The Opposite

The Opposite

Chapter 13: Dumbledore's Fury

Ginny opened her eyes. She was in a cold sweat. She sat up immediately to find that she was in her room. The sun was shining through her window. Looking outside, she saw Sloan and Neville trying to repair the ball launcher. Draco was practicing with his arrows while Aurora was trying to block them. Ginny tied her hair up and walked to the bathroom. Hermione was coming down the hall in the opposite direction. She smiled, but her smile faltered when she saw the look on Ginny's face.

"Ginny? Ginny, what's wrong?" she asked, grabbing Ginny's hand. Ginny looked up at her.

"I think I just altered time again. How long have I been asleep?" Ginny asked. Hermione looked utterly shocked. "Hermione?"

"Oh. Um, you came back last night from watching Harry around eleven. So, you've been asleep for almost a full day. We didn't want to wake you up. You looked so peaceful, and Fionnula said you hadn't really slept since the fight. What did you do this time?" Hermione led Ginny to her room. Hermione closed the door as Ginny sat on her bed.

"I woke up, like in the first one. I seemed to be in the same place. It started out the same as last time. Only this time, Lucius Malfoy was there..."

"Lucius Malfoy! Isn't he in Azkaban?" Hermione asked. Ginny shushed her and nodded.

"Apparently not anymore. Well, they were standing in a circle around a fire. I still couldn't be seen. There were bodies in the middle. A lot of bodies..." Ginny's voice trailed off.

"Dead bodies? Who?"

"None of them were dead. Just stunned and a little beat up. It was McGonagall, Professor Onsu, Tonks, Snape, Lavender, Cho, Parvati, Dean, Seamus, and another first year I didn't recognize. Bellatrix Lestrange said something about Onsu not watching her back and that she put up a grand fight. Voldemort said he wanted to send Dumbledore a message and called his snake..." Ginny seemed to searching for the name.

"Nagini."

"Yeah, that's it. He was speaking in Parseltongue to it. I guess he told it to kill McGonagall because that's who it went for. Then I was pulled back, like before. I saw Onsu in class. I guess it was before the ambush. McGonagall came on the intercom and everything. She and Onsu went to the main entrance and fought Bellatrix and Lucius Malfoy. McGonagall and Onsu were about to win when a dementor appeared. I remembered what Bellatrix said about Onsu not watching her back. I told McGonagall using telepathy about the dementor. Onsu was distracted and let Bellatrix go as McGonagall produced a Patronus. Bellatrix and Malfoy disappeared using a Portkey. Then Remus and Kinglsey came through the front doors. They checked on McGonagall. Then Hagrid came down with Colin and Padma. He told them about Snape and Tonks being taken by Death Eaters along with some students. Then I woke up." Ginny took a deep breath.

"Where was Dumbledore in all of this?" Hermione asked, frowning.

"McGonagall told Onsu that he was called to the Ministry by Fudge. Bellatrix and Malfoy said they didn't want Dumbledore. They never specified what they did want, though. I wonder why that is..." Ginny thought hard for a moment. Hermione seemed to be in deep thought also. That's when Aurora opened the door.

"Dumbledore's here," she said. Ginny and Hermione looked at each other and followed her to the meeting room. Dumbledore sat, looking very scary. To everyone's surprise, Catriona Onsu and Professor McGonagall were standing on either side of him. Hermione, Ginny, and Aurora sat without making a sound. Draco, Neve, and Neville were already there. The four Magi stood along the walls. Dumbledore made a small sound and the students jumped, all of them reaching for their wands. Then they sighed.

"I see you all have impeccable reaction skills. But, that's not why I'm here," Dumbledore said quietly. Draco looked confused.

"It's not? Then what news do you have for us?" Draco asked. Neville nodded. Neve rolled her eyes.

"Attenda e veda, quello astuto," she mumbled and Aurora nudged her. She called Draco a moron.

"Hogwarts was attacked today. Students were taken," Ginny said feebly. Everyone except Hermione looked at her as if she'd said something foreign. Ginny felt all the eyes on her and looked up. Dumbledore didn't look shocked, but felt that she'd done something. McGonagall was staring at Ginny, as if she was analyzing her.

"It was your voice," she whispered. Ginny nodded.

"I saw Voldemort talking to Bellatrix Lestrange about the attack that apparently had already happened. Then I went back in time to right before it happened. The way it was supposed to happen was Bellatrix stunned both of you when the dementors distracted you. Instead, I told Professor McGonagall about it and she used the Patronus Charm to drive it away. Bellatrix escaped with Lucius Malfoy..."

"My father? How is that possible? My father is in Azkaban!" Draco said, upstarting. Dumbledore raised a hand and Draco sat back down. He looked horrified as he sat. Aurora looked worried for him.

"Ginny, you altered destiny again?" Dumbledore asked. Ginny nodded slowly.

"If I hadn't, Professor McGonagall would've died by the mouth of that snake..."

"Nagini," Hermione said quietly. Dumbledore nodded and looked over at McGonagall. Her face had become very pale. Then, Hermione looked up, as if she'd just remembered something. "Headmaster? Might we have a word with you alone?" she asked. Dumbledore nodded and looked at the other six adults. They all silently filed out. Dumbledore picked up his wand.

"Silencio." Dumbledore said, putting a silencing charm around the room. "You are free to talk, Miss Granger," he said calmly. Hermione nodded.

"The other day, after you left, we saw Wormtail," she said. Dumbledore's eyes seemed to light up in fury.

"You what?" he asked. Somehow, the old man's aura seemed so powerful even though he himself looked so harmless. Hermione sank back in the plush chair she sat in. Aurora realized that Hermione wasn't going to say anything more.

"Headmaster, we saw Peter Pettigrew, only he was a rat. Harry and Ron tried to catch him, but he got away using a one-way portkey," she said. Draco nodded.

"He heard our whole conversation that day. At first, we thought that he snuck onto your robes somehow, but then we thought you would've noticed that. The only explanation would be that someone brought him here. None of us know how to make Portkeys. Plus, the Portkey was a wooden beam that a rat couldn't possibly carry," Draco said.

"That means that Wormtail relayed all the information about Ginny's power to Voldemort. Now they know about it and will most likely try to use it against us. He also knows where we are," Neve said. Dumbledore nodded solemnly.

"Is there anything else?"

"April first," Ginny mumbled.

"I'm sorry, Ginny?" Dumbledore said, standing slowly. He dusted off his robes. Ginny looked up at him, her eyes big and glassy.

"April first. That's the day Voldemort plans on attacking us. Here," she said. Dumbledore nodded, then left the room. Once he was gone, Hermione let loose a long sigh.

"I'm going to go check on Ron," she said.

"I'm going to go shower," Ginny said.

In the infirmary, Ron was sitting up. The bandages had come off his nose and he could talk normally. He was packing up his things to go back to his room when Hermione came running in. The only thing on him that was still wrapped was his hand and Hermione squashed it against his chest when she hugged him.

"BLOODY HELL, MIONE!" he yelled in pain. Hermione stepped back and smiled sheepishly. Ron looked at his hand and grimaced. Hermione just kissed him on the cheek.

"How do you feel, Ron?" she asked. Ron nodded.

"Loads better. The worst thing about being hurt is taking that god-awful potion that Aislin makes. The only thing that hasn't completely healed is my hand. Now it'll probably swell because of the way you crushed it," Ron said resentfully. Hermione blushed a little. Ron slung his bag over his shoulder as a rustling was heard. Hermione looked to her left and saw Harry moving. She walked over to his bed. Ron followed.

"Ron! Ron! Look! He's waking up! Harry?" Hermione asked, sitting on the bed. Harry was still bruised significantly, but it was definite improvement. His green eyes fluttered open and Hermione handed him his glasses. Harry looked at his hands, then Hermione put them on his face. The world became eons clearer. Harry winced. "How do you feel?" Hermione asked.

"Like the fucking Knight Bus hit me," Harry said. Out of nowhere, a hand connected with his face. Harry turned around and looked at Hermione like she'd lost her mind. "Ow! HELLO! BROKEN JAW! VERY PAINFUL!" he yelled. "What was the bloody hell that for, anyway?" he asked. Hermione crossed her arms. She looked ready to cry.

"You bloody jerk! Serves you right, you arse! Do you know you almost died? You gave everyone a right good scare!" Hermione said, her voice wavering. Harry touched her back and she turned and hit him again. Harry sucked in air sharply through clenched teeth and tried to hide the pain and glared at her again.

"All I remember is not being able to breath. I had a horrible pain in my chest," Harry said, rubbing his chest as he spoke. He only had a few bandages on it now. Hermione rolled her eyes. Ron still hadn't said anything and Harry still hadn't acknowledged that he was even there.

"That's because you punctured a lung, idiot. When Ron punched you, he broke two of your ribs. Both punctured your left lung. You broke Ron's jaw and his nose. You two are incompetent fools. Talk, both of you. I'm going to find Ginny and tell her the grand news." Hermione ran off, leaving the two boys in silence.

Harry looked over at Ron. Surprisingly, he wasn't that mad at all with Ron. But, he wasn't really all that happy with him, either. Ron was finding his bandaged hand very, very interesting. He finally looked at Harry.

"Uh, hi, Harry," he said slowly.

"Ron," Harry said, nodding. Ron sat down on the bed and sighed.

"Listen, I'm really, really sorry. I just lost it for some reason. To tell you the truth, I would rather see you with Ginny than her with any other bloke," Ron said, trying to smile, but failing miserably. His jaw still hurt also.

"Yeah, well. I guess it was just the 'older brother' in you coming out. I really think you should be apologizing to my bloody lung, my ribs, my jaw, and my ankle, though," Harry said, trying his hand at smiling, but his jaw wouldn't allow him.

"Sorry about that, too. It's just that, I never thought I'd see you...with Ginny. You know? It came as a complete and total shock, that's all. Plus, you did a real number on me, too. Especially my fucking face. You broke my bloody nose! Not to mention my jaw!" Ron said. Harry stared at Ron's face a little harder. Then it struck him.

"Something's different about your face," Harry said quietly. Ron looked at him and turned red.

"Oh, yeah. Well, I kind of let Aislin shrink my nose a little more than normal after it swelled like a sponge. I just let her keep going until I thought it was small enough. Mione said I didn't need to do it, but I can tell she likes it," he said.

"I bet she does from those marks on your neck," Harry mumbled, sitting up a little better. Ron looked shocked and appalled at what Harry had just said. Harry seemed not to realize what he said. He looked over at Ron to see the startled look on his face.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Ron mumbled in almost a whisper. Harry's face said And-you-expect-me-to-believe-that.

"Whatever, Ron. You've been saying that exact line an awful lot lately. You two should really put a silencing charm on your room, Ron. You two shag louder than a mandrake root's cry," Harry said, sitting back. Ron still looked startled.

"How do you know about that? About us shagging?" Ron asked, his face a ghostly white now. All the redness had drained out of it. If it wasn't so painful for Harry to laugh, he would've done it right then and there. His ribs still hurt and his jaw wasn't much better.

"Like I said...You two are very, very loud. It's a wonder that Aislin, Fionnula, Drake, and Sloan don't hear you on the other side of the castle. It's also a miracle that Hermione isn't pregnant. You guys do it every night almost. Your bedroom is right next to mine. Are you that daft?" Harry said. Ron still looked mortified at the fact that his best friend had put up with hearing them for about four months. He hit Harry in the shoulder and Harry winced a little.

"Shut up, Harry. She takes the birth control potion. Harry, can we please get off that subject?" Ron whined. Harry finally was able to smile.

"Not yet. Ron, Hermione's like a sister to me. If you hurt her, you'll be the one with the punctured lung. Savvy?" Harry asked. Ron raised an eyebrow at him.

"Yeah. Savvy. Same about Ginny, Harry. I've already proven that I can rip you to pieces. I don't want to have to do it again," Ron said, managing to smile too.

"Promise me one thing, Ron."

"What's that?"

"If you don't give me details about Hermione, you'll never hear a peep about Ginny," Harry said. Ron eyed him.

"Oh, Harry. Mione does this cute little thing with her tongue on my..."

"RON!!" Harry yelled, looking positively grossed out. Ron laughed at his face.

"Sure." Ron held his hand out. "Best mates?" he asked. Harry looked at it.

"Best mates." He shook Ron's hand as Ginny and Hermione returned. Ginny saw them making up and smiled, but totally ignored her brother. She went to Harry's side immediately.

"Oh, Harry! It's so nice to see you, awake." Ginny hugged him. Harry closed his eyes and took the pain. Ron and Hermione laughed. Ron looked at Ginny and thought about saying something. Hermione noticed the tension and pulled Ron out of the room, leaving Ginny and Harry alone.

"How long have I been out, anyway?" Harry asked. Ginny shrugged.

"I lost count about a week or so ago. I say about three weeks. Ron really did a number on you and you to him. I am so angry with Ron," Ginny growled the last sentence. Harry raised an eyebrow at her.

"Why? I guess you can say he had justifiable reason to want to shred me like cheese," Harry said, testing his ankle. He didn't feel any pain as he stood up and guessed it was good. Ginny gave him a look that said I'm-not-gonna-talk-to-him-and-nothing-you-say-will-make-me-either. Harry raised his arms in defeat and picked up his things. Aislin walked in.

"And where, pray tell, do you think you're going? Sit back down now. I have to give you this potion before you go prancing off around the castle," Aislin said. She opened the cabinets with a wave of her hand and began making her "special" potion. Harry immediately sat back down.

"You should've seen Aislin when Draco and Neville brought you up here. She was hysterical. I've never heard so many swear words in one sentence that made sense. Even after that she was still constantly nagging Ron. She kept berating us for not stopping the fight and we kept telling her that if we tried, we would've been lying next to you guys," Ginny said as Aislin shoved a cup of the red bubbling stuff in Harry's face. Harry looked at it then at Aislin. The look on her face showed no signs of sympathy. Harry took the cup and drank it. Aislin turned around and started cleaning up.

"Scourgify. The burning will subside momentarily, Harry. Just make sure you drink it all or I will make you drink another cup," Aislin said, closing the cabinets. Then she strutted out of the room. Ginny looked at her in wonder.

"I've never seen a woman strut. Anyway, Harry, I saw Hogwarts being attacked. I managed to alter the past again, saving Professor McGonagall and Professor Onsu. But, Snape and Tonks were taken. They took some students as well. Lavender, Parvati, Dean, Luna, Seamus, Cho, and some first year I didn't recognize. McGonagall is supposed to be dead," Ginny said. Harry looked very disgusted but solemn at the same time.

"I have to get back to training. Damn Ron and his temper," Harry said, standing up. Ginny stood along with him.

"It's not like yours is any better. Especially from the way you treated us all last year. Not to mention the way you, Fred, and George tried to murder Malfoy," she laughed. Harry smirked.

"I guess you're right. We definitely had good reason for that, though."

Meanwhile, Dumbledore was pacing around his office. Voldemort had sunken to an all-time low by kidnapping the students. Snape and Tonks knew how to defend themselves, but the others were just students. Professor McGonagall walked in his office. Dumbledore turned to face her.

"Ah, Minerva. Any news? Warnings? Messages?" he asked. McGonagall nodded and revealed a letter in her hand. Dumbledore took it out of her hand and opened it. It read:

Dear Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore,

It seems that we have five of your beloved students, one traitor, and one Metamorhmagus. What to do, what to do? As I'm sure the Weasley girl has already informed you, we will attack the castle outside of Dublin. I can see it now, Dumbledore...

Dead bodies everywhere and the one dead body my master will place above all others: Harry Potter. He's been a nuisance to us long enough. If you want your beloved students back, you'll have to do something for the Dark Lord. We will send you another owl soon.

Bellatrix Lestrange

McGonagall watched the headmaster's face turn red underneath his white beard. He was definitely not happy. He balled the letter up in his bony hand and turned to face Professor McGonagall.

"Minerva, can you track where this came from?" he asked, his voice low and shaking with rage. McGonagall meekly shook her head.

"The owl that brought it simply blew up as soon as I took the letter out of its beak," she said quietly. Dumbledore nodded and walked around his desk. He sat down in the big chair roughly, looking as tired and worn as ever. "Is that all, Albus?" she asked.

"Yes, Minerva. You may go back to your class," he said. McGonagall nodded and headed out of the office. As soon as she got to the bottom of the stone stairs leading up to his office, she heard the old man yell and release an energy that shook the whole castle. McGonagall shook her head sadly.

'For everyone's sake, I hope he finds those children soon,' McGonagall thought, looking back one last time.

Attenda e veda, quello astuto = Wait and see, smart one