Harry and Hermione -- Their Sixth Year II

Chapter II

Thursday, November 1, 1996

The day had started out cold and stormy. The Hogwarts joggers therefore stayed inside and ran up and down the stairs. The group had now grown to sixty runners from all the Hogwarts Houses.

As the Gryffindor members returned to their Common Room, they were met by Professor McGonagall. "Mister Potter, Miss Weasley, Miss Granger, Miss MacDonald, the Headmaster wishes to speak with you before you breakfast. Please bring Mister Weasley and Miss Grant with you. And no, I do not know why he wishes to see you. I will learn just before you do."

"I'll get Doreen," Katie Bell said. "Dean, get Ron moving. The rest of you get cleaned up. We'll find out when we can. Move!"

The runners moved.

Fifteen minutes later, the group Dumbledore had asked to see were moving towards his office. All six were silent, each wondering what they had in common, other than being in Gryffindor. When they arrived at the entrance to Dumbledore's office, they saw there were twenty-one other students there as well, from each House.

"Do you know what's going on, Potter?" Julia Collins, the Seventh year Ravenclaw prefect asked Harry.

"No," Harry answered. "Why are you all waiting here?"

"Because we don't know the password," Margo Fields, a Fifth year Slytherin, retorted.

The passage opened, revealing Professor Snape. "Potter! Come along. The Headmaster will need to speak with the rest of you in a few moments."

Harry didn't hesitate, and followed the Potions professor. Inside the Headmaster's office were the other three Heads of Houses, plus Professors Law, Lupin, Powell, and Hagrid.

"Ah, Harry. Have you divined the common denominator between all the students downstairs, other than yourself and Miss Granger?"

"Ah . . . no, sir."

"Never mind," Dumbledore said, waving it away. For once, the old man was very brisk in his speech. "In short, there were a number of dementor attacks last night. I am asking you to do two things. First, to tutor ANY Hogwarts student who wishes to practice the Patronus spell. You may wish to do that separately from the DA. Second, there are three other spells which may be used against dementors. These are so advanced that only Professors Law, Powell, and myself can currently use all three. Still, I would like you to practice them with Professor Powell, to see if you can use any. Normally, I would not think of having any student learn these, but you have a knack of picking up such advanced magic -- one is so advanced it is not even taught to aurors, but we shall have you at least try two of them. All the faculty will be seeing if they can learn the ones they do not currently know as well. Are you agreeable?"

"Yes, sir," Harry said simply.

"Thank you. Now, I must ask you to take Miss Granger and stand aside while I talk with the other students." Dumbledore stood. "Come along. This will not be easy."

Harry moved Hermione off to the back of the students, with Hagrid moving with them. Dumbledore came down about two minutes later with the Heads of House. The other students' attention were on Dumbledore and the rest of the faculty present.

"Last night, there were many dementor attacks, spread across the country. As of this moment, we are only certain of attacks on members of the various enforcement branches of the Ministry."

'So that's the connection,' Harry realized.

"Classes are canceled for today, and possibly tomorrow, as we expect more reports of attacks to be coming in. Some of you will no doubt be called home. For those who stay, or return, Mister Potter and Professor Lupin will be organizing workshops to learn and practice the Patronus. Madam Pomfrey is available, should any of you wish to talk with her. Your Heads of House will now inform you of any . . . casualties." Dumbledore fled the scene.

Each Head move their students down one of the corridors. Harry, Hermione, and Hagrid followed the other Gryffindors trailing behind McGonagall. Finally, inside a small, disused classroom, McGonagall sighed and faced her students. "There is no easy way to say this. Miss MacDonald, both of your parents and your younger sister were Kissed by dementors last night. Miss Grant, your mother and younger brothers were Kissed, your father is recovering in St. Mungo's. Mister and Mrs. Weasley are also recovering in St. Mungo's. Miss Weasley, could you please see to Miss Grant? We will be arranging all students who have family in St. Mungo's to visit this afternoon. You will meet in the entrance hall at One thirty. Miss Granger, could you please attend Miss MacDonald?"

The relieved older girls escorted the two crying younger girls away.

"No one else was at the Burrow?" Harry asked Ron.

A very shaken Ron responded, "There shouldn't have been. Thank goodness." He looked at Harry and McGonagall. "Was there something else, Professor?"

"The Quidditch captains need to decide if the games will go on starting at the end of this month," she replied. "Wait until Sunday evening; that's when Madam Hooch will call a meeting." She nodded to the pair and left.

"Why wait until Sunday?" Ron wondered.

"Who can tell who else might have been attacked, or will be attacked?" Harry answered.

"Do they really think we should cancel the season?" Ron demanded, appalled.

"Would you feel like playing if either of your parents had been Kissed?"

"That's not what I meant," Ron protested. Harry glared. "Alright, that's what I meant, although I shouldn't have said it. What I should have said was, would you go along with canceling the season?"

Harry shrugged. "I'm not likely to be affected," he answered. "I'll back up your decision, no matter what it is."

Ron nodded his understanding.

"If I don't see you at breakfast, I'll see you at lunch," Harry said, putting his hand on Ron's shoulder. "I have to talk with Professor Powell and with Hagrid."

Ron followed Harry's eyes, and saw Hagrid waiting nervously down the corridor. Ron nodded again and went to see if he could find Ginny.

"What can I do for you, Hagrid?" Harry asked.

"Well, the thing is, Harry. . . ." Hagrid grimaced. "It's a bit embarrasin', me bein' a teacher an' all. . . ." Hagrid's accent was getting thicker by the word. Harry knew that meant his friend was getting nervous.

"What can I do for you?" Harry asked simply. "You know I'll help, if I can."

Hagrid wordlessly pulled a long wand from his sleeve. "Oh, well done, Hagrid!"

"The thing is," Hagrid said, calming down, "well. . . ."

"Is there anything we can work on together?" Harry asked.

Hagrid smiled. "Well, I was wondering if you and Hermione might be able to stop by during class time? Since it's free?" The students were taking care of puffskeins for the term, instead of meeting during class time.

"I will, and I'll ask Hermione," Harry said soothingly. Hagrid smiled and ambled away.

Harry sighed, and moved off to get some breakfast.

He didn't quite make it. He was intercepted by Luna. "Harry! What's happened to the Weasleys? Is Ginny alright?" Luna grasped the lapels of Harry's blazer, and looked at him with wide, fearful eyes.

It was the first time Harry had really seen Luna flustered. He forced himself to smile. "Ginny should be alright. Mister and Mrs. Weasley are shaken up, but are recovering in St. Mungo's."

"Thank goodness! So many people Kissed by those awful . . . things! Thank goodness at least some were just shaken up!"

"Did you eat breakfast yet?" Harry asked, trying to distract Luna, who looked like she was still on the verge of tears, although now from relief.

Luna shook her head. "Come on, then," Harry said. "Let's eat, and then we'll go see if Ginny can come out of the Common Room yet. Alright?"

"Alright, but I'm not very hungry."

"You can have a chocolate croissant and some hot chocolate," Harry said in an encouraging voice.

"They don't let me have either," Luna almost pouted. Cho and her friends had not been friendly outside the neutral Saturday make-overs. That was actually an improvement; none of Luna's possessions had been taken so far.

"You'll sit with me and have both," Harry said soothingly, rolling his eyes and putting his arm around his friend.

The Hall was barely half-full, so there was room for Luna to sit at the Gryffindor table. Luna was soon chewing happily on a chocolate croissant.

Despite the lack of half the students and nearly all of the faculty, the Hall was even noisier than usual. Still, the eruption of screams drew everyone's attention without difficulty.

Standing and looking around quickly, Harry saw what had caused the yelling and panic that had erupted around the Hall. Three pairs of mountain trolls had appeared, along with one giant.

Harry had of course faced a mountain troll when he was eleven, and had seen a giant, Hagrid's half-brother Grawp. Harry was also around the ten foot tall Hagrid more than most students. But Grawp was something of a pygmy giant at sixteen feet; this giant was nearly twenty-four feet tall, just a few inches under the lowest parts of the open hammer-beams of the enchanted ceiling. The giant roared out a word of command over the screaming of the students, and the trolls raised their clubs.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!" Remus Lupin, the first to react, screamed. One of the trolls fell. Trolls and Giants are almost totally immune to stun spells. Only an immensely-powerful wizard could stun a troll, and not even Dumbledore could stun a giant.

A different troll's club started to swing right at a stunned-looking Draco Malfoy and Gregory Goyle. Harry, who had stood up when the screaming had started, didn't hesitate, knowing there was only one spell he could use by himself that could really stop a troll in motion. "AVADA KEDAVRA!"

Eight Slytherin wands then swung in unity at a pair of trolls. "STUPIFY!" While not impervious to stunning spells as giants are, it normally took at least two wizards working together to have a chance at stunning a troll. The pair trolls fell. Unfortunately, the giant's sword swung twice as the students turned towards the remaining trolls.

"Harry, the giant after two," Remus called. "One, two, AVADA KEDAVRA!" Both their spells hit the giant, which blinked twice, and then collapsed, crushing the great Hufflepuff table, but fortunately none of the students. The other trolls were now stunned as well.

The entire episode was over in less than a minute. Harry leaned against the table, shocked and nauseated at what he had just done.

"SILENCE!" Lupin demanded over the students' uproar. "If you're not injured, and not next to anyone who is injured, sit down and be quiet! If you are next to someone who is injured, sit down and raise your hand! Malfoy! Take two other Slytherins and guard the exit! No one out without my or Pomfrey's permission!"

Harry noticed for the first time that Madam Pomfrey was standing, eyes wide with shock, right behind Lupin. She immediately came out of her surprise, and took charge of organizing the students and caring for the injured.

Lupin came over to Harry. "Call Dobby," Remus said quietly. Harry rang the bell.

"Masters?" Dobby asked. His eyes went wide, seeing the chaos and huge bodies.

"Dobby, someone planted at least four portkey targets in this room. Find them and keep anyone from touching them. Call for help if you need it." Dobby nodded. He flashed away, and was back some fifteen seconds later with five other elves. They started searching the room.

Meanwhile, Lupin had turned to Harry. "Only Dumbledore or a current staff member could make a portkey into Hogwarts. However, there is such a thing as a portkey target -- the portkey homes in on it. That's the most likely explanation. Now, I need to bind the four surviving trolls, and figure out where to move them and the bodies." The atmosphere was getting very rank from the typical troll-stench. "Line up fourteen other students, at least Fourth year, who can help move them." Harry nodded.

Dobby came over to Lupin. "Portkey targets have been found, Professor, sir. Each has house elf standing over, and are charmed not to be touched without permission of casting elf."

"Well done, Dobby." Professors Sinistra and Vector and Madam Pince, the only other faculty present, had been helping Pomfrey. They now came over.

"Madam Pince, could you take the uninjured First through Third years to the library?"

It was phrased as a suggestion, but she took it as an order and moved off with just a nod. Remus put Vector in charge of moving the dead bodies out to behind the greenhouses, with five students to help. Sinistra was put in charge of the other students, moving the surviving trolls to a securable dungeon with the other students.

Lupin turned to Harry again. "I'll stay here; you find Dumbledore. I'm worried that he's not here already." Harry merely nodded, while Lupin signaled to Malfoy to let Harry out.

As Harry started to go past Malfoy, he found the way blocked. "Professor Lupin said I should go," Harry stated.

Draco took a deep breath, and said, "You saved us, at least from near-injury, Potter." He grimaced, and added, "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Harry answered, refusing to make more of it. Malfoy stepped out of the way.

At the same moment the trolls and giant had appeared in the Great Hall, the same thing had occurred in five other locations.

A pair of trolls had appeared in the Gryffindor Common Room, materializing on, and crushing, the Fourth year Doreen Grant. Led by Ron and Ginny, the Gryffindors had made short work of the pair. Although the harshest hex used were stunners, each troll had been hit with at least twenty stunners and a dozen lesser curses in less than ten seconds.

The pairs of trolls that appeared in three dorm rooms caused the most destruction. The entire group of Fifth year Slytherin girls were killed before their screams alerted the other nearby girls to make up their minds to help. That pair of trolls also totally destroyed the room before they were killed.

The Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw Fourth year boys only suffered one fatality each, although the other boys sustained moderate to serious injuries before putting the trolls down, with some aid from their Housemates from other years.

Harry found the final pair of trolls standing threateningly in front of the Headmaster's guardian gargoyle, waiting to hit whomever came out. As one slowly turned towards Harry, he panicked a little and sent off a stunner, not wanting to send another Death Curse. To Harry's surprise, both trolls collapsed. Harry stood there, shocked, for a few seconds.

Down the corridor, a figure observed this under an invisibility cloak. The details would be sent to the Master.

Harry gave the password and rushed up the stairs, hoping the portraits would tell him where the Headmaster was. To Harry's surprise, he found Dumbledore and Law in conference.

"Is there a problem, Harry?"

Harry stared for a few seconds, then managed to say, "Well, yes sir. Several!" before explaining.

The two older men simply sat in shock for a moment. Then Dumbledore leapt to his feet and drew a breath as if to yell. For a moment, Harry thought Dumbledore was going to yell at him, then he realized that the anger was directed against the portraits, and both Dumbledore and Harry only then realized that the portraits really were all asleep.

For over five long seconds, Dumbledore just stared at the multitude of paintings. Then he turned to Law. "Take care of the two trolls downstairs," he said simply. Law merely nodded and left.

Dumbledore had already turned his attention back to the portraits. After some two minutes of silent study, Dumbledore touched a frame and muttered three long sentences in a language Harry couldn't identify.

Instantly, the portraits started moving, all shouting alarms. "SILENCE!" Dumbledore called out. "You should know how to report!"

It was then that they learned of the four invasions of the Common Rooms.

"How is this possible?" Harry asked.

"Someone has of course snuck in the portkey targets," Dumbledore said. "That could by-pass many of the wards, alas. The de-animation spells on the portraits are more troubling. Those both would cancel out the remaining relevant wards and show an alarming knowledge of the inner workings of Hogwarts."

"Would Professor Quirrell have known?" Harry asked.

"It's possible," Dumbledore answered. "He would only have known the basics, but would have been in a position to have observed too much. I thought I had made enough changes to render that moot. Obviously, I was either wrong, or I have seriously under-estimated Voldemort."

"Would Crouch have been able to send him any information?"

Dumbledore had to admit, "Yes; yes he would have been able to. Again, I thought I had. . . ." Dumbledore's eyes went wide. "Crouch could have come back from the Yule or Easter holidays and partially started a set of curses, which were then only activated this morning. The incomplete curses may not have shown up."

The elderly headmaster shrugged. "No matter. It is time to clean this mess up, and then decide on what steps to take next. Come, Harry."

That evening after dinner, a small group met in the small meeting room off the Great Hall. The Heads of House, Professors Law and Lupin, and Harry, Hermione, and Luna met with Dumbledore.

"This has been a horrible day for Hogwarts," Dumbledore said quietly, remorsefully. "The giant killed three students in the Great Hall, while the trolls there slightly injured six students. In the House areas, eleven students were killed, four students sustained serious injuries, and many others sustained moderate injuries. Fourteen dead."

"There can be little doubt who the suspects are," Law stated firmly. "It had to have been one of the students who gathered in front of the entrance to the Headmaster's office this morning, unless there is a mass conspiracy."

"We are tentatively excluding those killed, although it is possible they were under possession or the Imperius." He read off the first part of the list: "Gryffindor, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Ginny Weasley, Natalie MacDonald, and Doreen Grant (killed)."

"I take it, since Potter and Granger are here, you are either excluding them or accusing them, Headmaster?" Snape drawled.

"At this point, we are excluding all the remaining Gryffindors except Miss MacDonald, unless you would care to make an accusation," Dumbledore stated.

Snape sneered a bit, but said, "No, at this time I must agree these two particular Gryffindors at least should not be major suspects."

"Hufflepuff, Adam Dawlish, Laura Mockridge, Susan Bones, James Perkins, Moray Hopkirk, Lawrence Munch (killed), Jane Pilliwinkle, Henry Mockridge, and Polly Podmore."

"I can think of no reason to suspect any of them," Professor Sprout said.

"Ravenclaw, Eddie Carmichael, Julia Collins, Marietta Edgecombe, Archibald Peasgood, Michael Marchbanks (killed), Dixon Scrimgeour, Donna Scrimgeour, and Stuart Ackerley."

"Miss Edgecombe might have something of a grudge against Mister Potter and his friends, but I hardly think that would extend to the entire school," Professor Flitwick said. "Miss Collins is part of the same group, of course." He paused. "I rather think Mister Hopkirk and Mister Scrimgeour might be rated lower than the others, as they would have been seriously risking their lives being in the same room as the portkey targets."

"Very possibly," Dumbledore agreed.

"Miss Scrimgeour is very close to her twin, I might add," Flitwick went on, "and was developing a relationship with Mister Marchbanks, to her brother's approval."

The group nodded.

"Slytherin, Margo Collins (killed), Georgia Baddock (killed), Malcom Baddock, and Margaret Bletchley."

"I suppose I must say that Mister Baddock was very fond of his sister," Snape said. "This gives us Miss Edgecombe and perhaps Miss Julia Collins as slight suspects, and nothing else to work with, does it not?"

"Would there be any way of knowing how complex a hex would have been needed to disable the warning systems?" Hermione asked.

"No," Dumbledore confessed. "None can be let out because of age. Thanks to your hard work this summer, you three are the only students we can be certain are not possessed. If the person is possessed or under the Imperius, it could be anyone. Even the Weasleys could have been struck by possession while at Hogsmeade. Professor Law will be instructing you, and refreshing us, on how to identify those under coercion. Until we find the culprit, we are all in danger."

"Nonsense," Snape stated. "The Imperius curse is unlikely, even if it is being used by the Dark Lord himself against whichever of those is the most weak-willed child. The control would have to have lasted, without renewal, from Saturday afternoon through this morning. That would be over a hundred hours without renewal, through the various wards here at Hogwarts. Possible, but just barely. We are most likely dealing with a case of possession or willful aid. Unless there is a period of prior contact, possession is difficult to establish in less than a hour, which I doubt would have been available Saturday." He stood and looked from Harry to Dumbledore. "So, it is most likely someone did this with full will, unless they have already been possessed. And we all know there is one student who was already successfully possessed by the Dark Lord."

"Who?" Law asked, puzzled.

"I don't believe it," Harry growled.

"Of course not," Snape conceded, "that is why the possibility must be investigated."

"Who?" Law demanded.

"Ginny Weasley," Dumbledore said sadly.