Harry Potter and the Burden of Becoming

Caduceus

Story Summary:
Sirius has died, and as Harry struggles with his guilt, new neighbors move in across the street on Privet Drive. But this foreign family from the Middle East has a very beautiful daughter, and she's taken a liking to Harry. But just as Harry must hide his own true identity, so too are the secrets that run deep within the Darbinyan family - secrets of death, secrets of life, secrets that will unwittingly guide Harry to rebirth, and the ultimate discovery of how Voldemort must be defeated.

Chapter 29

Chapter Summary:
Harry's emotions seem to be slipping out of his control, but why? A simple touch of Cho's hand, a strand of blonde hair between forefinger and thumb, a note from Little Whinging speaking of love... all are storming within Harry just as Voldemort moves his most powerful piece out onto the playing field -- a truly extraordinary woman.
Posted:
10/14/2005
Hits:
3,357
Author's Note:
Special thanks to my beta Sumrgirl.


Harry Potter and the Burden of Becoming

Chapter 29 - Lost at Sea

~~~***~~~

The day was crystal clear and cold as Harry made his way back to the castle after Care of Magical Creatures. A few yards ahead walked Ron flanked by Crabbe and Goyle. During the last few lessons, the three had banded together. To the betterment of Crabbe Harry hoped, but doubted. The day was easily the coldest of the year and, as a slight breeze blew, everyone pulled their cloaks up tighter to their ears. Harry watched as the three climbed the front steps to the castle, and as his eyes tracked further up they caught sight of Hermione standing next to Cho. A few steps later, Ron met Hermione and the two began to talk. Ron shook his head casting a backward glance at Harry. Hermione went into the castle with him. Cho, however, still using her locomotion spell to travel, waited for Harry to meet her.

"Hi, Harry," Cho said cheerfully. "You're free next period right? She, quite naturally, took his right hand in her left as they entered the castle.

"Yeah," said Harry, looking back at Cho who wore a sly smile. "Why?"

"Professor Flitwick is preparing for the Halloween Feast tonight and said he could use some help. Want to give it a go?"

Since last week's DA meeting and Tonks' comments, Harry had been desperately searching for a way to tell Cho about Gabriella, but still he had been unable to muster the right words. Perhaps it was the part of his heart that didn't want to hurt her feelings, but more likely it was the part of his heart that wanted to have her for himself. Every time he opened his mouth to tell her something inside began to boil. "No," his thoughts would say, strangling his tongue. "She's mine. They're both mine." And then he would feel the warm embers of a jealous rage begin to kindle. With increasing difficulty, he would turn his thoughts to cool the embers, but seemed to be growing less able to get the words out before the opportunity to reveal the truth passed. And now, given the chance to spend more time with Cho, he could once again feel his heart begin to pound with excitement.

"Yes," he said grinning, although he could hear his mind saying no. "Er, right now?"

"I'm ready if you are," she said with a beaming smile that inferred more meaning in her words, and she held his arm more tightly in hers. Together they entered the Great Hall.

Professor Flitwick was busy levitating the various pumpkins toward the ceiling. Their carved faces were ghastly, their glowing red eyes sinister, eyes that Harry had seen before. He shivered.

"You're cold," Cho said rubbing his arm. "It was quite cold out there, wasn't it?" Harry nodded in agreement. Professor Flitwick had finished levitating the last pumpkin when he noticed the two before him.

"Ah! Mr. Potter! Ms. Chang!" he squeaked out. "What a delightful surprise to see you both. You're quite early, as you can see. I still have much to do. Perhaps in an hour or two you might..."

"We're here to give you a hand Professor," Cho interrupted. Professor Flitwick seemed somewhat taken aback by the offer.

"Well, that's wonderful. I... let's see... I've never had anyone offer to help before." Harry cast Cho a steely glance, but she just smiled back. "Perhaps you could start lighting the Jack-O-Lanterns. A small, non-extinguishing, fire charm should work." Harry just look confused, but Cho nodded.

"Certainly sir," she replied. She pointed her wand to a pumpkin over her head and called, "Incendi-Permentia!" Instantly the face began to glow. She looked over to Harry who still looked confused. "Focus on the fire burning inside the pumpkin. The first time I tried this, the whole pumpkin went up in a great blaze that wouldn't stop burning."

Soon, the two began the pumpkin lighting. They also helped animate some of them to wink, or bite. Against the wall near the Gryffindor table, Harry suggested to Professor Flitwick that they put some sort of spider display. The whole wall was one large spider web crawling with black furry spiders the size of poodles. To Harry's disappointment, Cho placed a containment charm so that they couldn't escape. The other wall held a mural of pirates. At least, they once were pirates, but now were nothing more than rags and bone. The skeletons reenacted a brutal beheading of one of their member caught trying to pilfer from their treasure chest. A dense fog covered the floor so that only the tops of the benches could be seen, and Professor Flitwick enchanted a hundred feathers to fly beneath the haze and rub against the ankles of the unsuspecting.

"Well," Professor Flitwick said grinning after they'd placed a few more tricks and treats, "I think that should do the trick." He slid his wand into his robes and rubbed his hands together. "The feast should start in a little under an hour. Thanks so much for your help. I must remember to ask you both to help next year." Cho grinned, but the smile that Harry had been wearing after their afternoon's accomplishments fell instantly, his mind locking on the doubt of ever seeing next year alive.

"You're welcome, Professor," Cho said not noticing Harry's expression at her side. Professor Flitwick noticed, however, and he walked over to Harry, the fog rising to his waist.

"Mark my words Mr. Potter," he said with firm confidence. "One year from today, you'll be sipping pumpkin juice and smiling about the clever tricks you planted for your fellow students." Professor Flitwick looked into Harry's green eyes with a gentle smile, and inside Harry warmed and smiled back. For that moment at least, he thought there might be a next year. "I'm off to get ready; don't dally too long," said Professor Flitwick with a wink, and he left the Great Hall.

Save for the spiders, pumpkins, rustling feathers, black cats and screaming pirates, the two were alone for the first time in weeks. Cho moved closer to Harry, putting her hand to his face. Again Harry's heart began to pound and he could feel the scar on his arm prickle. He could easily see what her brown eyes were telling him. He reached up to bring her hand down. It was time he told her everything. But, when he touched her left hand with his right, all logic seemed to fade. Instead of taking her hand away, he pulled her close and kissed her.

* * *

A few students had already entered for the feast when the two came out of the anti-chamber behind the teacher's table off the Great Hall. The only professor present was Tonks, who was busy reading a book and drinking pumpkin juice. The two slipped around to the Gryffindor table backed by spiders.

"I... I better go get ready," said Harry, suddenly uncomfortable. Cho nodded and kissed him goodbye. He started to leave when she remembered.

"You're going to Hogsmeade tomorrow, aren't you?" Distracted with churning thoughts, Harry nodded. "Shall we go..." Harry's eyes grew large as the dawning comprehension hit him.

"No," he whispered. "No... I can't go." His mouth hung open and he kicked at a feather hidden beneath the fog tickling his ankle.

"Why not?" Cho asked a bit too heatedly. "I thought..."

"I don't have permission," he groaned. "I don't believe it. I don't have permission." He slammed his hand against the wall, smashing a spider and spraying green ooze all over his arm. He stormed out of the Great Hall.

"Harry, wait!" Cho called, following him out.

"Look Cho," Harry snapped, as he headed toward the staircases. "I don't want to talk right now, okay? I don't have permission so, NO, I'm not going to Hogsmeade tomorrow. My parents are dead. My godfather is dead. I DON'T HAVE BLOODY PERMISSION!" He began to run up the stairs as students heading to the feast gawked.

As he blasted by Gryffindors headed the other way, he passed Hermione who grabbed him by the arm.

"Harry, where are you going?" she asked. He grabbed her hand by the wrist. Anger was raging in his veins, a foreign anger that was building from within. All he saw was red.

"Where am I going?" he replied. "WHERE AM I GOING?" He began to push her against the wall.

"Stop it!" she cried. "You're hurting me!" Her words pierced his rage, and instantly he released her arm and stared at her backing away. He began to breathe hard, his heart racing. He looked from his hands to her eyes. His face was in agony.

"I... I'm sorry," he whispered hoarsely. He turned and ran, not stopping until he was seated on his own bed. He looked down at his right arm pulling up the sleeve. The scar was red and raised. "What's going on?" he whispered. There was a squeak in the floorboards to his right, and he began to reach for his wand just as Neville walked in from the showers.

"Hey, Harry!" he called primping the collar on his shirt. "Better get goin', we're both gonna' be late." Harry pulled his sleeve down and leaned back on his bed.

"I'm not feeling too well Neville," Harry moaned. "I think I'll stay in tonight."

"That's a shame," Neville said. "It's always fun, but this year promises to be the best." Neville slipped a reddish-yellow flower from a vase and turned to Harry. "For Helen." Neville winked and left the room.

Harry took a deep breath and tried to find true north again. With each passing day, he felt like he was loosing more control. He was starting to believe that Voldemort had left more than a Dark Mark behind from last year's encounter. "Dobby, where are you?" he whispered to himself.

Only the cold wind blowing against his window answered his words. He closed his eyes to clear his mind, to sleep. He began to smile thinking of Cho, when there was a rap at the window. Harry turned to see Hedwig hovering outside. She pecked once again at the glass. Quickly he went to let her in. As he opened the window, a cold gust of wind blew in pushing him backward and sending shivers down his spine. Hedwig landed in her cage and took a drink of water. A letter was tied to her leg. The smile on Harry's face fell, and then began anew only to fall once more. He was riding on waves of emotion, rising and falling, rising and falling, with no land in sight. Hesitantly, he took the letter from the white owl's leg, sat down on his bed and began to read in the soft glow of candlelight.

Harry my love,

Tonight is my first time celebrating Halloween in England. Mama says it's quite different than the way we normally celebrate the feast. Many on Privet Drive have gone all out decorating their homes. Except, of course, your aunt and uncle. The front of Duncan's house is covered with skeletons and spiders. Emma and I helped him carve pumpkins last night. What a mess! Emma was almost giddy slicing away, but I must say I think mine was the best. I wish so that you could have been here to help us decorate. I miss you, and can't wait for Christmas. I've already told Mama that we can't prepare anything until you arrive. I want you to see first hand how we celebrate in our family. It's fantastic!

Dudley said to pass on to you that his parents have already been talking about celebrating the holiday with his Aunt Marge. I must say that over the last few weeks, he's become almost sweet. He still smokes, which I hate, but at school everyone talks about the change that's come over him this year. I can't believe he was ever that horrible.

Mama's slowly improving, although she still seems to forget things now and then. She keeps checking to make sure she locked the front door, over and over. As for me, I've finally caught up at school, and I'm starting to grow accustomed to Stonewall. I'm just not sure that's a good thing. I've also started helping Duncan with his classes. He told me the other day that he's glad he stuck it out to graduate. I think we spend most of our time talking about you, Harry.

I know you're doing well at school. I only hope you miss me as much as I miss you. I'm keeping my little box with your heart warm in my room. It's waiting for you when you come home. Do write back soon. Your last letter took far too long. I began to worry.

Have I ever told you that I love you?

Gabriella

Holding the note in both hands and reading it for the third time, the paper began to tremble. He wanted to leave now, to be at her side, to hold her tight to him. He walked over to the window and looked out at the clear sky, placing his hand flat against the cold glass. The stars were bright, and the moon that was full last week still lit the grounds below. But then, why was Dudley being so sweet? And why was she spending so much time with Duncan? A pang of jealously began to creep into his veins. With difficulty, he pushed it aside and flopped back onto his bed. He forced himself to focus on relaxing.

"Occlumency," he hissed. "What a joke." The ocean of his emotions was beginning to form white caps. He tried to picture the waters calm and still. The evening following Cho's kiss and Gabriella's "I love you." were crashing against the walls of his skull. It wasn't peace that pushed him to sleep, but exhaustion.

The fog billowed about his ankles as spiders crawled against the wall. He was carrying Cho in his arms to a large chintz chair. The fire was hot as he removed his shirt. He looked to the chair, but Cho was gone. He sat down and fully faced the fire. There was only the crackle of the fire and the sound of slithering around his feet. There was so much to get ready for... so many plans. A voice called his name and he stood in anticipation; he held his wand close wondering what the answer would be.

"She has granted your wish my Lord," the cloaked figure said on one knee. Harry's bony fingers loosened their grip on his wand. He began to laugh in a high cold screech. Suddenly, a blast of pain hit him in the forehead and everything went black. His brain was on fire, and he began to scream. Pain, as if he were being stabbed by a thousand knives, shot up and down his arm and he screamed harder.

Harry woke to Ron shaking him about the shoulders. Harry was confused. It was morning, but he'd only just closed his eyes. His bed was wet from perspiration, but he felt chilled. He began to shake uncontrollably. Everyone was up staring at him from their beds.

"Harry," Ron said letting go of his shoulders, "you were screaming. Is it...?"

This time Harry nodded rubbing his forehead. Dean and Neville had already left for the morning, and Goyle had just returned from the shower. A look of panic spread across the Slytherin's face.

"The mark!" Goyle gasped. "It's the same mark!" Harry's shirt was off and his bare arm revealed the red scar of the sword and snake. Harry was too shaken to attempt any effort to hide it.

"Greg," said Ron sternly, "what goes on in Gryffindor, stays in Gryffindor. We agreed, right?"

"But he... Malfoy... he's got the same..."

"We agreed, RIGHT!?" Ron snapped back. Goyle, ashen faced, reluctantly nodded his head. Ron turned back to Harry. "Is someone being hurt? Did you see?"

"It's too late, Ron." Harry whispered, half dazed. "Whatever it is, we're too late."

* * *

At breakfast he sat with Hermione and Ron, and spoke only of the cloaked figure in his dream.

"It's a woman," Harry said softly. What he didn't say is that, as Voldemort, he felt there was some sort of attraction at play.

"You've got to tell Dumbledore," Hermione said. "You know you do." At first, Harry began to argue, but a second later he stood from his chair and walked over to Dumbledore seated at the head table. Moments after he relayed the story, Dumbledore stood from his chair and patted Harry on the shoulder. Then, he walked over to Tonks who began to follow him out of the Great Hall. As she passed Harry, she put her hand to his face.

"Don't worry," she whispered. She gave him a wink and smiled. "We'll see what's up." As she left the Great Hall behind Dumbledore, Harry looked back at the tables. Already students were beginning to depart for Hogsmeade. He walked back to his seat.

"What did he say?" Ron asked when Harry returned.

"He said if it had already been done, he would have heard by now," Harry replied. "He's gone to warn the Order."

"Do you think it's another attack on Hogsmeade?" Hermione whispered. Harry shrugged his shoulders.

"Seems logical enough with the students out and all."

"You shouldn't go, Harry," Hermione said holding his hand. "You should stay here." Harry jerked his hand away.

"I can't go, Hermione. I HAVE to stay here," he spat. "I don't have a signed permission slip." The words were loud enough to carry and Goyle caught them in his ears.

"You're not the only one staying," said Goyle with satisfaction. "Draco won't be going either. They say he's lost his nerve for Hogsmeade. You know, after the Dementors and all." He stabbed another sausage with his fork.

"You could ask..." Hermione began, but then realized that Dumbledore had already left the Great Hall. "Well... what about Professor McGonagall?" Harry just rolled his eyes. What little appetite he had, evaporated.

"You guys have fun, but be careful, okay?" Harry said pushing his plate forward. "I'm finished," he whispered and his plate and cup vanished.

Cho caught Harry on his way out of the Great Hall. Together they walked to the castle entrance where students were already lining up to leave for Hogsmeade. Mr. Filch was marking them off one-by-one. Filch saw Harry, and a truly vicious grin creased his face. He knew Harry didn't have permission. Cho took Harry's hand.

"I'll stay Harry," she offered, smiling as best she could. "We can find other things to do." She was beautiful, Harry thought. Her brown eyes were large and he had a vision of the two off them flying on their broomsticks with her short black hair whistling in the wind. But a deeper voice inside turned his thoughts toward Little Whinging.

"Erm, no," he said, clearing his throat. "No. You go have a good time. I'm way behind on all my homework. I haven't even started on my star charts, and I don't a clue where to find gillyweed." Cho rubbed his shoulder.

"I won't stay too long," she said. "Maybe I can get back early and we can go over your homework. By the way," she said with a smile, "gillyweed is found on the North Shore." Cho got in line, and as Harry started up the stairs, Anthony Goldstein walked over and stood in line next to her. Cho looked up to Harry and waved. Anthony looked up to see what she was looking at and quickly turned back to Cho.

In the Gryffindor common room, Harry sat on the couch and watched the fire. He could take the invisibility cloak, but it was getting too small to cover him properly. He'd have to hunch around the whole time. He was determined to find a way to get to Hogsmeade, the need growing in his mind. Finally, a challenge was put before him. But how? Unable to come up with any reasonable ideas, he sighed and decided to head to the library to see if Cho was right about the North Shore.

When he arrived he found Malfoy sitting at one of the tables with a few first and second years scattered about. A large book was open before him, but he was staring straight ahead into space. Harry walked over to him.

"What's up Draco?" Harry asked kindly. He was unable to find it in himself, for some reason, to be snide. Malfoy rolled his eyes.

"Merlin's beard! Potter," he drawled. "I see enough of you in class. Can't you just leave me alone?" he snapped. His sneering words were tinged with a sadness that Harry knew all too well.

"I just thought..."

"Well you thought wrong!" Draco yelled. He snapped his book closed and laid it on the table, and then he paused for a moment looking at Harry. "You..." he began in a softer voice, but then he shook his head, stood and left the library. Harry watched him leave and glanced back to the book Malfoy had not been reading... A History of Horrors in Azkaban. On the cover, a picture of a Dementor floated in and out of frame. Harry began to feel cold, and turned the book face down. He leaned on the table and noticed Malfoy had left his cloak on the back of the seat where he sat. Against the green wool lay a glistening strand of blonde hair. He held it up and stroked the long strand between his fingers. And then it came to him. Quickly, he left the library and soon found himself in the tunnel below the one-eyed witch.

With the cloak about his shoulders and the golden strand still in his fingers, he closed his eyes and began to concentrate. This time he was thinking gray, not green. A few moments later, the transformation was complete. He was an exact duplicate of Draco Malfoy. He glanced down the tunnel and everything was blurry. Realizing his error, he reached up and took off his glasses slipping them inside his pocket.

Once inside Honeydukes, he started up the stairs from the cellar. The candy-shop was packed. Nobody paid any attention that Draco Malfoy had entered the room from an unusual entrance. He scanned the shop and started to move forward to the front counter. An interesting thing happened. Normally, Harry would be pushing and shoving his way through the throng apologizing at every step of the way. Instead, as he moved forward, the crowd parted. Everyone moved out of his way without him saying a word. At the counter the proprietor, Mr. Dulcis bowed his head.

"Master Malfoy," he said, "a pleasure as always to serve you." He bowed again. "What will you have?" Harry made a selection of various candies. The choices seemed to confuse Mr. Dulcis. Harry pulled out a gold galleon and told him to keep the change. His eyes widened in amazement. Again as Harry turned to go, the crowd parted. Only Toby Vilis, a sixth year Slytherin stepped in front of him and patted him on the back.

"I told 'em you'd be here, Malfoy," Vilis sneered. "You're not afraid a nothin'!" Something about the way Vilis was in his way, or how he touched him upset Harry. He suddenly felt quite angry and evidently the anger showed on his face. Immediately his fellow Slytherin dropped his eyes and backed away apologizing.

It was strange to be so respected. Harry stood a little taller in his new body and walked out the door. The moment he was outside he was tackled from the side and nearly fell to the ground. He began to reach for his wand, but hesitated knowing that it would give him away. In the same instant, Pansy Parkinson's voice hissed in his ear.

"You lying dog," she whispered. "Not feeling well. Hah! What a joke. Didn't think I'd find you did you." She bit down on his neck. "Word travels fast in Hogsmeade darling." She looked up into Harry's eyes. Harry was at a loss for what to say. He'd practiced his voice on the shopkeeper, but Pansy would know in an instant if something were wrong. And, by the look in her eyes, she already had.

"What's the matter?" she asked. Harry straightened getting to his feet and held her aside.

"I...I told you," he said hoarsely. "I'm not felling well. I just thought it'd look bad if I didn't show up... you know." He was hoping she'd know, because he sure didn't.

"So true darling. So true," Pansy said taking one finger to Harry's face and scratching along his scar with her finger.

"Have you seen Potter?" Harry asked just trying to see the reaction. Pansy sighed and rolled her eyes.

"Is he all you can talk about anymore?" she asked exasperated. "Every day it's Potter this and Potter that." She took in a deep breath and exhaled. "Can you just go ten minutes without bringing up that half-blood's name?" Harry was silent thinking about what she meant. Pansy needed to fill the silence with her own words.

"I know Goyle's been getting chummy with those curseable Gryffindors, but where's Crabbe?" she asked, scanning the streets. Finally, Harry put on the best scowl he could.

"I don't know," he croaked. "But there'll be hell to pay for dodging me." Pansy actually looked a bit frightened.

"I believe he thought you..."

"Crabbe and thought don't belong in the same sentence," Harry drawled with more confidence. "Go find him and tell him to meet me at the Hog's Head in half an hour, or you'll both regret the day we met." Pansy scanned the streets.

"S-Sure, Draco," she stammered. "N-No problem." And she ran off down the street and around the corner.

"Finally," Harry whispered to himself. He reached up and rubbed his eyes and felt the scar on the left side of his face. It was slightly raised, but he felt no pain when he pressed against it. An elderly wizard passed by noticing the mark. His eyes opened wide and he stared taking two more steps and running into a witch headed the other way. "Exactly," Harry thought.

A flash of red caught the corner of Harry's eye, and he turned to see Goyle and Ron walking his way toward Honeydukes. A mischievous smile crossed his face as he stood his ground. A moment later the two were nearly upon him when they noticed he was there.

"Draco," Goyle choked in surprise, "you're here." He took a half step away from Ron.

"Always so brilliant, Goyle -- a true Merlin among men. You thought otherwise?" Harry drawled in his best Malfoy voice yet. And then turning to Ron he sneered, "Hello, Weasles."

"A bit brave being out all alone, aren't you?" Ron spat back. "Wouldn't want to be kissed by a Dementor, or something worse like Parkinson." Harry turned his attention to Goyle.

"I heard you were at a DA meeting Goyle," Harry slithered between his teeth. Goyle shot a nervous glance to Ron and took another half step away. "That would be Dumbledore's Army, wouldn't it?" Suddenly Harry had the feeling that an intruder was entering his mind. A picture of Tonks flashed in front of his face, but Harry quickly turned the invasion away as Ron groaned and held his hand to his head.

"Just trying to get some practice in," Goyle sputtered. "That's all Draco, really."

"I see," Harry said snidely. "You are still a Slytherin, aren't you Goyle?"

"Don't you have better things to do with your time, Draco?" Ron snapped. "I know we do! Come on Goyle." He started to step away.

"Where's your precious Potter, Weasles?" Harry drawled again. "Hiding in his bed at Hogwarts again?" Ron turned on Harry and drew his wand.

"Say another word about Harry, and I'll turn you into an oozing ball of jelly again Malfoy." Ron stepped closer. "He's got more bravery in his little finger than you have in that big fat head of yours."

"It's good to see someone who knows how to be loyal," answered Harry, and he turned and walked away, his forehead starting to ache.

A short walk later, he found himself in front of Madam Puddifoot's. "I wonder," he whispered to himself. He opened the door and walked in. The place was packed, decorated to the gills with miniature Halloween creatures throwing orange and black confetti on to the patrons. In the back sat Cho at a table with Anthony Goldstein. For a moment he felt his insides begin to churn. A flash of anger filled his eyes. Suddenly, Harry's forehead, where his scar would be, began to burn. He winced and rubbed his brow leaning against a counter. The room came in and out of focus. He took a deep breath as the pain ebbed away, and a sudden sense of euphoria replaced the rage. In Madam Puddifoot's were many students from all four of Hogwarts' houses. Conversation filled the room. A thought crossed his mind, an opportunity for unity.

"Excuse me everyone!" Harry called. A few students looked his way. "Excuse me!" he yelled out louder. The room fell silent. Anthony Goldstein made to stand, but Cho grabbed his hand and he sat back down. Harry began, "At the start of the school year on the Hogwarts Express I nearly killed Cho Chang." There was a murmur in the shop. A few Slytherins grinned. "I was angry at her for getting in the way of one of my far too frequent spats with Harry Potter. She sits here before you, harmed by what my senseless rage did to her, and I wish to take this moment to offer her a public apology." A few students looked over to Cho who had straightened in her chair, still holding Anthony's hand. The Slytherins were confused. "Cho, Anthony, all of Hogwarts, I am sincerely sorry for what I did on that train. I promise you... the next time we find ourselves together on the Hogwarts Express, it will be a very different ride indeed!" Harry walked over and took a glass of water from off one of the nearest tables and raised it in the air. "To Hogwarts!" he called. More than half returned the toast, including Cho, and even a couple Slytherins.

He set the glass down grinning at what had just happened. "Progress," he thought to himself. Cho stood and started to walk towards him when, screeching like the old train's brakes, a loud siren split the air. It reminded him of a World War II air-raid siren, and the sound sent shivers down his spine. Suddenly a voice filled the shop.

"All Hogwarts students are to return to the school immediately!" It was the voice of Professor McGonagall. The sirens continued to blare as students emptied the various shops and businesses. "All Hogwarts students shall proceed as quickly as possible to the school," she repeated. And then a man's voice echoed through the street. "Residents of Hogsmeade prepare to defend yourselves." At his words, a woman standing at the corner began to scream uncontrollably until two men helped her inside the inn. The pace of the students quickened as various professors who had also been visiting joined them. One stood high above the rest.

"Now don' anyone panic!" Hagrid yelled out. "Follow me, an' no one 'ill get hurt." He was an instant magnet as everyone drew close. Harry found himself swept up in the crowd unable to get back to Honeydukes. He was in a group of Slytherins as they hurriedly made their way toward the castle.

"What happened?" one of them asked panicky.

"Kings Cross," one yelled in the commotion. "It's been blown to bits."

"What?" Harry yelled.

"How did you know Draco?" another asked his eyes more frightened of Harry than of what had just happened.

"Know what?" Harry replied.

"The Hogwarts Express... in Puddifoot's you swore it'd be a very different ride. You... you knew!"

"But how?" Toby Vilis called out, coming to some internal realization that Draco was truly in league with the Dark Lord's actions. "How did you know they'd blow all of 9-¾'s?" Harry stared unable to speak.

"He knew?" another Slytherin asked. He turned to Harry and patted him on the back saying, "You're brilliant Draco! You really had me goin' in Puddifoot's! Absolutely brilliant... a different ride!" He began to laugh, but Harry began to shiver. "They'll need a whole bloody new train!" And the entire group of Slytherins started laughing, patting Harry about the shoulders.

Harry lowered his head and rubbed his brow. "What have I done," he whispered to himself. In that instant, the hope of unity he had felt five minutes before faded into darkness.