HARRY POTTER AND THE PROPHECY TRUE

Chapter nineteen

"About the only thing I'm looking forward to Halloween for, is not spending time with the Dursleys," Harry said later that week after supper. The four had gathered around their usual table in the common room, working on the lengthy assignment from McGonagall. Ginny was struggling through a rather difficult potions essay, while listening to Harry and Ron discussing Mutgeb's dream.

"I can't believe you're actually considering stealing Voldemort's baby," Ron said softly to avoid any eaves dropping from the nearby students. "What the bloody hell was she thinking? Doesn't she know how dangerous it is?"

"Of course she knows, Ron," Hermione scolded. "You can't expect one of the greatest witches of all time, to underestimate the risks involved. But think about it. If Voldemort succeeds with the Vita Heres ceremony, his heir will rule the wizarding world, even if Harry kills his father. A child with his blood, will prove extremely dangerous to our world."

"All the more reason to just kill it," Harry said with a set jaw, his eyes cold and ruthless.

"You can't mean that?" Hermione scolded softly, watching the expression deepen in her best friend's eyes.

"I do mean it. Voldemort killed my parents and tried to kill me, more than once. Why shouldn't I repay him with his own bastard's life?"

"Harry," Ginny warned softly, hushing his tone so the others in the room wouldn't become curious. Harry glanced around the tables and sofas, turning his attention back to his own table. "I don't think this is something we should discuss right now."

"Hey Harry," Neville said hurrying into the common room. The four looked up and smiled. Neville was barely recognizable, having grown several inches over the past two years, his hair was long enough to touch the bottom of his collar, his once chunky statue had matured and filled out, resembling more of a solid, muscular young man. The confidence of the potion he had taken last year, shined on his young face. He no longer lurked around in shadows to avoid groups or gossip. He worked diligently on his assignments and had brought his grades up drastically. All in all, Neville Longbottom had become the complete opposite of what everyone had once predicted. He had grown into a great wizard.

"Hey Neville," Harry said, glancing to his friend's hand and the parchment he had wrapped tightly in his fist. Neville knelt down beside the table as he spoke.

"I have a letter from St. Mungo's," he said excitedly. "My father has remembered my name!"

"Neville, that's wonderful," the small group of friends said.

"Well, it's not much. He still thinks I'm a baby, but it's the first real thing he's said in years. I've gotten permission from Professor Dumbledore to take Luna to London over Halloween to meet him. I'm so nervous."

"It's great Neville, it really is," Harry said with a pat to the young man's back. "I'm so happy for you."

"I can't believe it. My father remembers me." Neville stood and hurried up the stairs to the seventh year, boy's dormitory. He may have been much larger and more secure, but nothing could hide the tears of emotion that sprang to his once fearful eyes.

"Good for Neville," Ginny said with a sniffle.

"I am so happy for him," Hermione added, wiping her own moist eyes on the back of her jumper sleeve.

"I can't imagine how I would feel if my dad remembered me after sixteen years," Ron said, glancing to Harry.

"Neville deserves a little happiness," Harry admitted.

"A little?" Ron snarled with a smile. "Since he's been standing up to Snape, he's become a bloody nightmare. He's not afraid of anything. You've seen him on the Quidditch pitch. I swear, it's a good thing he's on our side."

"He has changed, hasn't he?" Harry chuckled. "But I think it's for the better. It's nice to see him in the daylight when things get rough, rather than hiding in a corner."

"He's been spending a great deal of time with Luna, hasn't he?" Ginny asked, glancing up the stairs in the direction the young man had gone. Harry glanced to her and frowned.

"Jealous Ginny?" Harry asked, receiving a disgusted look in return.

"No, it's just odd. He's braver, stronger, happier and since he's been dating Luna, we hardly see him in the common room anymore."

"Hey that's right, we haven't seen much of him outside of class and Quidditch," Ron added. "Where's he been all year, do you think?"

"With Luna I presume," Hermione said distractedly, turning her attention back to the large book sitting in front of her. She had long since finished her assignments, as usual, and had turned her attention back to her research of Harry's family, the document he would have to sign, and the continued study of very advanced magical spells that may help when the battle began.

"If Neville's been with Luna Lovegood every night since school's started, he must either be the luckiest bloke alive, or she has him so henpecked, he can't think."

"Love has very unusual effects on people, Ronald," Hermione scolded, her eyes still looking intently on the book. She no longer found it necessary to look at the red head when she spoke, she seemed to just do it out of subconscious.

"Now there's an image I can live without," Ron snarled, his arm reaching out and falling to the back of Hermione's chair. "What are you doing, anyway?"

"I'm trying to help Harry research the Document of Cessation. It's obvious there's little any of us can do to help him with Mutgeb's orders, but at least I can try and help with this. He needs answers and with all the Quidditch practices and extra homework he has, he hasn't time to find what he needs, so I'm doing it for him."

"That's one of the things I love about you," Ron smiled. "Your willingness to let me sleep in a cold bed, rather than let your friends suffer."

"Funny, Ron. If you continue to play the misery game, you will find yourself sleeping in a cold bed for a very long time."

"I'm only teasing," Ron said, kissing her cheek. "So what have you learned?"

"Not much more than we've already known. Harry's ancestor left little room for altering the contract between the royal family and the Ministry of Magic."

"Well, keep looking 'Mione," Harry said as he stood from his seat. "I know you'll find something. As for me, I've got a secret meeting with an older woman." Ron looked up with wide eyes, seeing the smile on his best friend's face. He chuckled softly, leaning down to kiss Ginny on the cheek.

"Dumbledore has arranged for special classes with McGonagall, to help Harry work on his Animagus," Ginny explained.

"Good luck," Ron said with his usual disgusted snarl. "It's bad enough having to write essays until your head splits, but to have added classes is inhumane."

"Dumbledore thinks I need to practice. I'll be glad when I can get this thing under control. After the last two lessons, I've felt like my soul was being ripped from my body. It's very painful."

"Don't forget, you also have a lesson with Charlie tonight," Ginny said, her tone shifting slightly to the concerned side. Harry sighed. He knew she was worried about all the out of school lessons he was doing, but there was little that could be done to alter his new routine. He had to learn to control his powers. The risks were great, too great to ignore any longer. But telling Ginny, telling Ron and Hermione, it was something Harry couldn't bring himself to explain. How do you tell the people you love, that if you don't kill your enemy and use the powers you still didn't understand to their fullest, you would turn into a wizard darker and more dangerous then the one you hunted? That was the one thing he could never explain, nor could he cause them undue concern. His destiny was already chosen and with each new avenue he took, he understood that more clearly than he had a few weeks ago.

"I'll give your brother your regards," Harry smiled again.

"Tell him I think he's working you too hard," Ginny said, trying to force a smile across her lips. Harry gave his usual 'see you in a few hours' look, then left the common room through the portrait hole.

"I'm really worried about him," Hermione said once the young man had left. "I think he's overdoing it with all these extra lessons."

"You think the extra lessons are too much?" Ron said in feigned amusement. "I never thought I'd live to see the day, Hermione Granger would think a few extra classes could be bad. As I recall, it was just a couple of years ago you were using a time turner to do double classes yourself, remember?"

"Harry's having to do his normal school work, study for his N.E.W.T.S., fine tune his powers and still try to maintain some form of sanity, all while living under the threat of Voldemort wanting him dead. And now he's ordered by Mutgeb to steal his enemy's baby. That is just a little different than doubling up on classes, Ron."

"I guess I never thought of it in quite that way before," Ron said seriously. "Do you think he'll be able to do it?"

"With our help he will," Hermione said. "That's why I'm trying to help research his family's heritage. You two have to keep him occupied with Quidditch. It's the best thing he has to help him retain his mentality. He needs some sense of normality in his life."

"Normal?" Ron asked, his tone rose slightly, a chuckle seemed to be caught in his throat. "For Harry Potter, this is about as normal as it comes."

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"You're doing much better Harry," Charlie said three hours later, as they stood opposite each other in a deserted Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. "I'm impressed actually. You're doing exceptional. I told Albus you would be beyond my help by the end of the year and I was right."

"You mean I'm finished with classes?" Harry asked, his mind clear and for the first time he actually felt in complete control of his powers and emotions.

"I wouldn't hurt to spend a little more time working on controlling your emotions, but otherwise I'd have to say yes. The pupil has surpassed his instructor." Harry smiled when Charlie waved his arms and bowed with a warm smile, then turned and walked silently to the window. He looked out into the dark autumn night. The wind blew softly through the treetops, whispering to the spirits of the night as small, dry leaves broke free from the corpse like limbs and floated gently to the ground. The crisp air was starting to turn everything within sight, into a dry memory of yesterday. Harry knew the breeze, he had been out in it every night on his broom while his team practiced their moves on the Quidditch pitch, but even the thought of his favorite sport did little to relieve the cold feelings growing up within his veins. Harry looked a little further across the grasses that were turning brown, to the dim light of Hagrid's hut. Beyond he imagined seeing the waters of the lake rippling gently in the night. Harry stared, certain that if he listened hard enough he could hear the gentle waves caressing the banks.

"What is it Harry?" Charlie asked, his tone barely above a whisper. Harry didn't turn, he kept his eyes focused on the night beyond the clear window.

"I'm scared," he said honestly. "I haven't told Ginny, I haven't told anyone, but I've been having dreams. I know Voldemort is coming, I can feel it. We're still connected. I can feel what he feels, sometimes I think I can even taste what he eats."

"Dumbledore needs to know this," Charlie said in a concerned tone.

"I'm sure he already knows," Harry said again. "I can feel Dumbledore all around me, listening, watching."

"Does Voldemort know you can sense his movements?"

:No, he doesn't know I can see him. I've gone past him, I've learned more than he understands."

"That's good Harry."

"Is it? You know what will happen if I'm unable to control my powers. If I don't kill Voldemort..."

"It won't happen, Harry," Charlie assured him sternly, causing Harry to turn and stare at him.

"How can you be so sure? Even Dumbledore, as powerful as he is, can't see the outcome of the battle. What's to stop me from taking Voldemort's place?"

"About two hundred witches and wizards," Charlie told him with a sigh. "We know the risks of the lapis gelu, all of us who serve in the Order as well as those loyal to the Ministry. When Albus told us that you had developed the power, we were elated and fearful. We all made a pact, if you didn't kill Voldemort, if you weren't able to allow the lapis gelu to do what it is intended, we would be forced to..."

"Kill me," Harry said softly. Charlie nodded.

"At least I know I won't turn into the image I saw in my father's mirror."

"I didn't say that, Harry. There is no way of predicting if any of us will be successful. If there are not enough of us to stop you, you could still become a victim to the insanity."

"I want you to promise me something Charlie," Harry said, his tone very mature and serious for a young man of seventeen. Charlie knew what he was going to say, but he also knew that Harry had to speak the words. "Promise me you'll take care of Ginny. She's the first one I'll come after if I don't succeed. Promise me too, that if it should happen that I don't kill Voldemort, you will use this against me." Harry reached inside the waistband of his pants and retrieved the wand he had carried with him all summer. "It belonged to my mother," he explained. "If you have to kill me, this is the only wand that will work. Only the power of my mother will be able to destroy me. She gave me the gift of life, and she will take it away."

"I don't want to use this Harry," Charlie said, reaching out and taking the highly polished wand Harry had treasured since learning it existed.

"But you will if you have to?"

"Yes. In order to save our world, and you."

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"So what's the plan?" Ron asked the morning before Halloween. Harry had spent so much time wondering what to do, how to find Voldemort and steal his child without being caught, that his head hurt. The worse part was, he still had no idea how to pull it off.

"I guess I'm just going to do what I always do," Harry grumbled softly as they entered the great hall for breakfast.

"You mean jump into it, head first?" Ron teased, patting his best friend on the back. "Look I'm just kidding. You know I'll help anyway I can."

"The best thing you can do is keep Ginny out of the way. She's insisting that she's going with me."

"I'll do what I can, but you know she can read you like a book. She'll know what you have up your sleeve, even before you do."

"That's why I decided to let the Dursleys go ahead and come for the weekend. Maybe with them here, she'll be too occupied to notice I'm gone."

"Not bloody likely. Besides, she'll see right through it. She knows how much you hate your relatives and eagerly accepting them back will give you away. She already knows you have to go, what makes you think she'll not be watching your every move?"

"Because I'll be leaving this morning after class starts instead of tonight after curfew," Harry said softly. "I've already penned a message to Dumbledore explaining everything, and Hedwig will deliver it at lunch. By then I'll be half way to wherever Voldemort is and safely away from Ginny following."

"You don't even know where he is," Ron said as they sat down at a nearly deserted table and began filling their plates. "For all you know, you'll end up spending the weekend traveling in circles."

"I'm pretty sure I know where to look," Harry said, glancing up to see Hermione and Ginny step through the large doors of the Great Hall. "Besides, I have a compass to Voldemort, remember?" Harry tapped a finger to the scar on his forehead and quickly pretended to brush his messy hair out of his face as the girls approached.

"Good morning," Ginny said sitting next to Harry. "I thought you'd wait for us in the common room?"

"Ron was starving," Harry said, glancing across to his best friend, a secret look warning the red head to go along with the lie.

"I haven't eaten in like twelve hours," Ron said quickly, ignoring the snort of disapproval from Hermione who had sat by his side. "Besides, Neville is going to St. Mungo's this afternoon. He's so nervous, he's likely to eat everything in sight and not realize it."

"I am so happy for Neville," Ginny said with a warm smile, looking down the table to the young man in question, who was busy wiping up the juice he had bumped over. "I can only imagine how hard it's been for him all these years. Seeing your parents every week and knowing that they didn't know who you were."

"Well, I'll just be glad to have him out of the castle for the day," Hermione snarled. "He has been so distracted, he's made a mess of the library and don't even get me started on the way he's left the common room. If he didn't have a good excuse, I'd have put him on report days ago."

"You wouldn't have done that, would you?" Ron asked her with a frown.

"Yes I most certainly would. It's my job as Head Girl to make certain students obey the school rules, and leaving the classrooms and dormitories in a shambles is against the rules."

"Good lord, she's becoming a nightmare," Ron complained. "I can just see what our house will be like when we're married. I won't be able to sit on the furniture unless I've covered them first with paper."

"Don't be a prat, Ronald," Hermione frowned. "Nobody said you have to go through with this wedding if you don't want to. I'm not twisting your arm you know?"

"So who's complaining? I was just stating a fact, we're opposites. I'm messy, you're clean, I'm loud and you're not, I'm horny and you pretend to be uninterested so I can persuade you. But that's what makes us so good together. Besides, it will be fun seeing how many times I can irritate you a day."

"I have a feeling this is going to be one of those days," Ginny smiled, then quickly frowned when Harry dodged her eyes.

"I haven't told you yet," Harry said, clearing his throat. "I decided to grant permission for the Dursleys to visit this weekend."

"But I thought you had to...you know...the baby?" Ginny asked softly, glancing around to make certain nobody could overhear them.

"I do, but if I deny them permission now, after telling the Ministry I would give entrance, there could be questions. Everyone thinks we'll be staying at my parents this weekend, so there won't be any question about my being gone. I'll need you guys to keep an eye on them though. I don't need Vernon causing any trouble while I'm gone, that could draw unwanted attention."

"While we're gone," Ginny corrected. "I'm going with you."

"It's not safe for both of us to be gone," Harry argued.

"You're not going without me and there is nothing you can do to talk me out of it. I can take care of myself, remember? Besides, I can be a lookout for you and warn you of trouble."

"Why do I have a feeling, you're never going to listen to anything I say to you?"

"I will, when you have something to say I want to hear."

"Like brother, like sister," Hermione told Harry with a frown.

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Harry walked up the stairs with Ginny, Hermione and Ron as they all headed toward their first class. Harry squeezed Ginny's hand, and kissed her on the cheek as he did every morning.

"See you later," he promised, then watched as she smiled and went in the direction of her History class. Once she was out of sight, Harry turned back to Ron and Hermione.

"You have to cover for me," he said quickly, ignoring the disapproving look on Hermione's face. "Tell McGonagall I felt ill after breakfast and went back to our dormitory. Say you'll check in on me after class and tell her how I'm doing. Maybe that will keep her from seeing if I'm all right until Dumbledore gets my letter. You'll have to meet the Dursleys at Hogsmeade at four o'clock. I've arranged for transport with your father, to take them back to my parents castle." Ron nodded at the orders being thrown at him.

"Be careful Harry," Hermione ordered, kissing his cheek softly.

"I will. I've left a not for Ginny, make sure she gets it. I'll smooth things with her when I get back."

"We'll take care of everything here, mate," Ron promised. "Just take care of yourself and get back before Monday." Harry nodded, glanced across his shoulder to make certain nobody had overheard them, then hurried toward Gryffindor tower. He had already packed his bag for the trip, taking with him his tent from the summer, his invisibility cloak and the Marauder's Map. He knew he would need a way in and out of the castle without Filch or Snape catching him, and the map was his best defense. He slipped out of his school uniform and into a pair of black jeans and a dark blue jumper. With his mother's old wand tucked safely inside the waistband of his trousers, Harry gathered together his belongings and left his room. He checked the map quickly to make certain the coast was clear, then hurried up to the Owlery, where he mounted his broom, slipped on his invisibility cloak and flew off into the morning sky.

The air was crisp and chilled Harry's shivering body even through his jumper, but there was little he could do about the approaching winter. Instead, he pulled his mother's wand from his belt and tapped himself on the arm, issuing a warming spell. Within seconds, his arms and legs were warm and the shivering stopped. He felt quite comfortable in fact. It was a simple spell, one he wished he would have remembered during his travels over the summer.

He was over Romania before lunch, certain he had chosen the correct direction to travel. He could feel Voldemort, he knew where he was even though he had not seen him or dreamt of him for weeks. Ahead of him in the distance stood a tall mountain incased in dark clouds. The threat of a storm brewed around the peaks and Harry could just make out the outline of an old, crumbling castle. The nearer he flew, the more the castle began to change shape, offering the image of a large, towering mansion rather than the ancient ruins the Muggles saw when they looked up. Harry stopped near the bottom of a stone path that led toward the main entrance. There was a definite look about the structure that made even the magical person weary of approaching.

Harry knew this place, not so much by the burning of his scar, but by the image that he hid beneath layers of memories. That time at the Ministry when Voldemort had taken him over, he had glimpsed an image of this place. An image even the dark lord didn't know he had seen. He knew it belonged to Bellatrix Lestrange. It belonged to her husband's family. It was here that Voldemort had retreated last year, after trying to convince Harry to join him. It was a secret place very few people knew of. It was that secret Harry hoped Voldemort didn't know he shared.

The weather was growing darker, the clouds thicker and the storm that swirled around the castle peaks were less natural and more magical. Harry knew the time for the ceremony of Vita Heres was approaching. Soon the child would join with the father and evil would be stronger than any wizard could imagine. The time to act was now. Harry drew a deep breath, hiding his broom and belongings among the overgrowth at the base of the stone structure. He placed his foot on the bottom step, when something seemed to catch his arm. He turned but saw nothing and knew that nobody could see him. He was still securely hidden beneath his invisibility cloak. Again he began to ascend the steps, this time the feeling that he was not alone hit him like a bolt of lightening. He drew his wand and turned cautiously around, peering through the gray surroundings. Nothing, not a bird nor an insect was anywhere near, but there was something close by, he could feel it watching him, but he couldn't sense what it was. Was it beast or man? Just then a low growl sounded from the path he had stood moments ago, but still there was nothing there. The growl was low and barely audible, but Harry knew the direction it had come. He pointed his wand and stepped cautiously toward it.

His feet were firmly planted on the path, his hand wrapped so tightly around the wand his knuckles were white. His breath came in short pants, his eyes focusing on the spot he had heard the noise. He didn't move forward, he could sense something was blocking the path. His mind reached out to whatever it was, trying to find it with his powers, but there was a power stronger than his blocking him from advancing. Suddenly he was knocked off his feet and flew backwards into the brush where his broom was hidden. A heavy object had landed in the center of his chest, his lungs fighting to regain the air that had been stolen from them. His head hurt and he realized momentarily that he had hit his head on the base of the castle. He struggled to his feet as the sound of growling echoed within inches of his throat. Harry froze in midair, half standing and half crouching. He stared at the spot in front of him and watched as the image of a striped head emerged from beneath an invisible sheet. The head grew into a body, long, sleek, orange and black stripes running down the length of it to a thin tail. There in front of him stood a tiger, majestic and regal, a row of sharp white teeth bared at him, eyes of green piercing through the dingy air.

"Ginny?" Harry whispered, watching as the tiger in front of him transformed into his own true love. "What the bloody hell are you doing here?" he snapped, his tone soft as he looked up the length of the castle wall to make certain his words were not carried up them.

"I could ask you the same thing," she snarled softly. "Did you really think you could leave Hogwart's without my knowing it?"

"I have to do this alone," Harry insisted, straightening up.

"If you say it's too dangerous, I'll punch you in the nose."

"This is my problem, Virginia, not yours. Mutgeb finds humor in seeing me risk my neck, but you don't have to be a part of it."

"The hell I don't! I'm a part of you, remember? We're in this together."

"This is ridiculous. Now go back to Hogwart's before someone sees you."

"No."

"Ginny, I'm not kidding here. Go home."

"Forget it Potter. Where you go, I go. Now are we going to do this thing, or are we just going to stand here and wait for one of Voldemort's Death Eaters to find us?"

"This is not over young lady," Harry snapped, slipping the cloak across his head and turning around to see Ginny disappear beneath a cloak of her own. "Where did you get that thing anyway?"

"I have two very ingenious brothers, who happen to have a lot of connections, remember? There's very little those two can't get hold of." Harry's jaw clenched, but he remained silent for now. He had a mission and he had to stay focused, but once this was over he promised himself, he was going to have a very serious talk with Fred and George Weasley.

The interior of the massive castle was dark and filled with cobwebs. The sound of rodents scurrying about the floorboards echoed in the silence. The air was filled with the odor of mildew and rotting wood, and the aroma of sweat and dirty feet seemed to linger among the crakes of the wallpaper. Harry tried to breath around the stench but it wasn't easy. He could hear the sounds of heavy feet approaching from the back hall and stepped closer to the dusty wall to avoid being trampled. The stalky image of Vincent Crabbe, former confidant of Draco Malfoy, stomped his way through the foyer and into a side room, where the deep voice of his cohort Gregory Goyle, welcomed him.

"Where's Malfoy?" Goyle asked, causing Harry to step closer to the door to hear what was being said.

"He's upstairs with Avery," Crabbe answered, falling into a large armchair and coughing at the cloud of dust that floated up from the cushions.

"What's the old shit done this time?" Goyle asked with a smile.

"He's sent the wrong instructions on Draco's capture to Hogwart's. If he keeps making mistakes, the Dark Lord will kill him for sure."

"Not before the Vita Heres is over. He needs all the Death Eaters for the ceremony."

"I don't know why this thing has to be so special," Crabbe grumbled. "It's just a stupid baby after all."

"It's the Dark Lord's baby, that's what's so special. One day he will rule the world by his father's side."

"So where's that leave us?"

"Idiot, we're on their side, remember? It's Potter that has to worry. Once the baby has become a full dark wizard, he will be more powerful than even his father. Nobody, even Potter and Weasel, will be able to stand up to him."

"So I guess we're lucky we're not at Hogwart's anymore, huh?"

"Not by the time the Dark Lord finishes with it. Dumbledore will never be able to defeat the power of the two."

"But it's just a baby. Dumbledore isn't going to be afraid of a baby," Crabbe said with a frown.

"I told you, once the ceremony is over, the power of the Dark Lord and his child will be stronger than any wizard alive, even Dumbledore. The baby doesn't have to be an adult to be powerful. The Dark Lord's powers will draw off the baby's and make his own power invincible."

"Oh, I get it."

"Let's just go get ready for the ceremony. My father will kill me if we're late again."

"But it's not until midnight."

"Since when does that stop our fathers from screaming at us?" Harry stepped aside as the two large figures barreled through the doorway and trodded up the stairs and out of sight.

"He's planning on attacking Hogwart's," Ginny whispered, coming up beside Harry.

"Not until the ceremony is over. We've got to get the baby out of here now. Come on." The two of them quietly made their way up the stairs, trying to step in the footprints Crabbe and Goyle had left in the dirt and cobwebs. The landing at the top of the stairs was remarkably clean and polished, but lead only from one room to another down the hall. It looked like a red carpet laid out, with its rich cherry oak color glistening in the candle lit hall. Harry slowly stepped down the one end of the hall, hearing voices coming from behind the closed door where the polished floor ended. He leaned closer to the barrier and could hear the hissing cold tone of Voldemort. So far, he had been able to distract his mind from the pain in his scar, but being this close made the attempt near impossible. Harry felt like screaming from the splitting sensation on his forehead. It was as if a hot knife was tearing through his brain, inch by inch, slowly ripping his head in two. A warm hand on his shoulder caused him to turn, seeing only the hand of Ginny floating bodiless ly in the hallway. The sound of her voice echoed in her head, brining his mind into focus and his eyes back to the sights around him.

"Just stay with me Harry," she said through his mind. "I'm right here." Harry felt instantly relieved that she had come along, without her there, he would surely have fallen to his enemy's mercies.

"What was that?" hissed Voldemort from behind the door. The barrier flew open as Harry and Ginny ducked out of sight quickly, watching the pale image of the evil wizard step into the space, a mere few inches from where they were pressed against the side wall.

"What is my master?" asked Lucius Malfoy from behind him.

"I thought I heard...no, never mind. It's just my nerves," Voldemort said as if speaking to himself. The image of Bellatrix joined them from the room down the hall, where the cherry oak floor ended into an isle of dust. She was as slender as Harry had always remembered her, long black hair cascading down her back, her revealing dress displaying a much larger pair of breasts than she had possessed a few months ago.

"All is ready, my lord," Bellatrix smiled with a seductive slit to her deeply reddened lips.

"We will begin at sunset," Voldemort hissed. "I will not wait a moment longer than I have to. By this time next week, Hogwart's will be mine." Voldemort turned and slithered back into the room behind him, leaving Malfoy and Bellatrix to glance to each other.

"Hogwart's will be ours," Malfoy sneered. "Have you made the proper arrangements?"

"Everything is in place. When the blood joins with the Dark Lord, my baby will become more powerful than even the great Voldemort dared dream."

"And together we will rule over both wizard and Muggle." Malfoy's smile lasted only a moment, but disappeared when Voldemort called to him from inside the room. Bellatrix joined the two men, closing the door behind her, leaving Harry and Ginny to frown on what they had heard. Harry reached out and found Ginny's hand, pulling her down the hallway to the room Bellatrix had been in just moments before. They stepped through the door, closing it again behind them.

"What was that all about?" Ginny asked in the hush of the silent room.

"I don't know, but I have a feeling there's more evil plots being planned around here, then just Voldemort's."

"It sounded like Bellatrix and Malfoy were planning on taking over from Voldemort," Ginny whispered.

"But that's not possible. Voldemort is more powerful then the two of them put together. Even with the baby's powers, there is nothing they could do against him."

"Apparently they think differently," Ginny said.

"I don't care either way, I just want to get this thing over with and get out of here before we get caught." Harry glanced around and saw the cradle sitting near a rocking chair, next to the fireplace. He approached it slowly and looked inside. There, among a layer of black and silver blankets was nestled the tiny head of a baby. For a moment Harry just stared at it. How could something so small be such a threat to the world? Then he remembered who the father was and all his anger and hatred came flooding back to him.

"Get him and lets get out of here," Ginny whispered anxiously.

"I'm not touching that thing," Harry snapped bitterly.

"What? You have to take him."

"That doesn't mean I have to touch it. Here, hold this." He held out a black pouch like an old duffle bag for Ginny to grasp hold of and waved his wand, watching as the snug little bundle floated up out of the cradle and into the bag. Harry waved his wand again as the baby stirred, crinkling its tiny little nose as if to cry. The baby relaxed its face and sighed a deep breath as Harry zipped the bag closed and tucked it beneath Ginny's cloak.

"What did you do?" she asked in a slight panic.

"I just used a sleeping spell on it. We can't have a screaming baby telling everyone where we are, can we?"

Harry lead the way as Ginny and the baby/bag followed. Getting out of the castle was uneventful, until they were nearly down to the end of the stone steps. With five feet to go of the steep, narrow steps, they found themselves standing in the path of at least a dozen Death Eaters who were quickly approaching them. Still hidden, Harry felt comfortable with the knowledge that they could not be seen, but that didn't change the fact that they were about to be trampled with nowhere to go but back up into the castle.

The door flew open and Harry and Ginny had to literally step across the small head of a house elf, who oddly ducked as his head was brushed with the hems of the cloaks. He looked up and looked around but couldn't see anything, then looked back to the Death Eaters who were approaching him. He stepped aside and waved his hand, bowing at the waist. He wore only an old handkerchief around his lower half, covered in spots and stains. He was a much older elf then Harry was accustomed to seeing and very quiet. There was no usual bobbing as the Hogwart's elves did whenever someone asked them a question, or they were caught carrying out their duties. He merely stepped out of the way, then closed the door and hurried down the dark hallway and disappeared.

Harry and Ginny were eager to leave, but found they couldn't escape. The door was just inches from them, but the foyer was crowded with Death Eaters, each whispering to the others, but not moving from the spot. The nerves and anxieties racing about Harry's mind was beginning to reach his fingers that grasped his wand, forcing him to hold onto it with both hands. His knuckles were white as he forced control back into his hands. He couldn't think, he definitely couldn't move, he was trapped like a rat.

"Welcome," Bellatrix said from the top of the stairs, causing all heads to look up at her. "Our Dark Lord will be with you soon, in the meantime, you all know your duties. We'll assemble in the library until sunset when the ceremony will begin."

The darkly clad figures remained in the foyer for a few moments longer, watching the slender, revealing figure of their lord's mistress disappear again. Slowly, they began to walk into the room the woman had indicated, each mumbling to the person next to them. Harry picked up a few scattered words, enough to know Bellatrix was less then accepted or well liked among the Dark Lord's followers.

"Whore," one said.

"Bed-hopper," another added.

"Sorry day when the Dark Lord took up with her."

"She'll be the death of us all, just mark my words."

"No better than a traitor."

"I'll be happy to kill her for you."

Harry nudged Ginny toward the door and as the group slowly filled the room, they made their own way to the exit. Once the others were safely out of sight, Harry and Ginny made their escape, hurrying down the flight of steps and into the overgrowth of brush. Ginny removed the hood from her cloak and unzipped the bag, looking in on the sleeping baby.

"Its fine," Harry whispered anxiously. "Lets get out of here, before we get caught. I've had enough close calls for one day." Ginny closed the bag, tapping it softly with her wand and issuing a warming charm to keep the baby snug and safe. She quickly gathered her broom and concealed herself again, mounting the wooden stick.

"Where to now?" she asked softly.

"Mutgeb said to go where my quest began. I started in Alaska. I only hope I can find Gilda. She moves around form place to place when the villagers become suspicious or she grows too old for a Muggle to live."

"Why would Mutgeb want you to go there?"

"I have no clue. It's just another of her stupid riddles." Harry glanced up to the castle, thinking of another riddle inside the thick walls. "I really hate riddles," he mumbled, then mounted his Firebolt and flew off to the north.

Inside the castle the ceremony of Vita Heres was beginning. The Death Eaters were filling up the stairs and into the room at the end of the hall. The fire burned brightly in the fireplace, the center of the room had been set up with a golden table and a tiny golden cradle in the center. Candles burned from the walls and mantle, while the golden later adorned only five, set on the points of the pentagram. Voldemort entered the room, his arms holding a golden cloth, on top a dagger of pure gold, the handle a snake with glowing ruby eyes. The fangs of the dagger were made of the purest emeralds while the tongue was rare onyx. Following the Dark Lord were his three most trusted followers, Lucius Malfoy, his first in command, Antonin Dolohov followed next, lead by the third to take control Rabastan Lestrange, husband to the Dark Lord's own mistress. They gathered around the alter and waited patiently as the door opened.

Bellatrix stepped inside, her face a pale white, her hands shaking visibly. She opened her mouth to speak, but all that came out were barely incoherent words.

"Gone...stolen..." she mumbled as the Death Eaters turned to stare at their leader. Voldemort understood perfectly and threw the cloth and dagger to the ground in a fit of rage, turning to the dark sky shining through the side window. His eyes flashed red, as the night sky lit with streaks of white lightening, the ground shaking with angry thunder. He knew exactly what had happened, he had felt it earlier that day but chose to overlook it, a threat that would prove more dangerous than any he had mistakenly ignore before. With a hiss as soft as a snake's yet as cold as death, he whispered the words that would echo throughout the castle the rest of that night and many more to come.

"Harry Potter."