explained. "I've studied Muggle books and magazines on the subject. But, theory is one thing; practical application, another."

Ravenclaw tactics consisted of getting ahead of the raiders and constructing complex barriers and illusions, to deceive them and to force them into taking the desired direction. These students appeared to be highly skilled in more complicated and difficult magic. Iceman remembered that Ravenclaw was the brainy House. It seemed he wouldn't have much to do.

Still, when half a dozen raiders appeared from an unexpected direction, the Ravenclaws were glad to have the Mutant Gryffindor with them. The intruders soon found that a wand coated with a two-inch-thick layer of ice was not much use. A flurry of Stun spells and a few well-placed punches and kicks from Iceman soon finished them off.

Just when Iceman thought the fight was over, Luna said, "I smell smoke! Are they trying to burn down the school?"

Iceman and his team dashed along the corridor, following the odour. The source was a smouldering tapestry, beside which stood a man-like figure made of flickering red and orange flames.

"Fire elemental!" gasped Cho. "Those idiots! You can't control a fire elemental. It'll reduce the castle to ashes!"

"Not if I can help it," said Iceman, gritting his teeth. "Stay with me, girls. This could be a tough one."

He stepped forward, raised his hands, and the battle began. The girls watched Iceman and the elemental pitting their essential natures against each other. Fire flared at Iceman, to vanish in clouds of steam, while he sent ice to encase the elemental in a shell that melted as fast as he could form it. The corridor filled with a thick fog, and the floor and walls ran with water.

Then, the battle changed. Gradually, the fog thinned, and the water dried. The elemental's flame seemed to sink, and it was slow to melt the ice forming around it. But, at the same time, Iceman began to falter. His face was flushed, and he was sweating.

Luna felt her throat grow dry; it was hard to swallow. Padma stepped close behind Iceman, whispering, "Bob, what's wrong? Can we help?"

"Water!" he croaked. "I need moisture to freeze the air. This thing and I have evaporated all the water around us."

"Cho, Luna, we need to make it rain in here!" shouted Padma.

With the three of them working together, the spell took only moments. Clouds formed close to the ceiling, and rain began to fall. The water seemed to hurt the elemental, but Iceman's power redoubled. He froze the rain to ice as it struck his opponent. After that, the end came quickly. The elemental's flames shrank, then died. Seconds later, all that remained of the fire elemental was a wispy vapour sealed in a pillar of ice.

Iceman staggered for a moment, then looked up to the ceiling to let the rain wash over his hot face until it revived him. The three witches clustered around solicitously, asking, "Are you alright? Do you need anything?"

"I'm fine. I could use a drink of water, though," Iceman admitted, with a laugh.

Cho transfigured a nearby flower vase into a bottle of water. Bobby sipped it gratefully. "That's better," he said. "Let's get on with the job!"

In the tower, Rogue had been hanging back, content to serve as a communications link. Her power, she thought, would be of little use here. Seamus suggested she take the abilities of one of the bound raiders, but Rogue refused. 'Borrowing' Mutant or natural powers was one thing, but Rogue didn't think she could handle years of acquired skills. Besides, the other Gryffindors had matters well in hand, it seemed, as they staged a series of lightning strikes on the confused intruders.

It turned out that Rogue was far more than dead weight. Neville and Lavender consulted her on tactics and manoeuvres, seeking her advice and experience. "You're the nearest thing we have to Harry," Lavender pointed out. Rogue decided she would have to have a long talk with Harry, one of these days. She knew he was being good to Kitty; her friend's letters praised him to the skies. Now, she realised Harry was something of a warrior, too.

During the final push to force the raiders into the Hall, Rogue's keen ears caught something odd. A familiar voice, shouting words with a note of desperation. She called to Neville, "You guys carry on. I've got to follow somethin' up! I'll see y'all in the Hall!"

She dashed down a side corridor. As she did, the voice became clearer--it was Professor Snape! Rogue heard him shout, "Expecto Patronum!", and a silvery glimmer illuminated the scene. A towering form in black hovered over the crouching figure of Snape, who was holding his glowing wand aloft. Rogue saw hopeless determination on Snape's face.

"Hold on, Professor! I'm comin'!" Rogue yelled, pulling off a glove as she charged.

The other figure swung to face her. Rogue felt a morbid darkness reaching for her mind. She saw her first boyfriend, collapsing into a coma after she kissed him. She saw Magneto's gloating face, and Logan's with pain wracking his features. Everything that was good in her life seemed to be wrenching away.

She gritted her teeth and thrust her bare hand into the shadow of the hood. Her fingers brushed jagged fangs and cold, scaly skin. Then....

Snape heard the Dementor give a shrill screech of torment, before it crumpled to the stone floor, revealing another figure rising. The dark hair with its distinctive white streak identified the apparition as Marie D'Ancanto, but her skin was grey and her eyes were deep, black pits.

"Miss D'Ancanto?" Snape gasped.

The figure opened its fanged mouth. "Rogue--call me Rogue." The hoarse voice added, "Professor, we have to get to the Hall while I can still use this thing's power!"

Snape didn't argue. He had read the files on Rogue. Her power could not last long. "Follow me!", he shouted, and set off at a run. Rogue glided along after him.

To Rogue it seemed that being this thing was easier than being Jack had been, or anyone else she had used her power on. The Dementor had no personality, no real will, to struggle against her. But it was cold and empty and so very hungry. It wanted light, it wanted warmth, it wanted...to feel. It needed sensations, emotions and memories, to savour them for a moment, before they faded into the darkness that had spawned its kind.

Snape had led her to the foot of a stairway. "This," he told her, "leads to the gallery above the Hall. Go up there and wait for my signal."

In the Hall, the students were crowded behind a stout barricade the Hufflepuffs had constructed in front of the main doors. The raiders were free to move about the Hall, but as yet had been unable to penetrate the fortification. The Prefects had arranged matters so that the students took turns defending the barricade, allowing everyone to rest. Faces looked up, surprised and relieved, when Professor Snape appeared among them.

"Quickly, we have little time! Prepare to charge on my command: Slytherins to the left, Gryffindors on the right, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw in the centre. Mr...Iceman, stay by me and prepare to form an ice barrier when I tell you. We must confine these raiders to a smaller area."

Snape thrust his wand upward, and a bright spark shot toward the ceiling. In response, a slim figure moved down the gallery stairs. Neville gasped: The ghastly figure was Rogue! Her skin looked like death, and she radiated unnatural cold. For a moment, Neville felt deep fear and despair, but he fought against those sensations. Marie must have touched a Dementor! Neville's mouth tightened, knowing how much help the girl would need to recover from this.

Rogue directed the Dementor's hunger at the astonished raiders. The part of her that was the dark creature relished the feast; the part of her that was Marie shied away. Images ranging from petty greed to psychotic malice to pure, perverse evil flooded her mind.

The intruders' reactions shifted from astonishment to abject fear in a matter of seconds. They began to fall back, shrinking away from the terror that advanced implacably on them. One raider managed to summon a Patronus, a silver hawk that flew at Rogue, but abruptly sheered off. The Dementor within her felt a flash of fear, but Rogue steeled her will, and the Patronus, a weak one at best, could not deter her. She heard Snape howl, "Charge!"

The students stormed forward, hurling spells at the retreating raiders. Within moments, the intruders were confined to the rear third of the Hall. Snape, in the lead with Iceman beside him, commanded, "Now, young man!"

Iceman dropped to one knee and placed his hands on the floor. Professor Snape looked awestruck when a thick, chest-high fortification of ice formed across the width of the Hall. Following Snape's directions, the Slytherins, Gryffindors and Ravenclaws manned the barricade, while the Hufflepuffs secured the area behind it, trussing up fallen raiders and setting up an impromptu aid station for injured students. Cho Chang raced to the front of the Hall and opened the great doors; she wanted to make sure the Aurors could get in, and she knew a flow of cold, damp outside air would help Iceman maintain his barrier.

Rogue reached the ice barrier before she collapsed. "Marie--" Bobby turned to go to her, but Snape placed a restraining hand on his shoulder. "We need you here. Hold the barrier. I will see to her. Mr Longbottom, you and Miss Parkinson take over."

Snape crouched by the fallen Rogue and turned her over. Her skin was regaining its normal colour, though there was still a grey cast to her lips. Somewhere far away, Snape heard the shrill scream of the Dementor as it escaped into the night. Rogue was murmuring, "Cold, so cold...." Touching a hand to her cheek, Snape felt that her skin was clammy.

"Miss D'Ancanto?" he said, then, "Marie?"

Her eyes flew open, and she gasped, "Professor, you mustn't touch me!"

"What? Oh..." he looked down at his hand, then held it before her. "Skinseal Potion. I made up a batch for the Infirmary, in case you were ever injured. I went for it when all this started, expecting you to be in the thick of things." Snape let the corners of his mouth turn up. "You, Miss D'Ancanto, are almost as much trouble as Mr Potter!"

Her clear grey eyes met his shrewdly. "You like him, don't you?"

Snape drew back, considering her question. "'Whisper it not in Gath, tell it not in the towns of the Philistines'," he quoted. "I despised him at first. But, as the years passed, he proved himself worthy of grudging respect. He does, somehow, always manage to survive. And, to the Slytherin way of thinking, a knack for survival is worth something." Snape sniffed. "But, Potter is not the issue, here. How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, Professor. A little cold, is all. That thing was so...." Rogue shuddered

"Don't think about it," Snape advised. "Dementors are hellish creatures. They--" He was interrupted by a shout from Neville. "Professor! They're going to charge the barrier."

Snape stood. Rogue pulled herself to a sitting position and extended a gloved hand. "Help me up, and I'll keep fighting. I don't have a wand, but I can use my fists and feet better than anyone here except Colossus."

Just then, a concealed door at the back of the Hall crashed open, and a large, silvery figure dashed through. "Speak of the Devil," said Snape.

The raiders were utterly unprepared for an attack from the rear. Colossus and Hagrid crashed into them like a pair of battering rams. Hagrid's enormous club whistled through the air, laying out five at a stroke. Colossus struck right and left, using only a fraction of his strength, but causing damage from the spells that ricocheted back on the casters.

The students along the barrier began to lob spells into the now utterly confused mass of raiders. The final stroke came when a squadron of Aurors flew in through the open front door and zipped across the hall on their brooms, showering spells and hexes down on the utterly demoralised invaders.

What followed was a blur for Rogue. The Aurors, some kind of Wizard SWAT team, she thought, immediately took charge. Somehow, the rest of the staff were released. She remembered Dumbledore clasping her hand in both of his, saying, "Well done, indeed, Marie! Charles will be proud of you." Stern-faced McGonagall was there--smiling!--and adding her praise. "Miss D'Ancanto, you and your friends have proved yourselves true Gryffindors once again," McGonagall said.

Then, with no memory of how she had got there, she was standing in the Gryffindor Common Room. Neville and Pansy were shaking hands. "Nice work, Longbottom! But this still doesn't mean we like you!"

He grinned. "Wouldn't have it any other way. If Gryffindors and Slytherins started being friends, it would be the end of civilisation as we know it." Pansy snorted with amusement, nodded once to Peter, and left.

Standing apart from the celebrating students, Marie felt nothing. Nothing mattered. She had not been this depressed since she had fled her parents' home. She realised the others were watching her.

"It's the Dementor," Neville was saying to Lavender. "The effects of actually touching one of those things must be horrible."

Bobby looked as if his heart might break. "Marie...?" He took her in his arms and kissed her lightly on the lips. She had not prepared, and her power stirred. It had only been a second's contact, but she felt a flow of warmth from Bobby's feelings--he loved her so much! Marie felt a flicker of joy.

Lavender, who was watching her intently, muttered, "Of course!" The Gryffindor girl stepped forward and stroked Marie's face. The sensation of goodness and hope happened again! Marie had never realised how fond of her this reserved English girl had become.

Neville swore softly, "Oh, bloody hell! I'm a complete idiot!" He went to Marie, put his arms round her shoulders and kissed her lightly on the cheek, then stepped back, blushing furiously. Suddenly, everyone was crowding around Marie, hugging her. Dean and Seamus both kissed her as Neville had done; Parvati pressed her cheek gently against Marie's, as did Ginny. With every touch, Marie revived, feeling her strength and spirits rouse until, when Peter swept her into one of his bear-hugs and kissed the top of her head, she was back!

Marie stood there, looking at them all, and blinking back tears. This was what the exchange was all about--new friends becoming as close and as dear to her as any of the X-Men.

Neville smiled. He quoted her own words, "Whether you're a Gryffindor or an X-Man, the rules are the same. We take care of our own."