Harry Potter and the Rise of the Phoenix

Chapter 20 ~ A Week from Hell

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And now I'm running out of time.
I can't see through this haze.
My friend, tell me why it has to be this way.
There's too many things to get done,
And I'm running out of days.

3 Doors Down ~ Running Out of Days
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Classes were bad, just as Hermione predicted. Monday's healing class was boring without Ginny. Althea and Harry missed the exuberant redhead; she had become an integral member of the classes. Tuesday was hard because Harry had every class with Ron up until his lesson with Druce. The empty seat next to him was a hard sight to see. Snape was missing from their Potions lessons, Althea filling in for most of the classes that the Potions Master had. Even harder to face was Quidditch practice that afternoon before supper. He had almost called it off. The professors had rescheduled the Slytherin/Gryffindor game for the end of the year, moving the Gryffindor/Ravenclaw game up a few weeks. There really was no need for a practice and the subdued atmosphere was enough to drive Harry insane.

Wednesday wasn't too bad, as normally Harry didn't see anyone else until lunch. However, it was the last class hour of the day that got to Harry. Normally he would have hung out with Ron and Ginny during their free hour, but they were still at St. Mungo's... slowly dying. Hermione was at Charms, so he was left alone. He decided to wander the corridors, looking for something to do. Reaching the Entrance Hall, he found a large group of adults standing around, speaking to Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape. What was he doing here? Harry went to join them, slipping in next to Dumbledore. He nodded to those he recognized.

"Are you sure the boy had nothing to do with it?" Vance asked of Dumbledore.

"I am sure, Mr. Malfoy had nothing to do with this plan," Dumbledore assured the Minister. "Emmeline, he knew something was afoot, but nothing more than that. We can not expect him to know everything." They all nodded, murmuring amongst themselves. "I'd like to introduce you all to Harry Potter," Dumbledore said, turning to face the young man beside him. "Harry, this is Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Law Enforcement. I believe you have met before." Harry nodded, shaking hands with the woman. "Again, Professor Griselda Marchbanks should be known to you." Harry nodded again, shaking her old and wrinkled hand. "This is Elder Tiberus Ogden of the Wizengamot, I'm not sure if you remember him."

"I do," Harry said, shaking the man's hand. "Didn't you both resign after Umbridge was named 'High Inquisitor'?"

"Good memory you have there, boy," Ogden said with small laugh. "It's no wonder that Al speaks so highly of you. We did indeed resign, but once Emmeline became Minister, she asked us back."

"This is Gawain Roberts, Overseer of Azkaban," Dumbledore continued, pointing to a man no older than Thia, who was standing next to him.

"Nice to meet you, Harry," Roberts said as they shook hands. "A pleasure to see that you've grown up to be a man your parents would be proud of." Harry looked at Thia questioningly.

"He was a Gryffindor in our year," Thia answered. "Lived in the dorm with Sirius, James, Remus, and Peter, poor lad. Ex-boyfriend as well... Remus still gives him a hard time for cheating on me in fourth year."

"I didn--" Roberts started, but Dumbledore cleared his throat.

"As fascinating as your love life must have been," he said with a twinkle in eye, "alas, we have no time for it today."

"A pleasure to meet you all," Harry said politely, knowing that he was speaking with some of the most influential wizards and witches in wizarding Britain. "If I may ask you, sir," Harry said, turning to Snape, "what are you doing back at Hogwarts?"

"Is that your polite way of telling me to return to St. Mungo's?" Snape asked dryly; Harry nodded. "I'm here to watch as a student in my House is arrested and to escort you to St. Mungo's for the administration of the antidote to Miss Weasley."

"You're here to arrest Nott then?" Harry asked the group. They all nodded looking sober. "Good riddance to bad rubbish," Harry muttered, causing a few of the adults to frown. "Nott has been a thorn in Blaise Zabini's side all year and Millicent's as well. The Slytherin prefects," he explained to the confused adults. "He hasn't done anything seriously wrong, just testing their authority and trying their patience. I was planning on referring him to his Head of House this week, but he hasn't caused any more problems. I'm glad to see it has moved out of my hands."

"Head Boy as well," Roberts commented. "I see that the Headmaster has kept his strange taste for Head Boys well and alive. I'm still not sure how James got it our seventh year. Then there was Eric Morgan of Slytherin, our, what, fifth year, who caused more trouble than James or Sirius ever did on their own. Not to mention the Head Boy our first year, Marcus Malvin. He was as eccentric as one can be at seventeen, still is now a days."

"And they were some of the best choices I have ever made," Dumbledore commented with a smile. He turned to Harry. "You are welcome to join us if you wish. You'll be able to see what it means to be an Auror."

"Tonks and Volk have shown me quite enough," Harry answered, causing Thia to frown for being ignored. "All you need to do is tease the Commander and you'll be promoted without any problems." The Aurors in the group (minus Thia) all started laughing.

"When you work for me, Potter," Thia warned, "you will regret the day you said that."

"I would appreciate being allowed to watch this," Harry said, ignoring Thia's comment and glare. "Are you doing it now?"

"Yes," Thia answered heavily, her face dropping the mock-anger and taking on a gloomy appearance.

"The papers for his holding cell have just come in," Roberts explained.

"And I signed the warrant this morning," Emmeline said grimly. "I hate it that Death Eaters train their children in the Dark Arts and then let them take the Mark while they're still at Hogwarts."

"A time honored tradition, let me assure you," Snape said seriously, his face dark.

"At least not all are turned so easily, Professor," Harry said, looking at him intently. Snape nodded slightly. "I would be lost without Blaise's help."

"Well, let's get going," Dumbledore said, walking towards the Great Hall. They fell in line, Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape taking the lead, the Aurors in a row behind them, the Elders of Wizengamot and Bones next, followed by the Minister and Roberts. Harry followed them all, watching curiously. In one of the corners, Nott sat on a stool looking bored. Tonks and another Auror stood watching him, the two Aurors attached by a long chain to each of his arms.

"Theodore Stabins Nott Junior, you are hereby charged with the attempted poisoning of Ginevra Molly Weasley and Ronald Bilius Weasley on November the fourteenth of this year through the use of a contact poison," Elder Ogden said reading the parchment with the charges. "If one or the other should die, you will be further charged with their murder at that time." Harry swallowed, hoping against hope that that would not need to be necessary.

"The reader of your charges is Elder Tiberus Ogden of the Wizengamot. Witnessing your transfer from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Headmaster of aforementioned school, Minerva Maggie McGonagall, Deputy-Headmistress of aforementioned school, Severus Tobias Snape, Head of the Slytherin House at the aforementioned school, Emmeline Erin Vance, the Minster of Magic of Britain, Elder Gladys Sylvia Marchbanks of the Wizengamot, Amelia Paula Bones, Head of the Department of Law Enforcement, and Harry James Potter, Head Boy at the aforementioned school and friend of the victims.

"Overseeing your removal to Azkaban is Advanced Senior Auror Synthia Lane Black, Commander of the Aurors of Britain, Advanced Senior Auror Gawain Blake Melvin Roberts, Overseer of the Fortress of Azkaban, Senior Auror Kingsley Collin Shacklebolt, personally in charge of your person during the removal. Under Senior Auror Shacklebolt's command in this action are Junior Auror Rayner Nickolaus Volker and Auror Nymphadora Bobette Tonks Lupin. Does the accused have anything he wishes to say?"

"No," Nott said, standing stiffly. The group left with Shacklebolt leading the way, walking down the grounds to the gate. Hagrid was there to open the gate officially. Once the party going to Azkaban was out of the gates, Hagrid shut and locked them. The group left by portkey disappearing in a blink of an eye.

"Sad times," Professor Marchbanks said softly, shaking her head. "Sad times, Albus. I must be going, if you'll open those gates for me, young man." Hagrid opened them again, letting the others who needed to leave out. Once done saying their farewells, they each apparated away.

"Are you ready, Harry?" Severus asked. Harry nodded eager to leave. "We must wait for Miss Granger to finish her last lesson and then we'll be off."

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"Oh, Gin," Harry said softly as he caught sight of her. What had Nott done to her? Every vein and artery was visible, her skin transformed into a chartreuse spider-web. Her skin was sallow and sunken in. Her eyes were opened, staring up at the ceiling, no sign of life in them. If her chest wasn't rising in the slow pattern of breathing, Harry would have thought her dead. Even with all the things Nott Sr. had done to him, this crime was enough to earn Nott Jr. more hate. And there was still Ron's poisoning to figure in. There was a bright flash and everyone turned to George, a camera posed in his hands.

"For prosperity's sake," Fred defended his brother's actions. "Ginny's going to want to see these."

"You boys will do no such thing," Mrs. Weasley warned them

"We're ready to give her the antidote," Healer Lemon told them softly. "With the normal poison, the victim wakes up in pain, most often screaming. The spider venom normally used in this poison has a numbing agent in it naturally. In the poison, it numbs the victim. Unfortunately, the antidote counter-acts this. The victims wake up in immense pain that they had not been able to grow accustom to."

"With this variation," Snape continued, "they substituted one spider's venom for another's. Both have a similar numbing agent, but our hope is that Ginny will not wake up in the normal pain."

"What do you expect?" Bill asked, sensing that Snape had not actually finished what he had to say.

"That she will," Lemon answered. "We'll give her a sleeping draft, and keep her unconscious until the webbing disappears."

"Professor, is it the same venom that killed those people you told me about?" Harry asked, afraid to hear the answer. If the variant venom in this poison was the same venom used back when the Death Eaters attacked the Weird Sister Benefit Concert, then Snape was right about the form of Nott's animagus.

"Yes," Snape answered, his voice thick with worry and concern. "I've recommended that the Ministry test Nott to see if he is an unregistered animagus." Harry couldn't believe their luck. It was one of the most deadly spiders out there, and Nott had to morph into it.

"We're going to ask that you leave the room," Lemon continued. "I know you want to be here for her, but there's nothing you can do for her." The Weasleys exchanged glances and nodded in understanding.

"I want to stay," Harry announced. "Ginny would be here for me."

"Harry," Snape said, moving to talk to the boy alone. "Leave. I would have made her leave if the circumstances were switched. Be with her family, you can do more for them than you can do for Ginny. No but's, Harry. Just leave."

"Fine," Harry huffed, walking out of the room. He calmed himself and went to sit in the seat Mrs. Weasley saved for him. She took his hand, gripping it tightly. "She'll be alright," Harry assured her and himself. "Tomorrow, she'll be making the Healers wish she was the twins."

"And they swore they had never had anyone as bad as us," George added. "And they swore they never would."

"Little did they know that we have a little sister," Fred finished. Harry smiled at them.

"At least they have an antidote for Ginny," Hermione said softly, speaking only to Harry.

"They'll find one for Ron," Harry assured her. "You have two of the greatest Potions Master's working on it as we speak."

"No, they're giving Ginny hers," Hermione said bitterly. A scream filtered through the door and Harry didn't know who gripped who harder, he or Mrs. Weasley.

"As if that would stop them from thinking about it," he told her. "Snape would have said something if there was more of a problem. Have a bit of faith, Hermione. They'll both be right as rain in a week or two."

Harry gulped as Ginny's screaming continued. "Did they not get the sleeping draft in?" Bill asked the room, not really expecting an answer. Abruptly the screaming ended and Harry could hear the sound of everyone letting go of their breath.

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"Hey," Ginny said softly as Harry walked into the hospital room Friday morning. She had woken up the night before and had been asking to see him. Finally, Dumbledore agreed to excuse Harry from all his classes for the day, except for the lessons they had together.

"Hey, Gin," Harry replied. "You look exhausted."

"I am," she agreed, not even bothering to feel indignant about it. "At least I look better than I did on Wednesday."

"I take it that the twins showed you the pictures," Harry said with a small smile.

"Yeah, chartreuse is not my color."

"No, it isn't," Harry agreed, taking a seat in the armchair next to the bed. Ginny had been moved to a small private room at the end of the same Hall where Ron was still fighting. There was a small window that let in the sunlight and sitting in another chair, Mrs. Weasley stared out it.

"Have you heard anything about Ron?" Ginny asked quietly, glancing covertly at her mum. Mrs. Weasley had forbidden anyone from telling her what was going on with her brother. It made sense, because Ginny wasn't supposed to get overly excited, but Harry thought it was a waste of time.

"They've got an antidote," he finally answered, keeping his voice down. If Mrs. Weasley heard him telling her, he'd be in a world of hurt.

"Why is she keeping that from me?" Ginny asked wonderingly.

"They weren't able to take the Sneezewort out completely," Harry explained. "He's going to have a rough recovery because of it."

"Oh," Ginny said, understanding filling her eyes. "That makes sense then... He'll be alright, right?"

"If everything goes as expected, then yes," Harry answered. "And they expect it to."

"How'd the game go?" she asked, changing the subject.

"We were losing," Harry told her. "You know how big and talented the Slytherin chasers are. Poor little Natalie and Kendra were intimidated. They called the game when Ron got hit though. Both bludgers had been tampered with and Sephra demanded a rematch. They rescheduled it to the end of the year, moving our game against Ravenclaw up a few weeks."

"Did you have practice?"

"We did on Tuesday, but I cancelled Wednesday's," Harry told her. "No point in having it if both captains and the next most senior player aren't there."

"That's because you were here, right?"

"Yeah. I hated being at school without you two," he told her honestly. "I wish they would have let me stay."

"It's rough, isn't it? Now do you understand why I hate it when you're in the hospital wing?"

"Yes, ma'am," Harry said, nodding his head. He took another glance at Mrs. Weasley and saw that she was napping. "They arrested Nott Junior."

"Was he the one that poisoned us?"

"Yes," Harry answered simply. "Right before we left for St. Mungo's on Wednesday. They're holding him in Azkaban."

"I had guessed it was Malfoy," Ginny admitted.

"He knew that Voldemort was up to something, but not what or when or where," Harry answered. "Dumbledore trusts him."

"So you're going to?"

"No," Harry said vehemently. "He lost my trust at his Manor. If he had had his way, I would still be there, maybe not as Voldemort's plaything, but definitely as his."

"I don't trust him either," Ginny said after a few minutes of silence.

Harry nodded, watching Ginny. She was very pale, but not sickly so. It was as if she hadn't gotten enough sleep for a few days. Her veins were faintly yellow, but only the main ones. The smaller ones had disappeared from sight. The sun fell across her mane of red hair, which was spread out around her like a fan. He picked up a strand to twist in his fingers. He glanced cautiously at her mother, and then dipped his head to kiss Ginny lightly on the lips.

"I told you no kissing until you take me on a date," Ginny scolded him, though her smile betrayed her slightly.

"Sorry," Harry said, meaning it. He had meant to follow the direction, but it was hard when she was so beautiful. "I've just been so worried and I'm so happy to be here talking to you and... you're gorgeous."

Ginny shook her head, but smiled up at him. "I see how it is. Can I have a hug?" Harry complied happily, pulling her close to him.

"I'm sorry for all the times I put you through this," he whispered into her hair.

"That's alright, luv, I forgave you a long time ago for all that."

"After I go," he said, once he had pulled away, "I want you to read this." He pulled the Notebook out of his pocket and handed it to her.

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"Good afternoon, sir," Harry greeted, once he was in the headmaster's office.

"Hello, Harry," Dumbledore replied. "Did you have a good morning and early afternoon?"

"Yes, sir," Harry said, unable to keep the silly grin off his face. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it," Dumbledore said with a wave of his hand. Harry looked at the man and realized that the twinkle was brighter than ever. "Lemon drop?"

"No thank you, sir, they're too sour for my mood" Harry apologized. "What do I get to learn today?"

"The Law of Inertia," Dumbledore responded. "An object at rest remains at rest until a force acts upon it. An object in motion remains in motion unless a force causes it to stop."

"Let me guess," Harry said. "Magic is stationary until we cast a spell, and once released we can't stop it until it's finished."

"In the simplest terms, you are correct," Dumbledore said with a nod. "More importantly, though, is the connection with borrowing or lending magic. You can't stop mid-way through. You must be sure that you don't take so much magic, or lend so much magic, that it kills whomever it is that is lending. If you're positive that it won't, go ahead and borrow. If you're afraid that it will, borrow from several sources or none at all. Very rarely will those spells kill you, but the same spell that you'll survive as the caster could possibly kill a lender."

"How do I know?" Harry asked, a hand running through his hair as he realized the responsibility that this entailed.

"You don't," Dumbledore answered truthfully. "You have to take an educated guess and if you fear the worst, don't use that spell. Or find several lenders. Remember, smaller inanimate objects, plants, and animals all require less magic to be real, to exist, to live. A climbing rose will have more available magic to share than a pebble. An elephant more than the rose. Items with magical properties more than items without. Wizards more than muggles."

"So--" Harry said before stopping. "It's a hit or miss."

"You can learn to gauge and make educated guesses," Dumbledore responded. "You're already learning how to measure how much magic it takes to cast spells. When you combine with another, what happens is simple. Have you figured it out?"

"It seems to take the same amount from both sources, me and the lender," Harry answered.

"Correct," Dumbledore said with a nod. "You will have a larger magical force than most out there. Only a few will be able to equal or surpass you with magical force."

"Which means I have to be careful not to over stress any of the lenders," Harry guessed and Dumbledore nodded. "Let's say I was weaker than a lot of people out there. There's no way I could burn them out before me, correct?"

"Not quite," Dumbledore answered. "Tom Riddle was brilliant, but he was not the strongest of magical students. That is one of the reasons he learnt this. Yes, he is stronger than a large majority of the wizarding population, but he has always wanted to be the best. He has inherited the ability to remove his shield from Salazar Slytherin.

"Among the books in the library, many are false," Dumbledore continued. "Several books I would let you read for they are very accurate, but there are a few that are in there that... break the rules. There is a way to double, even triple connect a source."

"Which would let him burn his sources out first," Harry supplied.

"Yes, it would," Dumbledore said gravely. "There is also the odd occurrence of strength that would prove your question false. It is named the Theory of Greats for a reason after all."

"Only exceptionally strong wizards and witches can do this?" Harry asked surprised.

"Correct."

"Oh," Harry said softly. "Did Voldemort pass this on to me or my parents?"

"Your parents," Dumbledore said firmly. "You may wish to do a bit of research into your mum's family."

"Why?" Harry asked, giving the man a shrewd look.

"Just do a bit of research," Dumbledore repeated.

Harry shrugged, "Alright, I will."

"Now, I have this small pebble here," Dumbledore said, pulling it from his pocket and placing it on the low table in front of them. "I want you to borrow from it and cast a Contego shield."

"But--" Harry started but Dumbledore waved his hand.

"Just humor me, Harry."

"Contego!" Harry cast the strongest shield he knew of (and Harry knew them all.) The rock exploded, but Harry and Dumbledore were protected from the shards by the shield.

"Now these eight pebbles have the ability to be combined to help cast this spell," Dumbledore said calmly, lining them up in a row. "Try to cast the shield again."

Harry nodded, unweaving the shields around the pebbles. He carefully teased out a strand from each and 'glued' it to his wand with his magic. "Contego!" Again, all eight rocks exploded, sharp shards flying at them, but stopped by the shield.

"Again, here are eight pebbles." Harry went through the exercise six or seven times before he stood up frustrated with himself.

"Why can't I do it?" he asked the wise old man. "What am I doing wrong?"

"Combine them, Harry," he hinted.

"As in make the objects one?" Dumbledore just looked into the fireplace, staring at the dancing flames. "No, that can't be right, that isn't practical. Wait..." This time he knotted the magic 'strings' from the pebbles and then connected that to the wand. "Contego!" This time the pebbles survived.

"Very good, though braiding them is more efficient," Dumbledore informed him, popping a lemon drop into his mouth.

"Won't that take time?"

"All the time a thought does," the old man replied.

"Come on you boys," Professor McGonagall's scolding voice said from the doorway. Harry turned to face her, and saw a hidden smile in her eyes. "You can't skip supper to play with pebbles and eat lemon drops."

The three left Dumbledore's office, discussing Ginny's quick recovery and Ron's dangerous road ahead. Hermione would be leaving during supper to be there when they administered the antidote to him. Harry had bargained away that chance so that he could spend the day with Ginny. He knew that Hermione needed to be with Ron, but he had to be there for Ginny. Ron would forgive him.

They entered the Great Hall, the atmosphere just as thick as it had been all week. With two students poisoned and another arrested and in Azkaban, no one felt right being loud and rowdy. Those were two very sobering things.

"Very different from a week ago," Harry commented.

"Yes, everyone was excited about the Quidditch game," McGonagall agreed.

"I think it's about time that you and Miss Granger annou--Argh!" Dumbledore stumbled and fell, clutching at his left leg in pain. Harry caught the Headmaster and eased him to the floor. Dumbledore had already blacked out from the pain. Harry quickly cast some monitoring spells and diagnostic charms that Althea had taught him. He wasn't sure what was wrong specifically, but if his best guess was correct, Harry was worried.

"Where're Althea and Madam Pomfrey?" Harry called out, but the Great Hall had descended into a state of chaos. Only a few professors were trying to regain order, the majority were just as worried and out of control as the students. "Sonorus!" Harry cast, pointing his wand at his throat.

"QUIET!" he said softly, though the spell amplified his voice, causing it to fill the large space. He ended the spell and looked around the now silent Great Hall. "Althea, Madam Pomfrey?" The two ladies made their way through the last of those surrounding the old, wise headmaster. "Try the Veneficus," he told them, aware that others were listening. The two ladies looked at him for a split second and cast a few other diagnostic charms before that one. Both frowned and then continued on with their regular barrage of healing spells.

Dumbledore's eyes opened slowly after they awoke him, and Harry stood up. "Everyone return to your common rooms. Prefects, make sure everyone heads there. I don't want anyone to leave for the rest of the night. I'll send the house elves with food for anyone that didn't get enough." There was quiet chatter as they left, most of the Professors encircling Dumbledore.

Dumbledore's brow crinkled as he realized that he was on the ground. "You fainted in pain," Pomfrey told him quickly. "Minerva, Harry, help him up and too the Infirmary."

"My office, if you please," Dumbledore corrected. Harry watched as McGonagall, Althea, and Pomfrey exchanged glances. They nodded and Harry helped the headmaster up. The group made its slow way up to the office, only the three Heads and Hermione following them up the twirling staircase. Harry stayed out of the two Healers' way as they did a more thorough examination.

"Headmaster," Snape's voice said from the fire. "What's the matter?" Harry saw the unchecked concern on the once bitter and prickly man's face.

"Can you spare a few minutes, Severus?" McGonagall asked instead, sparing him only a short glance.

"No, we're about ready to administer the antidote," Snape answered. "I was wondering if Miss Granger was ready to leave."

"I am," Hermione answered. "Will you be able to come back here soon after?"

"Unless something goes wrong, yes," he said slowly, looking from one face to another, stopping to rest on Harry's a bit longer before moving to Dumbledore's. There was recognition on Snape's face as he stared at the Headmaster. "Oh, I see. I'll be able to come back soon after." With that he was gone.

"Well, Miss Granger, here's the portkey directly to the room," Dumbledore said in a voice that was a bit too forced to be cheery. "I'm glad St. Mungo's made that exception for you two." Hermione nodded, taking the old artist's pallet from him. Harry had to agree as well, the fewer people that they ran into at St. Mungo's, the safer everyone was. Not to mention the press--more specifically Rita. The old beetle had registered as an animagus, and Hermione had already caught her once in the hallway trying to snoop.

Hermione disappeared and Harry took the seat she had occupied. "Harry, I want you to go to each common room and check out how everything is," Dumbledore asked-commanded him. Harry nodded, exchanged worried looks with the three older ladies, and then left. He went to the Hufflepuff common room first; it was the furthest away. Passing the entrance to the kitchen, Harry took the first turn to the left, walked for a bit before taking the fourth left. At the end of the passage, he stood in front of a large tapestry depicting a beautiful valley.

"Don't provoke a badger," Harry said and watched as the tapestry slowly rolled it's self up to reveal a door. Harry knocked on it politely.

"Harry!" Susan said with surprise. "Come in. You didn't get to eat; can we get something from the kitchens?"

"A sandwich would be nice," Harry answered. A first year ran off to the opposite wall and left through a doorway.

"We're behind the kitchens," Susan explained. Harry nodded; he knew this from the Marauder's Map. "How is the Headmaster?"

"He's alright, I'm not sure what happened," Harry told her honestly. "Is everything alright in here?"

"Just fine," Justin answered, joining Susan and Harry. "You hear about Ron yet?"

"No, Hermione just left like ten minutes ago," Harry answered. "We won't hear anything for an hour or so."

"Ginny alright?" a fifth year prefect, Timothy Trapper, asked.

"She's exhausted," Harry said, "but otherwise just fine. I got to spend the day with her."

"So that's where you were today," Hannah said, coming over to chat with them.

"Here you go," the first year said, handing Harry the ham and cheese sandwich.

"Thanks. I've got to go check on the other houses," Harry said, waving goodbye to a few of his classmates that waved at him.

"Okay, we'll let you know if anything seems wrong," Ernie said, walking over from where he was tutoring several third years. "Talk to you later."

"Yep, bye all," Harry said, leaving out the door he had entered from. He decided to check on the Slytherins next, heading down to the dungeons. When he was outside the stone wall that hid the common room, Harry racked his mind for the password. Blaise had just told him what it had been changed to... but what was it?

"Dungbombs," Sephra said from behind Harry. The door slid open.

"You're supposed to be in your common room," Harry pretended to chide her, joining her as she went into the room. The low ceiling shone in the green light, some how less eerie than it had seemed the last time he had been here.

"I had patrol duty," she answered. "Figured you'd want me to do it even though everyone is supposed to be in their common rooms."

"What are you doing here, Gryffindor?" Blaise asked, joining the two. He slid an arm around Sephra's waist, kissing her on the cheek.

"Just checking up on the Houses," Harry answered. "Dumbledore wanted me to make sure everything was alright."

"Is he alright?" Levena Atwater asked, coming over from the table she was working at. She was a sixth year prefect and Slytherin chaser.

"He was awake when I left," Harry answered. "I'm not sure what happened."

"You'll let us know how Ron and Ginny are as soon as you can, right?" Gordon Glaeske asked, the whole of the Slytherin team joining the circle. "We didn't want anything bad to happen during the game."

"It's fate, I guess," Harry said with a shrug. "Gin's awake, but exhausted and Hermione left for St. Mungo's. They're giving Ron his antidote soon," Harry glanced at the clock, "if they haven't already."

"We're wishing for the best," Donelle Scriven informed Harry. She was only a third year and by far the youngest member on the team.

"Thanks," Harry told them. "I've got to move on, two down, two to go."

"Ravenclaw Tower is the only one I've never found," Blaise said, as he walked Harry to the exit.

"It's well hidden," Harry conceded. "Good night."

Harry walked to the west side of the castle. He walked until he came to a window staring out toward the Owlery. The ceiling of this part of the castle opened up two floors into a beautiful dome. Harry knew that there was a tower off to the left, right next to this window. "Brains over Brawn," he said, ducking out of the way as a rope ladder fell to land at his feet. He climbed up it, and onto the landing. He knocked on the door, waiting for someone to answer. He felt that it was rude if he just entered. He knocked a second time.

"Harry," Padma said surprised. "I couldn't figure out if I had actually heard someone knock or not. Then I couldn't figure out why a Ravenclaw or any of the Professors would knock. Oh, come in, sorry."

She moved out of the way and onto an iron walkway. Bookshelves went around the circular room, stretching from ceiling (which was a second dome, this one glass) that started only two feet above his head, down to the floor, which was about twenty feet down. Moving ladders gave access to both the iron walkway that ran around the edge of the room and the books in the shelves directly below him.

Comfy reading chairs littered the floor as Harry stared in awe of the room. Several fireplaces were scattered about, not against the walls but in open pits. Tables with comfy, yet straight-backed chairs ran around the room. Two stairways led down, and Harry knew the dorms were actually below the common room.

"Impressive, isn't it?" Padma said with a smile on her face.

"I want to switch houses," Harry replied, almost meaning it. "I bet the stars are amazing when there aren't any clouds." Clouds had been building up the past few days, and Harry knew that snow was not far off.

"That's why there isn't a Ravenclaw student that has ever failed astronomy," Terry Boot said, coming at Harry from the other side. Anthony was right behind him. "What can we do to help you?"

"Dumbledore just wanted me to check up on the Houses," Harry said. "And as far as I know, he's alright, but I left before they had figured out what was up."

"We're the last House you've been too?" Anthony asked with a laugh.

"Second to last," Harry corrected. "I've got my own to sort out, and I have a feeling that it's going to be the worst. Poor Miranda's been left all alone. What, with all three of the main authority figures missing in action."

"She'll be fine," Anthony said with a laugh.

"You don't know Gryffindors," Harry said with a half-smile. "Dumbledore would be the third one to be 'attacked' this week; they're going to be in an uproar."

"Chamber of Secrets all over again," Padma replied. "I remember listening to Parvati complain about it."

"Yeah," Harry agreed. "I remember listening to a lot of them complain about it. Well, if anything changes here, just let me know. You two are still on patrols. No-tolerance policy. I told them to go to their common rooms, and that's where they should be."

"Aye, aye captain," Anthony replied, saluting smartly.

Harry left, still in awe of the beautiful common room. He made his way to Gryffindor Tower, using all the shortcuts he knew. "Weasleys," he said once he reached the Fat Lady. He was right, it seemed every Gryffindor was awake, and every Gryffindor was shouting over everyone else to be heard.

"QUIET!" Harry said after casting the Sonorus charm. "Alright, Dumbledore is awake, Hermione left to be with Ron as they give him the antidote, I was with Ginny all day, she sends her love and thanks. She's fine except for being exhausted. Yes, you are probably right, Voldemort most likely ordered the attack on the Weasleys, and we don't even know if anything's wrong with Dumbledore other than old age. Anything else? Good."

"Thank you," Miranda said quietly. "I managed to get the first and second years to go to bed. This lot just wouldn't shut up."

"I know what you mean," Harry said with a wane smile. Some of the Gryffindors grumbled at that, but Harry just shook his head at them. "Okay, no one leaves. I'm going to see the Headmaster." Harry left and made his way to the old man's office. He paused outside the door, listening to Snape's raised voice.

"Sir, you need to--" Severus said, but something or someone cut him off.

"Come in, Harry." Harry entered. He was surprised to see tears on Poppy's face, McGonagall drying hers with a handkerchief, and Althea sniffing. "How are my students?"

"Just fine," Harry answered warily. "The Gryffindors are livid about this."

"Of course they are," Dumbledore said with a smile. "They wouldn't be Gryffindors otherwise."

"What's going on?" Harry asked.

"The Headmaster is being stubborn!" Snape said, outraged.

"I'm just being logical," Dumbledore stated calmly. "It will do its job, and I will do my many jobs."

"It will 'do its job' faster if you keep to your normal schedule!" Snape retorted bitterly. "Better to do your many jobs from a bed for two months than to be stubborn about this and last a month."

"Wait..." Harry said, interrupting the arguing men. "Two months... one month..." Harry's eyes opened in horror. "Poison."

"And it will kill you," Snape said, "unless, by some miracle, I or someone else discovers the antidote before then. Of course, Potions Master's have been trying for centuries, so the chance of that is... non-existent."

"Non... existent..." Harry repeated, before falling to the ground clutching his scar.

Author's Notes

Hey all! I'm sorry for the long wait, but I hope it's worth it... I mean... honestly... the cliffy isn't that bad....... right? I mean, you're not going to get the um... catapults and what not out from chapter 13, right? You're not going to blame me, the innocent author who had nothing to do with Voldemort's planning, right? *backs away in fear* good readers, can't kill the author or no more story!

Um.... well, a huge thanks to all you who reviewed for the last two chapters, sorry that I didn't get the thank you's in last time. dumbledore42, loveisforever, rose king, voceconbrio, gazdrench, malcsangel, hermionegranger123, Unknown777, A.H.Wonderland, Rowan Rose, jrma91,The Wizard Of Joz, Violent_Storm, sailorchick321, lancerncq, mouchardchercheur, lunny4urwrittings, Roxy1216, PixieOfBadFaith, bnmartin, Sams_Chizoice, pstibbons, Emperor_ShAh, Kaity445, Broadsword, wvb89, Hariette, Unregistred1345, and finally, but not least, darkcelestial! I appreciated all the reviews, and hopefully have answered them all as well... If I haven't, just let me know and I'll remedy that quickly!

Flames, comments, questions, concerns, and criticism is all allowed and appreciated. Each has their purpose! Join the above group and leave a review! Come on, I know you want to!

If you didn't notice, I kinda put the wrong blurb in last chapter... this is not "Enigma Solved" but "A Week from Hell" so... "Enigma Solved" is the next chapter and... well... we solve one or two enigmas... kinda... that was actually the title at one point "Enigma Solved... Kind Of" but I decided to drop the last half... I do promise a few surprises and one or two interesting things that none of you are expecting... which is what a surprise is, isn't it? Dang it... oh, well. I promise a good chapter!

Well, until next time,
Devotedly yours,
Ioci the Contrite and Nefarious