The Unlikely Allies

Chapter 1: The Worst Hogsmeade Weekend.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione had been looking forward to this Hogsmeade weekend for ages. It was their first one in their fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and they felt they really deserved the break; their fifth year was their O.W.L. year and they were working flat out to try and complete all their homework. Well, Harry and Ron were; Hermione was doing her homework easily and she still had time to make house-elf clothes. Harry and Ron still didn't think they looked like clothes, but they never told Hermione this. She was very proud and she thought her knitting was very good.

Harry and Ron were just finishing their breakfast that morning when Hermione entered the Great Hall.

'Oh, for heavens sake,' she said by way of a greeting.

'What happened?' Harry asked dreading the answer.

'Peeves just stole all of my History of Magic notes and has put them on top of the chandelier on the third floor,' Hermione said exasperatedly. 'I need those notes!'

'We need those notes too. Harry and I haven't taken any notes all year!' Ron exclaimed.

'Well whose fault is that?' Hermione screamed. 'Anyway, I've told McGonagall and she said Filch will get them down. I was going to but we're not allowed to do magic in the corridors and Mrs Norris was around.'

'So why are you so mad if you're going to get them back?' Ron asked perplexed.

'It's the principal of it. Peeves knew I couldn't use magic and he was purposely trying to make me do it to get me in trouble.'

'You didn't though. So you won, didn't you,' Harry told her reassuringly.

'Yeah you're right. Thanks, Harry,' Hermione said with a smile, sat down, and promptly began eating. Harry was thankful that he managed to defuse the situation so quickly.

'So where do you want to go today?' Harry asked.

'Zonko's,' Ron replied without any hesitation.

'We always go there and you're always in there for ages,' Hermione exclaimed.

'So? It's a really good shop. If you have a problem...' Ron began angrily.

'We promise we'll be quick and we'll go where ever you want to go as well,' Harry stepped in not wanting another row to start.

'Okay. Can we go to the Shrieking Shack? We haven't been there for ages,' Hermione suggested.

'Yeah, good idea. Hardly anyone goes up there any more so we won't have to put up with the looks and snide comments of all the people who think I'm a nut case!' Harry replied happily.

'Not many people think you're a nut case. Just a few,' Hermione replied hiding a smile.

'Just a few! Most the school does,' Harry said miserably.

'That's their loss, mate. They'll find out soon enough you're telling the truth about You-Know-Who and then they'll be begging for you're forgiveness,' Ron told Harry reassuringly.

'Thanks, Ron. But I won't hold my breath,' Harry said with a forced smile. 'Anyway, ready to go?' Hermione and Ron both nodded. They had all got up to leave the Great Hall when McGonagall called to Harry.

'Potter! Here, please.' Wondering what he had done now, Harry walked slowly back to McGonagall, while Hermione and Ron sat back down waiting for him.

'Yes Professor?'

'Potter, I don't want you to be alone at any point while you're in Hogsmeade. Do you understand?' McGonagall said sternly.

'Yes. Why?' Harry asked confounded.

'Because it is exposed and there is nothing to stop someone from attacking you. Just better safe then sorry Potter.'

'Yeah. Okay, Professor. I won't go anywhere by myself. But I can take care of myself you know,' He began to contradict her.

'I know you can Potter, but the headmaster doesn't want you to take any unnecessary risks. Now off you go.' Completely confused, Harry went to get Hermione and Ron so they could leave for Hogsmeade. If Harry had turned around he would have seen McGonagall exchange very concerned looks with Snape and Hagrid.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione left the Great Hall talking about McGonagall's request.

'They're obviously worried or she wouldn't have warned you,' Hermione said, the fear showing in her voice.

'I don't see why. It's not like Hogsmeade is a deserted place. It's full of most of the students of Hogwarts, not to mention a lot of the teachers,' Ron stated.

'Let's just stick together. It doesn't matter why we have to. We just have to,' Hermione told them to put an end to the conversation as they joined the queue of students waiting to be signed out by a extremely suspicious Filch, who had taken to checking everyone's pockets on the way out and back in.

'Hermione!' Ron replied in mock outrage. 'How can you possibly not be curious about this?'

'I am. But what's the point of speculating? It's probably just because,' she lowered her voice so Harry and Ron had to lean in closer to hear her. 'Voldemort's back.'

'Yeah, you're right. Where shall we go first?' Harry asked keen to put an end to the conversation though he couldn't tell them why if they had asked. Harry, Ron and Hermione stepped out after being strictly inspected by Filch, who was trying to confiscate Harry's money until Harry pointed out that he would need it for a day out, and if he didn't let him have it he would make sure Dumbledore found out. While Filch was with Dumbledore, students could be sneaking Dungbombs and Fanged Frisbees into Hogwarts. So Filch reluctantly let them leave while making a note next to Harry's name. Harry guessed it would be something like, 'Inspect for Dungbombs, etc. Troublemaker.' Filch had written that next to Harry's name so many time he had lost count.

They made their way to Zonko's where Ron bought various things that Harry knew they would have to put a spell onto make them look like something else to get them back in past Filch. After Zonko's they went to the Three Broomsticks for Butterbeers.

'Hermione, you can't do that!' Ron exclaimed infuriated.

'Yes I can!' Hermione replied equally annoyed. Hermione had just told Ron and Harry that she was going to make S.P.E.W. into a club and that Harry and Ron had to be members.

'I refuse to play any part in it,' Ron spat.

'If you were any kind of a friend you would do it even if you didn't want to,' Hermione whispered dangerously.

'I don't want to do it!' Ron yelled, attracting more than a few startled looks from other curious students.

'Harry will do it. Won't you, Harry?' Hermione pleaded. Harry looked at her pityingly. He really didn't want to do it, but he knew if he didn't he would never hear the end of it.

'Err...' Harry replied hesitantly. Hermione looked at him expectantly. 'Okay, but nothing with a big responsibility and no going up to people and begging them to join.'

'Oh, thank you, Harry,' Hermione gushed as she hugged him. She turned and gave Ron a smug look.

'Fine! I give up! I'll do it,' Ron said defeated. This lead Hermione to go into a long-winded explanation of her plan and how she proposed getting more people involved. Harry stopped listening quite early on. After what felt like an hour of Hermione telling them her action plan they left the Three Broomsticks.

'Where to now?' Ron asked.

'The Shrieking Shack?' Hermione suggested hopefully.

'Yeah. But let's go quickly,' Harry said after a group of Ravenclaws all stopped talking to stare at him. Harry, Ron and Hermione started to make their slow way up to the Shrieking Shack as the Ravenclaws started talking about Harry again. 'Still thinks You-Know-Who is back...' 'Wants the attention...' 'Won't except that everyone knows he's lying...' As Harry heard all this he gave a great sigh. People still thought he was lying. If the Daily Prophet wasn't in the Ministry's pocket then maybe a few more people would believe him, he thought desperately.

After a long, steady climb to the top of the hill where the Shrieking Shack was situated, they were all more than a little bit out of breath. Harry leant against the fence that surrounded the Shrieking Shack to get his breath back. It was a bright hot day and the sun was shining in Harry's face.

'Blimey,' Ron gasped. 'I don't remember the climb being that tough the last time.'

'It wasn't such a hot day then,' Hermione panted. Harry was just contemplating doing a spell to cool him down when he heard a noise. He held up a hand to silence Ron and Hermione. He started listening intently, McGonagall's warning echoing in his ears.

'What is it?' Ron asked, who clearly hadn't noticed anything. But judging from the expression on Hermione's face she had heard it as well. Harry exchanged a frightened look with Hermione while still trying to hear the noise again. There it was. Someone was trying to sneak up on them. Harry made a motion with his hand to signal to Ron and Hermione to follow him. Harry pulled his wand out of his robes and slowly made his way around to the other side of the Shrieking Shack. Harry's heart was pounding in his ears; his breathing was getting heavier. They reached the other side of the Shrieking Shack. There was no one there. He couldn't see anyone. In fact he couldn't even see Hogsmeade anymore. Oh no! If he couldn't see Hogsmeade then the people in Hogsmeade couldn't see them. He turned back around to Ron and Hermione. Just as he was about to tell them to run he heard the spell.

'Stupefy!' roared the voice.

'No,' Harry screamed as the spell hit Ron directly between the eyes. Ron looked slightly shocked then he fell to the ground in a heap. Hermione fell to his side. Ron was unconscious after being hit with such a strong Stunning Spell.

'Ron,' she gasped. Harry wheeled about trying to see who had cast the spell.

'Stupefy,' roared the voice again. This time Harry was ready.

'Protego,' Harry thundered, shouting the first defensive spell that came into his head. The Shielding Spell caused the Stunning Spell to be rebounded onto the person who had cast it but their attacker was quick on his toes and dived to the side, narrowly missing being hit.

'You!' Harry bellowed. Lucius Malfoy stood up facing Harry. Hermione was whimpering by Ron. But out of the corner of Harry's eye, he saw her get ready to withdraw her wand as she slowly began to stand up.

'Petrificus Totalus,' Malfoy yelled pointing his wand at Hermione. Harry raised his wand to perform a defensive spell but it had already hit Hermione. Hermione had not been ready for this attack and she let out a little 'Oh' of surprise before she fell to the ground. She lay rigid on the ground next to Ron's unconscious body. 'Now, Potter!' Malfoy spat. 'You're coming with me.'

'Expelliarmus,' Harry shouted hoping to catch Malfoy unawares, but Malfoy simply waved his wand as though to brush away the spell. Malfoy started advancing on Harry. Harry was getting desperate. Malfoy was a fully grown Death Eater and was probably one of the best at magic out of all the Death Eaters and extremely clever. He couldn't see a way out of this one.

'Impedimenta,' Harry yelled desperately. Harry's spell hit Malfoy squarely in the chest and he stopped in his tracks, completely immobilised. Harry let out a sigh of relief. He couldn't believe he had managed to get out of that one. He turned around to take the spells off Hermione and Ron. 'Finite Incan...' he began.

'Stupefy,' yelled a second voice. Harry fell to the floor. Bellatrix Lestrange had hit Harry with a Stunner directly between his shoulder blades. Harry had been knocked out cold.