Harry Potter & The Blade of Carmen-Eversor

Chapter Eight

*

Harry awoke early the next morning, tousle-haired and bleary-eyed, wondering why it was he should come to before anyone else, after their late lesson of that night. The reason soon became apparent as Hedwig fluttered down onto Harry's shoulder when he sat up. She hooted softly, a piece of parchment secured to her leg.

Suddenly wide awake, Harry eagerly detached the paper from her outstretched leg and unfolded it; meanwhile fishing in the drawer of his bedside table for some owl treats.

The note read:

Harry

I would be happy to meet you on the Saturday mentioned, as I too have some matters I wish to discuss with you. We will meet at the usual place - the style at the edge of Hogsmeade, past Dervish, Banges, Weasley & Weasley - at one o'clock. I will expect to see you then, however, should there be a problem then please contact me by owl.

Snuffles

Harry stared at the letter. 'Dervish, Banges, Weasley & Weasley'... It couldn't be? Surely that wasn't Fred and George? Harry remembered back to his visit to the Burrow during the summer holidays when Fred and George had been very mysterious and evasive about their career in the joke industry, merely telling Harry that they would see him before the following summer though refusing to say any more about it. Well, it seemed to Harry that he had finally discovered why he would be seeing them again sooner than expected.

"Thanks Hedwig," Harry told her gratefully as he clambered out of bed. She hooted sleepily in response and glided out of the window once more, no doubt heading for the Owlery.

Harry put his dressing gown on over his pajamas and shook Ron roughly awake. Ron sat up groggily, rubbing his eyes and glaring at Harry furiously.

"What d'you have to wake me up for, eh?" he said as he checked his watch to find that it had only just gone six o'clock.

"You didn't tell me that Fred and George part-owned a joke shop!" he cried, ignoring the sleepy scowl on Ron's face.

Ron gave Harry a bemused look. "What are you on about, Harry? Fred and George don't part-own -"

"Look!" Harry said loudly, thrusting the note from Sirius under Ron's bemused nose. He watched Ron's eyes widen as he read the part about '...past Dervish, Banges, Weasley and Weasley..."

"I can't believe Fred and George! That is definitely them - so why didn't they tell anyone?" Ron cried indignantly. He spoke so loudly that his voice woke up Dean, Neville and Seamus. All of whom, woke with a start then grumbled grumpily when they realised what the time was.

"Maybe they just wanted to surprise us next time we went into Hogsmeade," Harry replied with a shrug, apparently amused by Ron being so disgruntled about not having been told.

"I still can't believe they didn't tell me," Ron muttered sulkily. Harry rolled his eyes as he turned back to his own bed to fetch his robes. Now that he was awake it seemed pointless to try and go back to sleep for another hour - not that he really thought that he would be able to - so he proceeded to get dressed. He took his books down to the common room with the intention of persevering with getting through his mountain of homework.

He set off down the boy's staircase alone, for Ron had decided to remain in bed. Harry didn't particularly mind - he thought he would probably get through more of his work if Ron wasn't there to distract him. However, when he reached the common room, it was not to find it deserted. Sitting at the same table they had been gathered around last night was Hermione.

She was deeply engrossed in a large and old looking volume and didn't notice that Harry was there until he plonked himself down in the chair next to hers. Harry leaned over her book to see what she was reading and was more than a little surprised to find that it appeared to be very advanced Apograponum.

He looked up at her quizzically, about to ask why on earth she was reading about advanced Apographonum when she still as yet had to master the basics. However, he was diverted temporarily by her leaning forward to press her lips softly against his. He returned the kiss slightly reluctantly, knowing full well that she was deliberately trying to distract him. When he pulled back she smiled sweetly at him and observed, "Morning - you're up earlier than usual."

Harry returned the greeting distractedly, all the while fixing her with a dubious expression. "Hermione - why are you reading this stuff? It's way more advanced than that covered in our NEWT's - isn't it going to confuse you? I mean you still need to grasp the basics, which are complicated enough..."

She frowned at him and pursed her lips sourly, evidently miffed that he had dared to imply she might be incapable of something.

Harry gulped edgily, knowing he had said the wrong thing again. "Look - I didn't mean to offend you. All I meant was, why add extra pressure on yourself by learning something you're not going to need?"

Her expression softened and Hermione replied, "Professor McGonagall thought that if I got a broader understanding of how Apographonum is supposed to work, then the basic concepts might come more easily, because they would sort-of fall into place compared to this stuff."

"Oh, ok," said Harry more or less satisfied with the logic of her answer although he personally wouldn't fancy learning all the advanced stuff when it wasn't essential. Then he added - "Um - what are we going to tell Dumbledore?"

Hermione closed her book and turned to face him. "What do you mean?"

"Well, perhaps I should have said, how much are we going to tell Dumbledore. About everything else that has happened - meeting the werewolf, the dream, the moon-scars..."

"Ok - I get your point. Was there anything that you were thinking we shouldn't tell him? If not then I'd say to let him know everything," she said looking at him carefully, for she knew that there was something Harry was reluctant to talk to Dumbledore about, otherwise he wouldn't have asked.

And Hermione was right, there was something Harry had misgivings about and that was to do with their meeting with the werewolf. If they told Dumbledore about it, then it would mean admitting having been out of bounds. Dumbledore wouldn't be impressed with them for that, neither would he be pleased that they had not told him about the incident sooner. There was also the nagging doubt in Harry's mind; what if the werewolf had been Lupin? Now they knew that Voldemort was after Lupin because he was a werewolf... Harry couldn't bear the thought that he might have killed his friend.

"The werewolf. Do you - do you reckon we should tell Dumbledore?" Harry asked her at last somewhat tensely.

Sensing his reluctance, Hermione took his hands in hers and voiced the exact thing he had been worrying, "Harry don't worry - I'm sure the werewolf wasn't Lupin and that it's fine. You only got it's shoulder and anyway, if you'd just stood back and done nothing then you and I would most likely both be dead..."

Harry looked into her eyes and saw that they shone earnestly. "So you think we should...?"

Hermione nodded silently. Harry lowered his eyes and turned away from her, letting go of her hands.

"Harry, we have to - don't you see? It could be really important..." she whispered softly. He didn't move or say anything for quite some time. At length he nodded. Sighing in relief, Hermione leant her head on his shoulder and they sat as they were for a while in a comfortable silence.

Hermione sat up again. "I'd better carry on with this, I guess."

She indicated her Apographonum book as Harry too began to get his books out of his bag to carry on with his homework. He had now done - with much help from Hermione - just over half of his Potions notes. This meant he had another half to get done by the following morning.

After a bit, Hermione seemed to grow tired - or, perhaps more likely, confused - by her book and steeled herself to give Harry a hand with his notes. As time past, more and more sleepy-looking people filed down the staircases heading down to breakfast in the Great Hall.

It was coming up for eight o'clock by the time Ron had finally emerged from the boy's staircase and he was looking very tired and grouchy - more so than when Harry had awoken him earlier.

"Morning Ron," Hermione called brightly then seeing his scowl added sardonically, "Still tired? Or is something else wrong?"

He continued to frown in a surly manner and sat down in the seat opposite Harry, still not saying anything. Harry fished Sirius's letter out of his pocket and placed it down on the table in front of Hermione. "Don't worry about him - he's just sulking because it would appear that Fred and George have bought into partnership at Dervish and Banges, but didn't tell him about it."

Hermione glanced down at the letter then rolled her eyes at Ron who glared stonily back.

"I also think that he perhaps wasn't best pleased at me for waking him up so early..." Harry added, smiling slightly at Ron's bad mood. Ron, however, didn't say a word. He simply leant back in his chair and yawned widely.

"So what is it you want to talk to Sirius about - anything in particular or just generally all that's happened lately?" Hermione asked Harry interestedly.

"Just generally what's been happening lately," Harry replied evasively. Hermione gave him a piercing look, but refrained from passing further comment. For a minute more the three of them remained at the desk, then went down to the Great Hall to have breakfast.

*

Harry was halfway through his scrambled eggs when the door of the Great Hall swung open. Draco Malfoy swaggered forwards, his eyes glinting malevolently. He ignored the hush his entrance caused and seemed to be oblivious to the number of eyes that glared loathingly in his direction. As cool as you please, he headed for the Slytherin table and settled himself between Crabbe and Goyle.

Harry, Ron and Hermione had been among the many people who had followed his progress across the room, with eyes narrowed in disgust.

"I can't believe they let him come back," Ron muttered glaring at Malfoy who appeared to be entertaining the knot of seventh year Slytherins around him with a very funny story. He caught Ron's eye and smirked, giving him a withering look before turning back to his tale.

"Well, technically, he hasn't done anything to warrant being expelled," Hermione told Ron.

"Except be the son of a crazed murderer, which I think ought to warrant being expelled!" Ron put in sourly, shooting Malfoy one last scowl before returning his attention to his breakfast. Harry didn't say anything, instead he picked at the remainder of his food distractedly thinking that there was something about the Malfoy situation that wasn't quite right.

First of all, why had Draco visited Harry in the hospital wing, alone? Secondly, why had Malfoy not just let him - Harry - fall flat on his face, but had helped him. And lastly, why - why - did Malfoy want to get back at him so badly?

"Is something bothering you Harry?" Hermione asked him, having finally got his attention. Harry could see that she and Ron were looking at him in concern for some reason so he smiled weakly and shook his head. There wasn't anything bothering him as such... He just felt that something didn't quite add up, that was all.

*

The first lesson that day was Defense Against the Dark Arts. Harry, Ron and Hermione selected seats at the back. For Harry and Ron's part this was so that they could go to sleep discreetly. Professor Animus's lessons were generally exceptionally dull. Since the start of term they had done little more than allow him to talk them into a bored stupor as he rattled on about Dark wizards and the types of potions they were apt to brewing.

Harry marvelled at how well Professor Animus could make the astonishing effects of some of those potions, sound as mediocre as a simple boil cure.

Professor Animus was a relatively young wizard, thirty-one at most and his light brown hair was cropped short. He had warm hazel eyes and a kind expression, however, as nice as he was - he didn't seem to be quite teacher material. He was shy and reserved, which caused him to speak barely above a whisper. This was not the most helpful of things when he was trying to dictate notes for the class to jot down. Harry had yet to hear him raise his voice at anyone - no matter how much they may be misbehaving, and he dreaded to think how he got on with his Slytherin class.

Today's lesson mainly consisted of Professor Animus describing the effects of the Sedgesap Solution, though he was daring enough to write some notes for them to copy down on the blackboard.

Ron appeared to have slept through the majority of the lesson, as he began to pack his things away at the bell with new vigour - no longer seeming to be only half awake. Hermione tutted at his lack of diligence but refrained from making any comment as she became distracted by Professor Animus calling timidly, "Mr. Potter - a word if I may."

Harry, Ron and Hermione swapped blank looks as Harry made his way uncertainly to the front of the class. Ron and Hermione each shrugged and joined the thronging crowd who were seeping out of the classroom.

"Er - is there something wrong, Professor?" Harry asked vaguely.

Professor Animus did not reply straight away. Instead he fixed his eyes on the classroom door and only when he was sure no one would over hear him did he speak.

"I had a little chat with Professor Dumbledore a couple of days ago," Professor Animus informed him, in a much louder voice than the one he used when addressing his class. Harry was nonplussed and continued to wait politely for his teacher to persevere. "And he happened to mention that you are gifted with the ability of soul-release. Is that so?"

Harry nodded mutely, wondering where this was leading.

"It just so happens that I too am pleased with that happy power. Professor Dumbledore also told me one or two other things, such as you do not only release part of your soul - as is customary - but the whole of it, and that at present you are having some trouble in controlling when soul-release occurs and where you go when it does. Well, I was wondering if you would like me to give you a bit of tutoring - just so that you have more restraint over your ability..." Professor Animus gazed at Harry anxiously as though desirous to please but at the same time hoping not to offend.

Harry blinked. His initial reaction was to feel faintly annoyed that Dumbledore had told someone Harry hardly knew, about his ability without even asking him first. Though after he got over the immediate shock of the unexpected proposal, Harry could begin to see the advantages the tutoring would bring.

Maybe he'd get to choose where and when it occurred and perhaps he would also be able to avoid any more confrontations with Voldemort...

He beamed up at Professor Animus who looked thoroughly relieved. "Yeah - I'd really like that! When can we start?"

Professor Animus smiled at Harry's enthusiasm, seeming slightly overwhelmed by it, and told him, "I must warn you that there may be nothing I can teach you for I can only partially spirit-travel, releasing only part of my soul unlike yourself, but we shall see how things fare. Perhaps if we hold off until next week - I will let you know in our next lesson when I will be able to fit the sessions in."

Harry agreed to this suggestion and left the class feeling much happier than when he had entered it. Ron and Hermione had been lingering out in the corridor waiting for Harry to emerge. When at last he did, they seemed to be moderately puzzled that he was looking pleased.

"What did Animus want with you, Harry?" Ron asked him whilst eyeing him curiously.

"He's going to teach me - or at least try to teach me - how to control soul-release," Harry replied beaming broadly as both of their mouths fell open in surprise. He then started to tell them exactly what Professor Animus had said.

Once he had finished, Harry saw that both of his friends were looking exceptionally relieved and he realised that they too, were probably worried about what might happen the next time he spirit-travelled because he couldn't control it.

Hermione especially looked as though a heavy burden had been extracted from her shoulders and it was much more cheerfully the three friends made their way down to Professor McGonagall's classroom for Transfiguration.

They were late, though only just, by the time Harry, Ron and Hermione had reached the classroom. Professor McGonagall thankfully hadn't arrived yet, so they managed to sneak in without getting into trouble.

Everyone knew that they were to carry on attempting to transfigure beetles into copies of mice using Apographonum. This was why the rest of the class were already helping themselves to shiny colourful beetles from a jar on Professor McGonagall's desk and little mice from out of a box adjacent to the jar. Ron and Hermione went up to get themselves animals too, but Harry didn't bother. He still had far too much note-taking to do before he would be ready to start practising, for he had spent most of his time doing his Potions homework seeing as that was due in first.

A good ten minutes into the lesson, Professor McGonagall showed up looking decidedly irritable and particularly concerned. Harry couldn't remember ever having seen her late for class before and wondered what it was that had delayed her on this occasion. It must be something important - perhaps even serious - he thought with a jolt as he pondered if it could possibly relate to him in any way, as everything else seemed to lately...

Professor McGonagall said nothing about her absence, however. She merely strode around the class making remarks or comments about student's work where she thought it necessary.

About halfway through the lesson, Harry put his quill down and turned to see how Ron and Hermione were getting on with transfiguring their beetles. His head seemed to be reeling with all the information he was trying to learn and he felt as though he was in serious need of a break. Ron, he could see, really seemed to have grasped how to do Apographonum much better than the rest of the class. Today his beetle was now not only roughly the same size and shape as his mouse with only four legs, but was the same mottled grey hue and had long whiskers protruding from the end of its face.

Hermione meanwhile didn't seem to have made the slightest bit of difference to her beetle. She gave up trying to change it as she caught sight of Harry watching her. Instead she sighed exasperatedly and leant her head on his shoulder very briefly before sitting upright and stating sardonically, "I don't seem to be very good as this, do I?"

She seemed almost cheerful about the situation, which baffled Harry considerably. In their last lesson she had stalked off huffily because of her lack of prowess at Apographonum, but today she was almost unconcerned - or at least that was what it seemed like to Harry.

Ron noticed that they were taking a short break and paused from transfiguring his beetle. He glanced down at her beetle and opened his mouth to say something about it, then appeared to change his mind as he closed it again.

Seeing this Hermione gave him a half smile and said encouragingly, "You're doing really well! I bet it won't be long before your beetle turns into a complete replica of your mouse."

Ron gave her a nervous grin, probably afraid that she was going to get cross again. But she didn't and Harry notice that Ron appeared almost as confused by this as he was.

Before either of the boys could pass comment on this, Professor McGonagall bustled over to their table. She looked over Harry's notes first and upon finding them satisfactory, she turned to see what Ron and Hermione had managed to produce so far that lesson.

"Oh, very well done Weasley!" Exclaimed Professor McGonagall warmly. Ron's ears went pink as many of their peers looked around at him, but Harry thought he appeared pleased all the same. When she glanced down at Hermione's beetle, Harry could have sworn that for a moment Professor McGonagall seemed to be bemused - like she could not understand why Hermione had not managed to alter it in the slightest.

"Miss Granger - could I have a word with you for a moment please?" said Professor McGonagall sternly.

"Certainly, Professor," Hermione replied quietly as she hopped off her chair and followed Professor McGonagall down to the front of the class. Harry and Ron watched eagerly, straining to catch some of what Professor McGonagall was saying, but it seemed that Professor McGonagall was talking in a quiet and kind voice.

They spoke for several minutes then Professor McGonagall said something to Hermione who shrugged apologetically then they both laughed. There was a brief pause before the pair of them glanced at Ron and Harry who immediately looked down, pretending to be working diligently. Shortly after that Hermione returned, looking neither happy nor upset but merely resigned.

"What did McGonagall say?" Ron asked her as soon as she had retaken her seat between him and Harry.

"Not a lot," Hermione replied evasively. Ron scowled at her. For a moment, Harry thought that he was going to continue to question Hermione, but, for whatever reason, he didn't. Harry could only presume that it was because Ron was grateful that Hermione wasn't already stropping at him about doing better with the Apographonum than her; so he didn't want to make her in a mood with him over something else instead.

Harry too decided that he wouldn't press the subject at present, but felt that it would be wiser to quiz her about it when Ron wasn't around. He instead changed topics by asking Ron casually, "So have you asked Susie to the Dance yet?"

Predictably, Ron's ears went red. "Are you talking to me?"

"No - I was asking Hermione if she was asking Susie to the Dance," Harry retorted sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

It was Harry's turn to be frowned at by Ron. After a moment though, Ron dropped his gaze, shook his head and muttered, "There's no point - she's already going with someone else."

"You won't know that unless you ask her," Hermione reasoned, glancing at Harry as she spoke.

Ron looked miserable. "I don't need to ask her - I was with her when Ernie Macmillan asked her the other day and she told him that she already had a partner..."

"Who?" asked Harry in amazement. His surprise was not that someone would want to go with Susie, for she was a very pretty and extremely sweet girl, and he could see that loads of boys would want to partner her. No, what surprised Harry was that he had been sure Susie really liked Ron and couldn't understand why she would not have held out until Ron asked her...

Ron shrugged dejectedly. "Dunno - I didn't ask."

With that the three of them returned their attention to their work. By the end of the lesson Ron's depression hadn't lifted. Not even when Professor McGonagall awarded him five house points for his beetle, now with a fuzzy grey tail too.

Hermione's beetle on the other hand remained whole-heartedly a beetle. She had failed to make an impression on it with the spell and what Harry couldn't understand was why this wasn't even remotely upsetting her today.

They made their way quietly down to the Great Hall to have lunch. Once they reached the Entrance Hall, Ron went straight into the dining hall, but Harry hung back. "I'll meet you guys in a minute - there's something I've got to do first."

Hermione looked at him questioningly but he didn't explain anything so she just shrugged and followed Ron's retreating back. Harry started walking towards the Castle's main entrance doors for he had just glimpsed Susie surrounded by a crowd of her Hufflepuff friends passing through them.

When he had almost drawn level with her, he called - "Hi Susie - can I talk to you a minute?"

She smiled as she spotted him and crossed over to him while her friends started giggling heartily. Harry realised that they were probably thinking that he was going to ask Susie to accompany him to the Dance on Saturday. He watched them out of sight then turned to Susie who was fixing him with a quizzical look.

"Who are you going to the Halloween Dance with?" Harry asked her quietly without preamble.

Her quizzical look turned into a blush then a suspicious glance. "Why do you want to know?"

Harry raised his eyebrows, "I was just wondering, that's all."

Susie continued to look at him suspiciously before saying - "I'm not going with anyone."

Harry was nonplussed. "But you told Ron that you were."

"No I didn't," Susie replied grinning mischievously. "I told Ernie Macmillan that so he wouldn't feel offended when I refused."

Harry's face too broke into a smile. "So you haven't got a partner yet?"

"No, why? Were you thinking of asking me?" she asked him with feigned innocence.

Harry grinned at her, "'Fraid not. Somehow I don't think Hermione would be too impressed if I did."

Susie merely smiled sardonically. "No - she probably wouldn't be. So was there any particular reason why you wanted to know?"

"Ron," Harry replied shortly. Susie's blush and pleased smile confirmed Harry's suspicions that she really was keen on him. However, she didn't say anything.

"Just out of interest," Harry said curiously, "if Ron was to ask you, would you be his partner?"

Susie nodded then said shyly, "Is he asking me?"

"At the minute - no." Harry answered. Seeing her look severely disappointed he continued. "But at the minute he still thinks you've already got a partner..."

Susie's expression cleared and they walked into the Great Hall together in silence, as there seemed to be nothing further to say for the moment.

As Harry sat down opposite Ron, he noticed that Ron was glowering at him darkly. "Is there something wrong, Ron?"

"What were you talking to Susie about?" Ron asked continuing to glower.

"I asked her who she was going to the Dance with," Harry replied at the same time as trying to suppress a smile at the look on Ron's face.

Ron, Harry could tell, was trying hard to look as though this information was of no interest to him. However, after a pause he said, "So - so who is she going with?"

Harry smirked then caught Hermione's eye for she too was peering at him curiously. "She's not; she only said that she was so Macmillan wouldn't be offended by her refusing him."

"Oh," Ron muttered, looking distinctly happier than he had a few minutes ago.

"So are you going to ask her then?" Hermione questioned him keenly.

He didn't look up, but shrugged distractedly and said - "Dunno - I might."

His ears gave him away, however. They had gone a brilliant red again. Harry smiled contentedly and took Hermione's hand. " I only just realised - I still haven't asked you if you'll go to the Dance with me. So will you?"

Hermione gave his hand an affectionate squeeze and said softly, "Of course I'll go with you, silly!"

Harry kissed her cheek lightly, then turned his attention to Dean who had just said - "Eugh! Harry do you mind not doing that here? Some of us are trying to eat, you know!"

Harry grinned as Dean hastily went back to his sandwiches at a sulky glare from Hermione. Harry chuckled at her as she raised her eyes to the ceiling. Then they too went back to their lunches.

*

The last lesson of the day was Divination, which Harry certainly wasn't looking forward to seeing as Professor Trelawney had made her latest dire prediction about him in his last lesson. He had not seen Professor Trelawney since the incident and wondered what had happened to her after he had escorted her to the hospital wing.

He presumed that she must have recovered, judging by the facts that she hadn't been in the ward the following day when he had gone in there and that Dumbledore hadn't told him otherwise.

It was with much reluctance therefore, that Harry mounted the spiralling staircase of North tower. For a change, they were some of the first people to arrive in the corridor below Professor Trelawney's tower room.

Harry dumped his bag down and slid to the floor with his back against the wall. Ron followed suit and they sat there, chatting unconcernedly about Quidditch until the trapdoor in the ceiling above them opened. They also ignored everyone who reached the landing, for as each person caught sight of Harry, they would draw a sharp intake of breath and quickly look away.

It was obvious to Harry that they were all jumpy about the prediction. The thing that perhaps annoyed him most was now that they had witnessed one of Professor Trelawney's real prophecies, they would believe that she was a true Seer and so consequently would believe all of her guess-predictions too. Harry could only hope that she didn't go on about his death too much for he was not in the right temper for people to start treating him like antique bone-china, liable to break at the slightest touch.

Ron stood up, jogging Harry back out of his musings and they then led the class up the rope ladder that had just been lowered. Once in the sickly-sweet smelling room, Harry immediately headed for a table in the corner where he could at least feel as though he wasn't directly in the spotlight.

Professor Trelawney appeared silently out of the shadows at Harry's elbow and made him start as she said softly and unexpectedly, "I see that your soul is troubled, my poor boy. And with good reason too. For I have seen that tough times lie ahead of you - your path will cut a winding and rocky course."

Harry frowned at her back as she turned and maneuvered her way to the front of the class between the obstacle course of mismatched chairs that cluttered up her room. Ron smirked at Harry, but Harry was in no mood for Professor Trelawney's silliness so he simply scowled stonily back.

As it turned out, they would be spending this lesson continuing to read the I Ching. Resignedly, Harry got up to collect manuals and sticks for both Ron and himself then settled grumpily back down.

Today, however, Harry's sticks were plain to read. Their pattern exactly matched the diagram in the book whose translation read:

Speak of all the truth that troubles you and the conclusion will fit. Speak only part of what troubles you and the conclusion will be a lie.

Harry glanced down at the sticks, then back to the translation in the handbook. Bemusedly he looked up at Ron and said, "Any idea what this is meant to mean." He then recited the statement.

Ron looked back at him blankly. "Pass the book here a minute."

Harry did so and observed as Ron checked the sticks, matching them to the diagram by the translation.

"Well, it's definitely that one," he said at last. "But I haven't the foggiest what its meant to mean, sorry mate."

Amazingly, Professor Trelawney did not come back to their table at all during the remainder of the lesson, nor did she set them any homework as she dismissed them - both things of which greatly pleased Ron and Harry as they hurriedly left Professor Trelawney's stifling tower room gleefully.

The only thing that troubled Harry slightly as he scrambled down the rope ladder was that he had noticed Professor Trelawney grow vaguer and vaguer as the lesson progressed. However, he shook the thought from his mind and strolled placidly back to Gryffindor tower.

*

"How was Divination?" Hermione asked them wryly as Harry and Ron entered the common room and headed for the table that Hermione had buried under several towering mounds of paper.

"Oh, not too bad - could have been worse." Ron replied, eyeing Hermione's sea of homework. "Did Professor Vector give you lots of homework, then?"

Hermione grimaced, then nodded in the direction of about a quarter of her sheets of parchment. "We've been given four essays to do for next Thursday and that's all my relevant notes."

Ron smirked smugly, then informed her, "Professor Trelawney didn't give us any!"

"Well, that's lucky for you then, isn't it. Maybe you should use your extra time to catch up on other homework," Hermione suggested, pointedly looking at Harry.

Harry groaned. "I guess you're right - I've still got half of my Potions notes left to do for tomorrow."

"Hey - you'll have time for a break first though, won't you?" Ron said incredulously as he watched Harry fetch his stack of Potions notes.

"I won't have time, unfortunately," Harry told him disappointedly. "I need to get as much of this done now as I can because Hermione and I have to see Dumbledore after dinner."

The three of them - Ron included - proceeded to make a start on their own workloads for the few hours they had before dinner. They none of them spoke much, it was simply easier to get on with their work quietly. Harry had noticed a difference in the volume of work each year, but the jump from his sixth year to his seventh was the most considerable. He wasn't really surprised as this was his final year at Hogwarts after all and everything he did from now and May would be covered in his NEWT's.

Surprisingly, it was Hermione who grew tired of working first. She dropped her quill wearily onto her parchment and cradled her aching hand to her.

"So Professor Trelawney didn't make any more predictions then?" she asked casually, gazing down at the top sheaf of her parchment, which was still glistening with wet ink.

Harry looked up from his own notes and put down his quill. "No; well, no real ones at least. She just told me that I have a troubled soul and with good reason because my path is going to be rocky..."

Harry rolled his eyes and acquired a mildly disgusted expression.

"So she didn't predict your death today?" Hermione asked in what she obviously hoped was an offhand voice.

"No - why?" Ron answered her suspiciously as he and Harry had noticed that she seemed to be trying to get at something subtly.

"Oh! No - no reason. I was... just wondering..." she replied hesitantly.

Harry and Ron exchanged dubious glances. Neither of them could understand why Hermione was so interested in Professor Trelawney's predictions - especially seeing as she was the biggest cynic of the three of them where Professor Trelawney was concerned.

Hermione glanced down at her watch and said, "You know, we might as well head down to dinner now."

So they did; Harry peering at her curiously the whole way, wondering what she had figured out now.

Dinner was a relatively straightforward affair. Harry ate ravenously for he had developed quite an appetite after many days on the trot of just picking disinterestedly at his meals. He and Hermione were constantly flicking their eyes up to the staff table, as they wanted to know when Dumbledore finished eating so that they could calculate the most strategic moment to accost him.

As they kept glancing up at the staff table, they noticed that Snape's usual chair was vacant. Initially, they put this down to him just being a bit late and that he would turn up shortly. However, the end of the meal came, and still Snape had not emerged. Harry was intrigued as to what could have kept him from coming to dinner at all.

Before Harry could have a chance to think too deeply about this, Hermione had nudged him under the table and hissed, "Harry, come on - Dumbledore's getting up, let's go."

Harry's full focus snapped back to the current situation and he bid a hurried 'see you later' to Ron as he and Hermione sprang from their seats to intercept Dumbledore's route once he reached the Entrance Hall.

As planned, Harry and Hermione reached the Entrance Hall before Dumbledore had even crossed half the width of the Great Hall and they took up their stations on either side of the doors, pacing agitatedly until he came through them looking thoughtful.

"Professor - we would like to have a word with you, please," Harry and Hermione said in unison, each flushing slightly as Dumbledore chuckled at them.

"It would appear that I have been ambushed!" he proclaimed softly to himself, then to them he said, "Yes, yes of course - shall we step into my study for a moment?"

Harry and Hermione both nodded mutely and allowed themselves to be swept up to Dumbledore's office in a comfortable silence.

"Fizzing Whizzbee," Dumbledore told the statue of the stone gargoyle sternly. It instantaneously jumped respectfully aside, revealing the hidden entrance to where Dumbledore lived.

The three people stepped onto the gently revolving staircase and hopped off at the top, outside the door to Dumbledore's study. Dumbledore ushered Harry and Hermione inside and strode around to the opposite side of his desk where he promptly settled himself into his chair.

Harry and Hermione stood uncertainly across from him, glancing apprehensively at one another. Dumbledore surveyed them with his characteristic penetrating glance before indicating the chairs in front of them. "Please sit down."

They did so, nervously. At one last meaningful glance from Hermione, Harry began to speak. "There are some things we need to tell you."

Dumbledore merely nodded to indicate that he was listening. First of all, Harry told Dumbledore about the night he and Hermione had taken a walk around the lake and had met the werewolf wearing the snake-collar. Harry paused after he had finished describing the scene, ending it with his stabbing the werewolf and it retreating into the Forbidden Forest. Harry then gazed anxiously at Dumbledore, waiting for the reprimand he expected to follow.

However, Dumbledore did not rebuke him though he did look faintly disappointed that neither of them had told him about the incident sooner. All he said was, "Was that all you have to tell me?"

Harry shook his head uncertainly.

"Then please continue, Harry. We will go back and analyse everything in a moment," Dumbledore said curtly.

So Harry carried on telling Dumbledore of the events Dumbledore had until now been unaware of. Next Harry told Dumbledore about the dream with Camellia and the werewolves. He fished for the bottle and blossom that Camellia had presented to him, taking them out of his pocket and placing them down carefully upon the desk. He then went on to say that he had been awoken to find them in his hands right after being bitten by the werewolf in his dream.

Harry told Dumbledore that he had checked his hand for any sign of teeth, but had found none. Instead, he had found the silver line.

Dumbledore had been sat with his fingers clasped in front of his chin, with his two index fingers resting lightly against his lips, but when Harry had mentioned the silver line he sat up straighter and let his hands fall onto the desk top.

"Let me see you're hand, Harry," he said quietly. Harry extended his arm across the table for Dumbledore to examine his palm. "And you say that this streak can only be seen in moonlight, yes?"

"That's right," Harry answered him equally quietly, then added. "Hermione too has a silver line down her hand where it was cut."

Dumbledore looked up at the pair of them thoughtfully. He then got heavily to his feet and crossed over to one of his windows, opening the shutter to its full extent to allow moonbeams to filter through. He then waved his wand and muttered, "totus nox" as Harry had done the night before. The lamps and torches in Dumbledore's study guttered and fizzled out, leaving them in semi-darkness, the moon now their only source of light.

"Could you both step over here for a moment, please? I would like to get a good look at these contours..."

Harry and Hermione obligingly stepped forward in silence and stuck out their hands. Each of them had a shimmering line spanning the width of their palm and, as expected, these lines glowed silver in the moonlight.

Harry looked up at Dumbledore and espied a twinkle of enlightenment lurking in the depths of his eyes. The hint was only there for a second before it slunk stealthily out of sight again, leaving Harry on the brink of wondering if he had perhaps imagined it. He glanced at Hermione. She happened to glance at him at the precise same moment and in the instant that their eyes met, they told each other without words that they had seen the glimmer in Dumbledore's eye before it had gone.

It was a spooky feeling, exchanging an observation with someone by just meeting their eyes in a mere glance and Harry felt a tingle run through him as the connection was severed.

A short silence reigned, broken by Dumbledore saying, "Do either of you have any other such marks on you?"

He looked at both of them, though his eyes lingered on Harry. Harry nodded and informed him, "I have a much brighter silver mark on my leg - where the Carmen-Eversor punctured it."

Dumbledore nodded to himself, as though Harry's words had just confirmed one of his own, private conjectures. "May I see it?"

Harry made no verbal reply; instead he rolled his robes up to past his knees, revealing clearly a crisp and strong silver line. Dumbledore nodded again then returned to his desk before rekindling the lights with an idle swish of his wand. Harry dropped his robes once more and followed Hermione who was in the process of crossing the room, back to her seat.

"Have you told me everything, or is there more you have to say?" Dumbledore asked them, looking politely from one to the other.

Harry racked his brains, but couldn't think of anything else. Hermione on the other hand remembered something he had overlooked. "I think the only thing that remains to be told is that the spell reached full potency in me last night."

She then went on to explain how she had felt and then how Harry had fainted as she had done when the spell had reached full strength in him. Harry also added what he had experienced; the hot and coldness in his blood and the pain in both of his hands, his leg and the crook of his right arm. After they had finished telling him their joint account of events, they looked expectantly into Dumbledore's face.

He was pensive and Harry could tell that he was a lot closer to knowing what the spell was than he was letting on. The enlightened look had flashed across his eyes again but had not disappeared again completely. Traces of it lingered about the crinkles at the corner of his eyes and Harry waited with baited breath for Dumbledore to speak.

Dumbledore remained silent for a time but picked up first the seven-petalled flower and then the diamond-cut phial, examining each in turn closely.

"And you are sure that you were dreaming? It wasn't spirit-travel?" Dumbledore queried solemnly.

"Yes - I'm not sure how to describe what it felt like, but it definitely wasn't soul-release," Harry told him firmly. They were all quiet for a moment, then Harry added, "Hermione mentioned that she thought Camellia was an angel and that she visited me, but spoke through the form of a dream."

Dumbledore turned to Hermione with twinkling eyes. "Yes; that sounds about right. Angels often communicate with us mere-mortals in dreams - it is an ability exclusive to them and they do have a tendency to use it whenever possible..."

"And - well, we were thinking that the place I need to get the water from may be Camellia's fountain... Why do you think I'm supposed to collect some of this water?" Harry asked a little bemusedly.

Dumbledore leant back in his chair and put his palms onto the desktop. He then fixed Harry with a look that seemed to be both penetrating and calculating. "For the exact reason that Camellia told you; you will be in danger and the water will be the safest way to save you."

"But what will I be in danger from?" Harry wondered aloud.

"I can think of a number of possible scenarios, but who is to say which - if any - will be the right one?" Dumbledore answered him, choosing his wording carefully. Harry, however, did not notice the implication behind the words for he was already considering his next question.

"What did she mean, 'Freedom cannot save you'?"

Dumbledore glanced fleetingly at Hermione before answering. "That is something you are going to have to find out."

Harry too glanced in Hermione's direction and saw that her face was set with a resolute expression. Before Harry could ask his next question, Hermione voiced hers, "So - Harry will need to collect some of the water then, won't he? But - but it would mean going to the fountain in the middle of the night during term-time, so..."

Dumbledore chuckled slightly. "Yes; Harry will need to collect the water - so collect the water he must. I believe the next full moon is the 24th of November... Very well, then that is when you shall go. There should be no problem with that as I can see it is essential, however, there will be one or two safety measures I will be insisting upon..."

Harry couldn't believe it - Dumbledore had actually given him permission to leave the grounds in the middle of the night. It was then that Harry realised with a jolt that the warning about the mortal danger really sank in and he sincerely hoped that November the 24th wasn't going to be too late.

Harry sneaked another sidelong glance at Hermione and saw that she was looking almost taken aback that Dumbledore was supporting the proposal for Harry to trek of to Camellia's fountain. He smiled slightly then turned to Dumbledore. "When the spell reached full potency in Hermione, why was it that I felt pain? And why in my hands, the crook of my arm and my leg?"

Dumbledore sighed and adopted a puzzling expression. "I am beginning to see what the spell is, or at least I think I am. And the pain you experienced is one of the effects - as is the pain Hermione and Voldemort feel... I will have some research to do, for this is an old spell - perhaps I should say an ancient spell - which shouldn't be surprising considering the age of the Carmen-Eversor. However, as I was saying, I will need to do some research as I know very little about it..."

"What is the spell?" Harry asked quietly.

Dumbledore gave him a piercing look before replying. "I would prefer not to disclose that just yet for I am not certain that this is the same spell as the one you harbour." Harry had just opened his mouth to object when Dumbledore hastily continued, "However - there does seem to be an awful lot of things that are being kept from you - with good reason - therefore I will tell you the name of the spell. I must stress that this is merely a supposition. The true identity of the spell may be something else entirely unrelated. The name of the spell is Yueliang Du."

"It's what?" Harry asked blankly. "What does it do?"

"Yueliang Du. That's just it; I can't really remember. If my memory serves me correctly then it is an ancient spell of Chinese origin and its function basically has something to do with the moon and with healing. However, I have an inclination that the reason the spell fell from favour was because it had dangerous side-effects - though I may be mistaken..." Dumbledore replied, standing up and crossing over to the window where he stood twirling the end of his beard around his finger.

Harry turned to look at Hermione. She was sat with her face in her hands and appeared to be deep in thought. When she did eventually raise her head again, Harry saw with some satisfaction that she looked puzzled too. He had not been keen on the idea that she would know all about the spell Dumbledore had referred to already, though it might have been more helpful to him if she had.

"Side-effects? Er - what side-effects?" Harry nervously asked after a pause that had looked as though it wasn't going to be broken by either of his companions.

"To be honest with you, Harry," said Dumbledore softly, remaining at the window. "I don't really know. I would presume that resistance to other spells - judging by the ineffectiveness of Madam Pomfrey's remedies - is one side effect. Exactly what all the others are I am not at liberty to tell you."

"So if it is that spell," Hermione said slowly, "does that explain why the cuts can only be seen in the moonlight; because of the connection to the moon?"

Dumbledore nodded silently but still did not turn around. Harry then voiced the next question that had been lurking in the corners of his mind. "Professor - you know Lupin had to go into hiding because he has something that Voldemort wants? Well, is Voldemort after Lupin because he is a werewolf?"

Dumbledore spun around very abruptly and fixed Harry with a sharp almost defensive look. "What makes you say that?"

Harry saw that Hermione appeared to be startled by Dumbledore's behaviour and she was the one who answered the question. "Well, You-Know-Who has suddenly got a pack of werewolves under his control so we thought - as Lupin has something he wants - that that was what it was..."

Dumbledore sighed gloomily. "Yes that is correct. Voldemort is after Remus because he is a werewolf."

"But why though?" Harry mused thoughtfully.

"He is attempting to rally up all the werewolves and covert them over to his side by telling them that he alone among wizards will give them their rights and their freedom if they join him.

"His purpose is simply to unleash them upon his enemies so that they can thereby persuade them too to join him. A clever plan, for as ordinary wizards many would refuse but after a few months of being shunned as werewolves they would be queuing to join his forces."

Harry and Hermione looked at each other, appalled. Harry then turned white to the lips as he asked tremulously, "Is Lupin still ok? I mean, he hasn't been found has he?"

"Harry - do not worry. He has been concealed by the Fidelius charm; no one will find him for I am his secret keeper and I assure you that I am not about to divulge his whereabouts to anyone," Dumbledore answered kindly seeing the concern on Harry's face. Harry was thoroughly relieved - not only because he was now sure that his friend was safe, but because he could rest easy in the knowledge that he had not stabbed him.

"Is there no way - besides if you released the information of his whereabouts - that he could be found?" Hermione asked in an urgent whisper. A look of understanding dawned on each of Dumbledore's and Hermione's faces as they met each other's gaze. Harry was more than a little bewildered. However, his bewilderment turned to a sick dread as Dumbledore replied quietly. "The only other way would be if the person themselves revealed their whereabouts..."

Dumbledore got heavily to his feet and crossed over to his cabinet. Having opened it, he pulled out an empty glass bowl, which he proceeded to carry back over to his desk. He set it down carefully and tapped it twice with his wand. Instantaneously, a swirling jet of icy liquid issued forth, and filled the bowl. Hermione looked on with a mixture of interest and apprehension. Harry realised that she had not seen Vidçre Sitûs before.

Dumbledore sank his wand into the liquid and gave it a stir. Harry heard Hermione gasp softly as the frosty water revolved rapidly in a whirl of colour. For a long time the three people gazed expectantly at the swirling colour, waiting for a picture to form. At last the colours settled, arranging themselves into an image of Lupin's home.

The house was dark and quiet; it looked abandoned - what with its blank windows and front door that was ajar. Harry peered at Dumbledore nervously and found him wearing a very grave expression indeed. He then glanced at Harry and Hermione and asked in barely more than a whisper, "Each of you; tell me what you see."

They each in turn gave him matching accounts of what they saw in the bow For a minute longer Dumbledore stood over the Vidçre Sitûs then he sank into his chair heavy-heartedly.

"What is it?" Hermione asked anxiously and Harry wondered if he really wanted to know the answer.

There was a long silence. It was so long that Harry had almost given up on Dumbledore's replying, but reply he did. "Had Remus been safe and well, I would have seen a different image to the one you both saw as I am his secret keeper. However, the picture in the bowl was exactly as you both described; Remus is not at his home."

"But - but where is he then? We have to find him before -" Harry began as he jumped to his feet in an agitated manner, but Dumbledore cut across him in a saddened tone, "It would appear that we have already found him."

He cautiously lifted his eyes to Harry's and Harry immediately understood. His knees suddenly went weak with shock and he half fell back into his seat. He leant his head back and gazed dejectedly up at the ceiling.

"Is there nothing we can do?" Hermione asked Dumbledore pleadingly as she slipped her hand consolingly into Harry's. Harry looked down just in time to see Dumbledore shake his head sadly. "All we can do now is wait."

Harry got to his feet and strode out of Dumbledore's office without a word. He couldn't bear to be there a moment longer as his guilt consumed him. He had stabbed - possibly killed - one of his father's best friends and he had not said anything about it before for fear that he would get into trouble, since he had been out of bounds late at night.

Harry wandered the corridors seemingly aimlessly, lost in thought. However, he was not in the least bit surprised when he found himself outside the staircase that led to the owlery. It seemed to be a sanctuary he would sometimes slip away to when he needed somewhere quiet to go where he was unlikely to be disturbed.

As expected the owlery was empty of people and the quiet it withheld was disturbed only by the faint rustling and soft hooting of the owls themselves. Harry crept over to the window and looked out into the moonlit grounds.

Somehow he felt calmer, less agitated, then he had when he had been in Dumbledore's study. While he still felt indescribably guilty and extremely angry with himself, he knew that there had been no other way out of the situation. All he wished now was that he could have avoided the situation arising in the first place.

At a soft clattering of wings, Harry looked up. Hedwig swooped down and settled herself onto his shoulder, clicking her beak inquisitively. Harry reached up and stroked her downy plumage affectionately as he returned his thoughts to the depressing matters in hand.

A long time lapsed passed exactly how long Harry did not know, before the door of the owlery creaked quietly as someone opened it. Hermione crept into view looking both anxious and relieved.

"I thought I might find you here," she murmured as she crossed over to him. Harry didn't reply. He merely watched her mutely, his eyes never leaving her face. She peered into his eyes for a while and knew without him telling her what it was that haunted him.

"It wasn't your fault, Harry."

Harry turned away from her and stared out of the window once more. Everything outside appears to have had a sprinkling of dew as the grass glistened brighter than a thousand sparkling diamonds.

"Whose fault was it then?" he asked soberly, continuing to stare out of the window.

She took a step nearer to him. "What else could you have done?"

Harry swivelled to face her and fixed her with despairing eyes. "I could have not stabbed him."

"Oh be reasonable, Harry!" Hermione exclaimed so loudly that several owls took flight in alarm. She watched them soar out of the open window and out of sight before persevering in a slightly hushed tone. "We've been though this - if you'd have done nothing then both of us would be dead, leaving Remus feeling worse than he probably does now... If indeed it really was him because we still don't for certain."

"But Dumbledore thinks that it is," Harry told her in a dead, hollow voice.

"Dumbledore is only human, Harry," she said severely. "He makes mistakes too. He thought that the spell was Avada Kedavra, for instance."

"Yeah, but -"

"Yeah, but nothing. Just accept how the situation is and stop worrying about trying to change what you know you can't. Look, its getting late - we'd better be heading back as you've still got to finish your Potions notes for Snape."

Harry groaned. "I guess you're right. Sorry Hedwig, I've got to go now."

Hedwig gave a soft hoot before stretching her wings and flying out into the night, probably to do a spot of hunting.

Hermione looked around Harry's and then both went back to Gryffindor tower to continue with the homework they had abandoned before dinner.

*

"Have you both been talking to Dumbledore all this time?" Ron asked in disbelief once Harry and Hermione had returned and settled themselves at their usual table in the corner.

"Er - more or less," Hermione replied with a brief flick of her eyes in Harry's direction.

Ron looked from one to the other. "Well? Aren't you going to tell me what he said?"

So Hermione informed Ron of all that they had learned, while Harry made a start on his Potions homework, at the same time trying not to hear what Hermione was telling Ron as she reached the part regarding Lupin.

When she finished, Harry risked a peek at Ron and saw that he was looking both stunned and horrified. When he noticed that Harry had looked up, Ron gave him a weak smile that didn't reach his eyes - they remained round with shock.

At length Ron spoke, voicing something the other two had also been wondering. "But he was safe! Why did he give himself away?"

Hermione shrugged and put a hand on Harry's shoulder for he had just covered his face with his hands, while his elbows were propped up on the tabletop.

"You alright, Harry?" Ron asked him awkwardly. Harry resumed his upright sitting position and nodded. "I just feel so bad..."

It appeared that Ron didn't know what to say in answer to that as he just peered sympathetically at Harry. Harry didn't blame him - it wasn't as though he knew just what to say himself. As there was not much else to be said, they continued to toil over their books with a subdued quietness.

It was not long before Hermione gave up on her own essay and pulled some of Harry's notes to her so she could help him finish the seemingly unending work. He tried to thank her but found his throat fairly dry so nodded in acknowledgement instead.

When Ron finished whatever it was he was doing, he laid down his quill and peered astutely at the parchment Hermione was writing on. "Don't you think it's a bit obvious that Harry hasn't done all of that on his own? I mean, even Snape is going to notice the difference in handwriting."

In answer, Hermione laid down her quill and instead picked up her wand. She waved it, muttering words Harry didn't quite catch, then brought it swishing through the air to point at the sheaf of parchment.

Harry watched, impressed despite of himself, as the squiggly lines on the paper that was Hermione's neat handwriting slowly lengthened and altered until it exactly matched that of Harry's untidy scrawl. It was so convincing that Harry did not think even he'd be able to tell that he had not written those words, just by looking at them.

"Well, I guess that answered my question," Ron stated dryly. Hermione smiled a would-be innocent smile and went back to her writing.

Somehow Harry did manage to complete his stack of Potions notes, though it was exceptionally late by the time the three of them left the empty common room. Harry fell asleep almost straight away, but it wasn't an entirely uninterrupted slumber that he sank into. For at some time in the early hours he had a dream.

This dream showed him flicking through the pages of a book, looking at photographs of places and people he felt he recognised but in reality did not. Then someone put a hand on his shoulder. That someone was Professor Animus.

Professor Animus led Harry to a meadow lit by bright, hot sunlight and filled with shinning yellow buttercups. Professor Animus suddenly disappeared and Harry found himself surrounded by a ring of Death Eaters who all pulled their wands out and pointed them at Harry. It was just as twenty voices bellowed "Avada Kedavra" that Harry awoke, sweating and shaking.

He rolled over and went back to sleep. His repose was troubled no further, but when he awoke Harry remembered nothing about the dream.

*

When Harry stirred the next morning the only thing he felt like doing was rolling over and going straight back to sleep. Initially he couldn't remember why he felt so miserable; then the topics of his talk with Dumbledore came flooding back to him and he immediately understood why. Harry despondently forced himself to get up and discovered that the dormitory was empty save for him. He reached for his glasses and having restored them to their usual resting-place on the bridge of his nose, he checked his watch. He groaned inwardly, as he realised he had slept in and almost missed breakfast. He felt perceptibly annoyed that Ron had not bothered to wake him.

Harry hastened to put on his robes and tore down to the Great Hall, only slowing up when he reached the first floor. It was as Harry leant against the wall, opposite a particularly impressive suit of armour that he experienced a prickly sensation on the back of his neck. The sort of sensation that informs you that you are being watched.

Tensely, Harry scanned the length of the corridor but it was deserted. Deserted of people, that is. As Harry peeled off the wall and took a hesitant and suspicious step towards the marble staircase, he caught sight of a pair of yellow-green eyes staring insolently out at him from between the legs of the suit of armour.

A pure black cat slunk out of the shadows behind the armour; at least at first glance the cat appeared to be entirely black. In fact it had been several white flecks in its coat as though it had had a very faint dusting of icing sugar.

Although this feline seemed to be unremarkable in appearance; just another of the countless moggies the castle was a term-time home for, Harry sensed otherwise. It took three tentative steps forward, stopped then sat apparently unconcernedly on its haunches.

Harry stared at it for a moment with a puzzling expression, then shrugged and began to walk away. The little black cat bounded along, overtaking Harry's progress and turned to face him a few strides ahead. Bemused, Harry halted. Was this normal cat behaviour, he wondered.

Now distinctly rattled, Harry headed down to the Great Hall. When he sat down at the Gryffindor table he observed that Ron and Hermione had - unsurprisingly - almost finished their food.

"Ah - there you are!" Ron said as Harry sat down and reached for some slices of toast from off a silver rack in front of him. "We were going to come and wake you in a minute."

"Why didn't you wake me sooner - when you got up?" Harry asked.

"We thought you could use the extra sleep," Hermione told him seriously. "Really Harry, you're going to have to start going to bed earlier otherwise you'll never be able to cope with the rest of this year."

Harry scowled at Hermione. "Well, it's not like I had much option for turning in at a reasonable time - what with the amount of work Snape gave me."

Harry then looked up at the staff table with the intention of glowering pointedly up at Snape, but Snape's chair was vacant, as it had been during dinner the night before.

"Hey - Snape's not at the staff table. Was he there earlier?" he said, mystified.

Ron and Hermione too turned to look up at where the teacher's were eating. Ron shrugged. "I haven't seen him - he didn't turn up for dinner last night either..."

"I wonder where he is..." Harry said contemplatively.

The three of them speculated over what could be the cause of Snape's recent spate of absences for the remainder of breakfast and on the way to Charms. All thoughts of the little black cat and its strange behaviour were now shunted sideways in Harry's mind. Besides the mysterious disappearance of their Potions Professor, Harry had more pressing concerns to worry about, such as what might have become of Remus Lupin.

*

Harry and his classmates filed quietly into tiny Professor Flitwick's classroom. Deep in thought, Harry settled himself at the end of the table on one side of Hermione and Ron on the other. Because Harry was temporarily lost to the world it took him a fair amount of time to notice that Ron was peering searchingly around the class. Once Harry had been made aware of this he was left in no doubt as to why Ron was doing so; the empty space adjacent to Ron said it all.

Harry glanced around the room also, but after a moment's scanning it became apparent that Susie had not yet arrived. It wasn't until almost a quarter of an hour into the session that the classroom door flew open, banging off the wall due to the force that had been applied in opening it.

Susie stormed into the room looking absolutely ferocious. She was so furious about something that her lips were the thinnest of thin lines and entirely white, while her cheeks created a contrast by sporting two angry blotches of colour. She stalked into the room, slamming the door behind her and causing the windowpanes on the opposite wall to rattle precariously. Without so much as an apology for her outburst to Professor Flitwick, she stormed across the class and flung her bag down on her desk next to Ron, positively seething with fury.

Harry saw Ron edge nervously away from Susie as she sat down, but Harry couldn't blame him. He was sure that being sat next to her at that moment must have greatly resembled what it would feel like to be sat next to an incensed tigress.

"Miss Bones," inquired Professor Flitwick briskly, "kindly tell us what is the reason behind your late entrance - the lesson began fifteen minutes ago."

Susie made no response. She merely glowered down at her books looking exceedingly hot in the face.

"Very well, I shall see you about the matter at the end of the lesson," Professor Flitwick told her, frowning. He then reverted back to giving the class a brief talk on the variety of Camouflaging charm they would be practising that lesson.

"As you all are undoubtedly aware, there are two fundamental types of Camouflaging charm. The first sort merely changes the livery of the object so that it can blend in with its surroundings, rather like a Chameleon does. The second sort is the more complex option, which involves changing the outward appearance of the object while the object itself remains the same.

"Today's focus will be on the latter method, but first I would like you to all look this way while I give you a short demonstration."

Professor Flitwick then opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out a glass that withheld an assortment of brightly coloured buttons. Having selected a large flat green one, he placed it on the desktop, waved his wand and said clearly, "Glamius wine bottle."

There was a flash of light and a fizzling sound, and next second the button had been replaced by what appeared to be an empty green wine bottle. Professor Flitwick reached out to pick up the bottle, but his hand passed through it as though it was nothing more than vapour.

"Finite Incantentum." He muttered and the green bottle vanished, revealing the button once more. After that he informed them that they were to make a start on putting the charm on their buttons.

Flitwick carried his glass of buttons around the room, depositing a button in front of each student, before heading back to the front of the class to his desk. Everyone stared bemusedly down at their buttons, wondering if Flitwick wanted them to turn these into wine bottles also. After a pause, Hermione put her hand into the air.

"Er - is there a problem, Miss Granger?" Professor Flitwick called in his high, squeaky voice.

"Um... Did you want us to turn these into wine bottles too, or...?"

"Oh how silly of me!" Flitwick replied, cutting her question short. "I meant to tell you that you may alter them to look like anything you choose."

He then returned his attention back to the pile of papers in front of him temporarily, until he caught sight of Hermione's hand, which was once more held above her head.

"Yes?"

"Er - how do we change their appearance?" Hermione asked tentatively.

Professor Flitwick blinked at her, then turned to see that the rest of the class wore matching questioning expressions. "Please forgive me - my attention has been otherwise engaged this morning..."

Harry was suddenly surprised as he saw Flitwick's eyes flick onto him before continuing. "To perform the charm you simply need to say 'glamius' followed by the name of whatever it is you wish to make your buttons look like. The wand movement is thus."

And he proceeded to demonstrate to them a complicated wiggling wave of his wand. He repeated this twice more then resumed marking the work before him.

It was as the rest of the class began talking quietly and commencing on their charms that Ron plucked up the courage to ask Susie timidly, "Are you alright? You seem really upset about s-"

Harry heard Ron fall silent and turned to see that Susie had looked up at Ron, her eyes flashing warningly. Catching sight of the almost frightened expression on Ron's face, she seemed to calm down a bit and she sighed deeply before giving him a lop-sided smile.

"I've just been having some grief from the Slytherins, that's all," she told him with the merest trace of a growl detectable in her voice.

"Why? What kind of trouble?" Ron asked her, scowling in concern. Hermione too looked up to listen to Susie's reply.

Susie rolled her eyes and said mordantly, "Well, for some reason they weren't too impressed at my capture of the snitch on Saturday so have been taunting me ever since. To start with it was just the usual sort of sneering and mockery you'd expect of them, but this morning Parkinson and her little gang thought it'd be amusing to put a hex on me then steal my bag."

"You managed to get it back at least," Ron replied in a commiserating tone, looking vaguely unsure of why she had been quite as furious as she had been when she entered the classroom earlier.

Susie frowned darkly at him. "Yeah - after they'd hidden it in Filch's office. I spent about half an hour trying to find it - or them - but was then informed by Peeves that he'd seen them go into Filch's study with it. To start with I was a bit sceptical - I mean, when can you ever trust Peeves? But he was so gleeful about the whole thing that it wasn't long before I did believe him.

"My next problem was getting it back. What I probably should have done was wait for Filch and then ask him if I could have it back, but funnily enough I wasn't too keen on the idea of asking Filch for anything... So anyway, I managed to persuade Peeves to create a diversion that would distract Filch long enough for me to get my bag and get out, only there were one or two slight hitches."

"Oh?" Harry replied, wondering what possible good could have come out of Susie's run-in with Filch.

Susie grinned mischievously, then cast her eyes around to make sure that no one was watching as she pulled two things from where she had plainly concealed them down the front of her robes. She carefully placed a rectangular wooden box, intricately carved and enamelled, onto the table first. It was made from a dark wood, mahogany most likely, and had different symbols and themes on each of its six faces. It was approximately twelve centimetres long by six centimetres wide with a depth of a further five centimetres. There was no apparent top face or bottom face.

The second item she put onto the desk next to the box was a small maroon-coloured velvet pouch, which had a drawstring opening. The four of them stared at the curiosities with awakened interest, then Susie beamed up at Hermione and said slyly, "Ah - but perhaps I shouldn't have shown you these things - being Head Girl and all, I suppose you're going to have to turn me in..."

Harry glanced at Hermione and grinned to see that she was obviously torn between burning curiosity and disapproval. While she frowned upon the idea that Susie had pinched these things from Filch when they were probably dangerous, Harry could tell that she was itching to examine them.

"Of course I'm not going to tell on you!" Hermione exclaimed quietly, pretending to be highly affronted that Susie could suggest that she might. She then blushed guiltily as she saw Susie, Ron and Harry were all grinning broadly at her.

"Shall we expect these properly later? It's just that I don't want anyone else to know about them," Susie whispered as she scooped up the box and pouch and slid them into her robe pocket.

"What? Aren't you even going to tell any of your friends?" Ron asked sounding both surprised, and flattered that she thought so highly of them to share the secret with them but no one else. The slightest hint of a scowl flickered across Susie's features, but vanished almost instantly as she told him, "No - well, not at the moment anyway."

Harry and Ron were puzzled for a moment, though Hermione wasn't, then the four of them made a start on the charm they were supposed to be putting on the buttons.

It came as no surprise to anyone that after only about five minutes - if that - Hermione had managed to turn her button into a lamp. Or at least make it look as though it was a lamp. It was quite convincing actually, though the fact that you couldn't touch it was a bit of a give-away. Then she spent quite a while trying to show the others how to do it.

"No, Harry stop! You're doing the wand movement all wrong - it goes like this," Hermione told him impatiently, having already slowly and clearly demonstrated the correct way to wave his wand seventeen times. Harry, however, wasn't watching as she showed him for the eighteenth time.

His attention had become distracted as he heard Susie mutter something that altered Ron's hair so it was now flashing green and purple alternately. Ron was concentrating absorbedly on trying to charm his button and so consequently didn't hear her. Harry laughed out loud and nudged Hermione who let out a snort of laughter as she glimpsed Ron's ridiculous hair.

Ron looked up, evidently unaware of what the others were laughing at, as did many other people who had heard Harry laugh. It wasn't long before everyone (except Ron) was snickering, even Professor Flitwick looked amused as he tried to appear stern. Hermione transformed her button-lamp into a mirror and indicated for Ron to take a look at his reflection in it. Catching sight of his hair, his expression turned to one of mild amusement and faint annoyance.

Flitwick then said the counter-charm and everyone settled down to return to their work. Ron frowned suspiciously from Harry to Hermione to Susie and said, "Ok - which one of you did that?"

His eyes lingered on Harry, who replied flatly, "Hey - don't look at me mate, I still can't cast the charm."

Ron then turned to Susie who assumed an expression that made her look such a picture of innocence that had Harry not heard her perform the charm he would never have suspected her. "Me? I wouldn't do that... Besides, I can't do the charm either."

As Ron turned to Hermione, Susie winked impishly at Harry behind Ron's back. "Ok - 'fess up - you're the only one who knows how to do that, so it had to be you."

Hermione opened her mouth to protest against the accusation, but Harry spoke before she could, "Ah, but Ron it couldn't have been Hermione because she was demonstrating how to perform the charm for me at the time your hair changed colour. Unless of course you're suggesting that she can perform two charms at the same time..."

Ron looked stumped as his eyes travelled from one to the other of them. For a minute he seemed to be about to say something but in the end just gave a small shrug and returned to trying out the charm himself.

There wasn't much else of interest that happened during the remainder of the lesson and it was with much eagerness that the four people scampered for the door. It was just as they got to only a few paces from the door that a squeaky voice called out, "Miss Bones - not so fast if you please, we still have the small matter of your lateness to discuss."

Susie groaned and Ron hissed as she turned on her heel, "We'll wait for you outside, ok?"

She smiled gratefully at him and strolled over to Flitwick's desk with much trepidation as Harry, Ron and Hermione went into the passageway outside.

"I wonder what Flitwick is saying to her," Ron said anxiously, all the time watching the classroom they had just left.

"I dunno. It depends on what she says to him, I guess. Flitwick's pretty easy going so if she explains what happened there shouldn't be a problem." Harry told Ron reassuringly. He then turned to Hermione who was looking thoughtful. "What are you looking so pensive about?"

"Hmmm?" she replied, looking up distractedly.

"I asked you what you were thinking about," Harry said observing Hermione closely.

"Oh - I was just wondering what that box thing Susie got could be."

"You mean to tell me that there is something that you know nothing about?" Harry asked her with mock incredulity. All he received in answer was a severe scowl.

Before any further remarks could be made, the door to Fltiwick's classroom swung open with a sullen creak and the three people out in the corridor turned expectantly to see Susie stride out looking reasonably happy.

"What did he say?" Ron asked her before she had fully stepped out of the classroom.

"Not a lot - I explained about what happened with Filch, well most of it" she said with a grin, "and he said he'd have a word with Filch for me."

"Well, that's good then. Hang on - how did you managed to smuggle the, err, articles out of his office without him knowing?" Harry asked inquisitively.

Susie's grin broadened as she explained, "He may have searched my bag and made me turn out my pockets - but Filch didn't think I'd have hidden anything anywhere else. I figured that he just thought he'd caught me before I'd had a chance to get my hands on anything..."

At the reference to hands, Harry glanced down at Susie's and saw that they were still covered in bruises from Tuesday's Herbology lesson. Only the bruises were yellow/grey now, meaning that they were beginning to go.

"Are your hands still sore?" he commented, still peering at them.

She and the other two also glanced down at them. "No; Madam Pomfrey's lotion made it so that after the first day they didn't really hurt anymore - but they do still look a bit unsightly. Shall we all go somewhere a bit more private so we can have a proper look at these things?"

Susie patted her pocket as she spoke and Harry, Ron and Hermione agreed that it would be a good idea to find somewhere that they could sneak off to, to scrutinise the box and bag without being disturbed.

So the four of them crept into the first empty classroom they came to and stealthily closed the door behind them. Each person drew up a chair around a table in one corner of the room, near to a window, and leant forward animatedly as Susie withdrew the objects from her pocket.

She placed the marvellous box onto the table whilst fumbling to undo the drawstring bag with her other hand. She then took out four large paper envelopes. She handed one each of these envelopes to Harry, Ron and Hermione at the same time as keeping one for herself.

Harry felt his envelope with interest, but couldn't work out what could be inside it, as the contents were not flat like parchment or paper but long, thin and knobbly in a flimsy sort of way. He was on the brink of opening his envelope when Hermione bade him and Ron - for Ron too was at the point of undoing the seal - to be careful, "Wait a minute - let's just think about this first. We don't know what's inside these and chances are it could be dangerous, seeing as they were in a drawer that said they were..."

"So what do you propose we do?" Ron asked her quietly.

"Hang on - I'll open mine first and we'll see what happens..." Susie replied before Hermione had a chance to. All pairs of eyes became fixed unblinkingly upon the envelope in Susie's hands as she gently eased it open. She then tipped the contents onto the table with great caution.

A dried plant with yellow and black flowers fell onto the desk. The leaves of the plant had seven points and resembled the rough shape of a Maple tree's leaves.

"Henbane," muttered Hermione shrewdly.

"What?" Harry asked her blankly.

"Henbane," she repeated briskly, "it's a type of plant used in some potions but on its own it is poisonous."

"I'm glad I didn't touch it then," Susie remarked wryly as she stared at the plant. "Hey - open your envelopes and see what else there is."

Harry, Ron and Hermione did so, exercising great caution. Harry's envelope contained a thin, twiggy stemmed plant that had pale blue - almost white - blossoms shaped something similar to a baby's bonnet. Ron's revealed a cutting of what appeared at first glance to be cowslip but in reality was something Hermione pronounced to be 'Hemlock'. Her plant had long teardrop shaped leaves, a furry stem and small light-purple blossoms. There were five pointy petals to each flower - shaped rather like a five-point star. This she told them was 'Deadly Nightshade' while Harry's was 'Wolfsbane'.

"All of these are poisonous and are only used in advanced potions..." she said thoughtfully. "Susie - is there anything else in that pouch, like a recipe for example?"

Susie checked the pouch, but upon turning it inside out found that there was nothing inside it. She then looked up at Hermione. "Why do you think these were in Filch's drawer rather than Snape's store cupboard?"

Hermione shrugged, then slid the dried flowers back into their envelopes, being careful not to touch any of them. "These are definitely not ingredients a student is likely to need except perhaps at a very advanced level - I mean, I know we need to know about the properties of three of these but I'm pretty sure that we wouldn't actually need to use them in anything.

"So for them to have been confiscated a student must have had them, but what would a student want with them? My guess is that there is a potion, which incorporates these in it - but what that potion might be I have no idea..."

They all sat pondering on this for a brief period then turned their attention to the wooden box.

Susie picked it up first and turned it over and over in her hands, examining each of its detailed faces closely. She tried to prise one of the faces open with her nails, but it did not work so she simply shrugged and handed it to Ron who was sat on her left.

"I suppose it is a box," Hermione commented as she looked over Ron's shoulder, "I just can't work out which side is meant to open..."

"What does it do?" Ron asked puzzled as he placed the hands into Hermione's hands. It seemed that none of them knew the answer seeing as no one replied.

Having scrutinised the wooden box briefly, Hermione gave it to Harry. He found that it was quite heavy; heavier than he had expected. Each side depicted different images - the first side Harry looked at had silver-leaf plating in swirling patterns on each corner. It had some sort of sheen on it, which made it shimmer when it was moved around in the light and creating an affect that looked something similar to clouds being swept along by the breeze.

The next face Harry looked at had many deep carvings cut into the wood mainly of trees, flowers and such like. There was no enamelling or emulsion on the wood, nor any metal plating, leaving it with a natural, earthy appearance.

The third side was an eerie and fascinating one. It was primarily covered in gleaming platinum and only small amounts of the wood it was set upon could be seen. A border of the dark wood had been left uncovered, but had the appearance of being burnt. Upon closer inspection of these scorch marks Harry could see that they were in actual fact shaped like stars.

The most eye catching feature of this side of the box, however, was a raised crescent moon that had been cut into the box and had a delicate patterning of vines weaving and entwining across its surface.

Harry peered at this with much interest and it was as he did so that he noticed a narrow crevice that spanned the perimeter of the carving, revealing that the carving was perhaps more than it had at first appeared. It looked to Harry as though the crescent moon could be pressed down and slotted into the face of the box.

"Hey guys! This moon seems to be a button or something!" he exclaimed pointing at it excitedly.

Hermione looked apprehensive and was half way through saying, "Don't press it, Harry - we don't know what it might do..." when Harry pushed the moon down with his right index finger.

Harry immediately felt as though someone had pressed a white-hot chunk of metal to the pad of his finger. His instant reaction was to try to withdraw his hand from the box but he found that he was unable to. Some invisible force was keeping them in contact.

Harry yelled out in pain, but his shout was cut short unexpectedly as though something had just stolen his voice. Harry's vision clouded for a moment then, FLASH - a sheet of light, almost blinded him and sent him staggering backward before an image of Voldemort and Lupin jumped across Harry's view. It was visible for barely a second and Harry only time to see that Lupin was in pain before, FLASH. A second sheet of light followed by an image of Harry himself holding a black glass bottle, the precise same size and shape as the clear diamond one that Camellia had presented to him, swam into view. FLASH! More light then a picture showing Harry a howling tornado spinning ferociously around the same spot while three figures - two standing and one lying lifeless on the ground - were trapped in the eye of it. FLASH. A fair lady robed in purple and gold was holding Harry back as he struggled to reach out to someone. FLASH. The picture was replaced by one of Snape, paled faced and serious as he carried the limp form of a girl into the hospital wing. FLASH. A butterfly lay dead; behind it was only whiteness. FLASH.

Harry opened his eyes and found that he was lying on his back on a stone cold floor. His head was spinning and he felt dizzy and weak as he gazed up into the anxious faces of Ron, Hermione and Susie.

Harry hauled himself into a sitting position and then became aware that the wooden box was still stuck to his finger. It was as he wrenched it off, ripping his skin, that he noticed the acrid smell of burnt flesh. He looked down at his finger reluctantly.

There on the pad of his finger was a deep black imprint of the carved moon. Harry suddenly realised that his giddiness was causing him to feel nauseous and he scrambled to his feet, looking around for something suitable to throw up into. There wasn't anything so he had to make do with flinging his head out of the window as he retched.

He wiped his mouth on the back of his hand and re-emerged feeling slightly better, though swaying dangerously. Ron and Hermione steadied him before leading him over to a chair, which he flopped meekly into.

"Oh Harry - are you alright? What happened?" Hermione asked him worriedly as the other two looked on soberly. Harry tried to reassure her that he was fine, but his voice died in his throat and the only sound he emitted was a sort of hoarse rustling - like the rustling of leaves as they scrape against one another in a gentle breeze.

"Harry - what?" Ron asked, staring at him and looking almost alarmed.

Again Harry tried to speak but the rustling sound was all he could produce. Panic began to set in as Susie said, "Can't you speak?"

He shook his head with wide eyes and the four of them looked at each other in startled silence. It was in this pause that Harry once more became aware of his injured finger. He looked down at it because it had been throbbing profoundly. The throb intensified as he saw that it was now swollen and shiny with huge ugly blisters filled with fluid forming all around the branded moon.

"I think we'd better get you to the hospital wing," Hermione told him with grim quietness.

Harry shook his head frantically.

"But Harry - you've got to!" Hermione exclaimed exasperatedly. He glared up at her and mouthed, "No way."

Apparently she could lip read for she said, "Look - I know you're sick of going to the hospital wing but -"

Hermione fell silent as Harry stood up shakily and fixed her with a determined frown.

"What's the big deal with going up to see Madam Pomfrey, Harry?" Ron asked him, nonplussed.

Harry glanced from the box, to the pouch and then rested his eyes on Susie. Following this, Ron could see that Harry did not want to get Susie into trouble over taking the box and pouch from Filch's office. For if they went to see Madam Pomfrey she was bound to ask what had happened and they wouldn't be able to explain it without incriminating Susie. Hermione and Susie too noted what Harry looked at, but neither passed the comments they had intended - for when Harry looked at the box they all caught sight of the fact that the face with the moon had now popped open.

With his uninjured hand, Harry picked up the box gingerly and peered into the secret compartment. There was only one thing inside; a talisman made from a blood-red stone shaped like an Egyptian cat, threaded upon a thin black cord.

The four of them leaned over keenly but no one dared to touch the amulet - not after what had happened to Harry when he'd touched the moon-button. And Harry thought it ironic for the three others didn't even know the half of what he had experienced, for, without a voice, he could not tell them what he had seen. After a moment of charged silence, Susie cleared her throat and said, "Listen - it seems a shame to just leave it in there now that you've gone through all the trouble of finding it, Harry. But it's my fault that you're hurt so I'll be the one that picks it up..."

she trailed off, looking dubiously at the pendant then took a steadying breath and reached out hesitantly. Hermione knew better then to try to dissuade Susie and so remained quiet, watching tensely and expectantly. Harry glanced at Ron who looked half-nervous, half-impressed as his eyes rested on Susie.

Susie's fingers closed around the amulet but nothing happened to her so she let out her breath in a relieved sigh. However, a second later she'd leapt back in fright - as did Ron and Hermione - as Harry fell into a coughing fit; choking and clutching at his throat.

As soon as Susie had taken hold of the talisman, Harry had felt the sensation of fingers closing around his own throat, startling him and causing him to choke. Luckily for Harry, Susie dropped the cat pendant at the shock of his sudden bout of wheezing, meaning that he could once more take deep, grateful gulps of air.

"Harry, what happened then?" asked three concerned voices at once.

Harry still did not have the use of his voice so he couldn't answer in words. Instead he went and picked up the amulet carefully, bracing himself for the pain he was expecting. Oddly enough when he picked it up it did not hurt him, though it did send a tingling sensation around his neck. For some reason it seemed to Harry that when someone touched the amulet it was somehow as though they were touching him too. He could only presume that this was in someway related to the fact that it was he who had unlocked the door to the secret compartment the talisman was stowed away in.

Ron looked bewildered, as did Susie but Hermione looked between the talisman and Harry with comprehension written on her face. She stepped forward and pressed firmly against the stone cat. Harry's wince seemed to confirm what she had been thinking. "There is something strange going on - let's go see Dumbledore."

Harry shook his head. He wasn't altogether why he did, but he just had a feeling that it would be better in the long run not to say anything to Dumbledore about it. Hermione pursed her lips and put her hands on her hips, frowning at him in a disapproving way that strongly reminded him of Professor McGonagall. "And why not?"

Harry opened his mouth to reply but then remembered he couldn't, so just shrugged apologetically.

"Honestly, you're too stubborn for your own good sometimes," she told him rolling her eyes. "Well, you're looking much better than you did a minute ago, but I still think that you ought to see Madam Pomfrey."

"There'd be no point," Ron spoke up.

Hermione rounded on him furiously, "What do you mean there's no point? Of course there is - you only need to look at him to -"

Ron held up his hands, indicating for Hermione to stop. "Hey - calm down, ok? You're forgetting something."

"Oh, am I? What?" she asked testily.

"The spell."

Hermione could instantly see that there would indeed be no point in going to see Madam Pomfrey for she would be unable to do anything for Harry. So she blushed slightly, looking abashed as she grinned apologetically for snapping at him. Harry in the meantime scowled at Ron as Susie asked curiously, "What spell?"

Ron looked angry with himself as he turned and saw the look Harry was giving him, which said clearly, "Nice one, Ron."

"Sorry - if it's something you'd rather I didn't know then don't worry about it," said Susie quietly looking and sounding quite hurt.

Harry shook his head in disbelief at Ron, then did his best for Ron to explain it all to Susie. Ron didn't understand until Hermione said uncertainly, "You want us to tell Susie about the spell?"

Harry nodded, frustrated at how complicated his sudden loss of speech made things. He couldn't even write anything down foe the finger that was swollen and tender was on his right hand, thus meaning he would be unable to even hold a quill, let alone write legibly with one.

Hermione glanced down at her watch and turned a sickly pale-green, "Well - that'll have to wait until later - right now we're late for class..."

"Hermione! Class can wait - there's more important things to sort out!" Ron exclaimed incredulously.

Hermione gave him a grim smile. "Late for Potions class."

"Are you still sure you don't want to go up to the ward?" Susie asked Harry wryly as Ron turned an even more pallid green than Hermione.

Suddenly the thought of going up to see Madam Pomfrey seemed very appealing indeed, funnily enough more so than going to Snape's Potions lesson late did... However, Harry knew that he wouldn't go up there - well, if he hadn't pressed that button then they probably wouldn't be late now. So the least he felt he could do was bear the brunt of Snape's wrath rather than wimp out and let his friends take the heat alone.

That was why Harry merely groaned inwardly and gave Susie a weak smile. He was just about to drop the amulet back into the box when Susie held out a hand and said. "Wait - you're not putting it back are you? If the panel closes then someone would have to go through all the palaver with the button again - why don't you keep hold of it?"

To be honest, the last thing Harry felt like doing was carrying the pendant around. But the thought of how he would feel if someone else carried it around was enough to persuade him to heed Susie's advice.

"If Snape hasn't already killed us - Shall we meet you somewhere at lunch?" Hermione asked Susie in a marginally tense tone.

Susie scooped up the box and pouch, dropping them carefully into her bag. "Yeah sure. Where?"

"Why don't you join us at the Gryffindor table?" Ron muttered shyly.

Susie stared at him for a moment, then replied with equal shyness, "I'd like that."

The four of them then left the classroom hastily and didn't speak until they reached the Entrance Hall where Susie left them to go to Care of Magical Creatures. And it was with much trepidation that Harry, Ron and Hermione descended the flight of stone steps that led to the corridor outside Snape's classroom.

Their hearts were in their mouths as they stationed themselves tremulously either side of Snape's door.

"Well, it was nice to know you both..." Ron said in an exaggeratedly grave tone. Hermione was shaking slightly with nerves and it appeared to Harry that she didn't trust herself to speak. Harry just stared stonily at Ron, for obviously he couldn't reply. Then with a sudden jolt, Harry had a thought. What was Snape going to do when he found out that he couldn't talk? Have a field day, probably...

"Now!" Hermione squeaked quietly in a trembling voice. The three of them took a deep breath and pushed open the door.

"Sorry we're late Professor we -" Hermione began in a rush but stopped abruptly when she saw that the teacher stood at the head of the class was not Professor Snape.

It was Professor McGonagall. She raised an eyebrow at the three of them and put down the textbook she had been reading from. "It is almost ten minutes into the lesson - explain yourselves."

"We - we were... Um..." Hermione started to say feebly, but fell silent as Harry trod on her foot subtly in warning. Not subtly enough, however, for Professor McGonagall saw him.

"Perhaps you would like to tell me what kept the three of you, Potter. Seeing as you do not want Miss Granger to do so."

Harry determinedly stared at the floor, wishing more than ever that he could speak.

"Well?" said Professor McGonagall in her most dangerous voice after a couple of minutes had slipped by and still Harry had failed to answer her. He felt his face redden as he heard muttering from the Slytherins, but Harry remained with his gaze set firmly on the floor.

"Er - Professor?" said Hermione timidly. "Could we please have a word with you outside?"

For a moment Harry thought that she was going to refuse but, after a particularly piercing glare on her part, she consented and followed them out into the corridor.

"Well?" she said again, crossing her arms across her chest in a manner that said plainly that she wasn't going to be easily fobbed off with lame excuses.

"The reason we were late was because Harry was - err - taken ill, a little while ago," Hermione said cautiously.

Professor McGonagall again raised an eyebrow, but this time in a sceptical manner. "Oh? I may be no physician but he look in excellent health to me, Miss Granger. Surely you could have told me this inside and why is it that you are telling me - can Mr. Potter not speak for himself?"

"Actually no. That's the point," Hermione replied trying to ignore Ron who was smirking at McGonagall looking taken aback because that was the last answer she had been expecting to receive.

"I see," said Professor McGonagall looking in fact as though she didn't see at all. She turned to Harry, bemused. "This, I suppose, is correct?"

Scowling heavily at Hermione, Harry gave a curt nod.

"He sort-of fainted, then when he got up again couldn't speak," Hermione told Professor McGonagall for Professor McGonagall had been looking at her expectantly.

"And what do you think caused this?" Professor McGonagall asked glancing from one to the other of them.

"We don't know," Ron replied quickly as Hermione had opened her mouth, probably with the intention of telling Professor McGonagall about the box.

"Hmmm..." Was the response she made as she eyed Ron doubtfully. After a brief pause she added, "Have you been up to see Madam Pomfrey yet?"

Harry shook his head slowly causing Professor McGonagall to look even more dubious. "And why not?"

At this, Hermione smiled a sardonic smile. "I think Harry feels he's seen enough of Madam Pomfrey's ward for one term."

"Be that as it may," Professor McGonagall replied seriously, "You ought to go up and see her."

Taking his chances, Harry gave a small yet defiant shake of his head. Seeing her nostrils flare, he wondered if perhaps it would be less risky just to do as she bid him and go visit the nurse.

However, he stood his ground and turned to Hermione, mouthing the words, "I've miss too much already" slowly enough for her to lip-read.

Hermione shot Harry a very small warning look before telling Professor McGonagall what he had just said. Professor McGonagall seemed to become even more dubious about the whole thing at this, but merely said, "Very well - then perhaps we should step back inside and allow the lesson to continue."

"What happened to Snape?" asked Ron as Professor McGonagall turned and started back for the classroom.

She swivelled around to face him and fixed him with her most piercing gaze. Then she glanced briefly at Harry before giving her answer, which was simply, "Professor Snape was called away - that's all you need to know. Now if there's nothing else you wish to say may we please get back to today's lesson?"

Any other questions they might have asked did not leave their lips, for there was a finality in her tone that told them it would be foolish to say anything further. They therefore trooped along mutely in her wake, determinedly avoiding catching anyone's eye as they filed to their desk at the rear of the room.

It turned out that they were still studying indicating solutions and Harry was relieved to find that today's lesson would be a practical one, despite Snape not being around to supervise it. As it happened, Professor McGonagall was quite a dab-hand when it came to potion brewing and, although complicated in its on right, the indicating solution they were to be making was a simpler one than most and well within her capabilities.

Harry had not much liked the thought of a theory lesson as he was unable to write with his finger being as swollen and sore as it was. While Professor McGonagall wrote up the instructions up on the board, Harry took out his ingredients and equipment.

The indicating solution's purpose was to notify a person whether or not a poisonous substance was present. The liquid would naturally be a green-hue but even the most minute trace of poison would be enough to alter its colour. The amount and concentration of the toxin would be roughly indicated by the strength of the colour the solution turned. A blue colour would show that there was a weak poison, a purple shade for a medium-strength one and a red hue for a potent poison. Pale hues signified minimal traces of the substance present, while strong colours showed that a large quantity of a toxin had been detected.

It was as Harry was sprinkling powdered asphodel root - which Ron had kindly ground down for him - into his concoction that he noticed his tingling finger was starting to tingle and sting again. He accidentally dropped the mortar into his cauldron as well as its contents. The splash it created alerted Ron to the fact that something was up.

"You ok, Harry?" he asked as he came over and fished the mortar out of Harry's potion with a ladle. "You still having problems with your finger?"

Harry began to nod, but halted when he glanced down at the troublesome digit; the imprint of the crescent moon was gone, as were the blisters and most of the swelling.

Hermione had been cutting up her Dandelion heads when apparently her finger too felt like it was being unmercifully prodded by pins or needles for she stepped over to Harry and took his hand to investigate his finger. "It's healed itself! Well, it looks as though the spell probably is this 'Yueliang du' healing spell Dumbledore was talking about."

"Hang on a minute - what made you come over to look at Harry's finger just at that moment?" Ron asked her slowly.

"My finger was tingling," Hermione replied looking at Ron quizzically for he seemed to be confused about something.

"Harry - your finger was tingling then too, wasn't it?" said Ron turning to him at the same time as running a hand through his hair in a slightly bewildered way.

Harry nodded in confirmation. This only seemed to confuse Ron further as he said, "But why did you both feel the same thing at the same time?"

"I don't know why you're making such a big deal out of this - we already know that I feel Harry's pain, so -"

"But there's something that doesn't make sense," Ron said, not allowing Hermione to finish her sentence. "I mean why did you feel that then, but when Harry's finger was originally wounded by the box and when he choked you felt nothing?"

"Because I - um... I don't know. You're right, that doesn't make sense..." Hermione answered him now looking as puzzled as Ron.

That was all very well and good, Harry thought, frustrated. But the mystery he most wanted solved was what had happened to his voice and how was he to get it back?

Hermione and Ron speculated in hushed tones all the possible explanations behind why sometimes Hermione experienced the same sensations as Harry, and sometimes she didn't. In fact, Hermione suggested feasible explanations while Ron made wild suppositions that were wide off the mark.

Harry listened attentively, but couldn't join in easily. Though if someone suggested something he particularly agreed - or in Ron's case, disagreed - with then he would nod fervently or shake his head sceptically.

By the end of the lesson, all three of them had managed to produce adequate potions that correctly indicated poisons when tested by Professor McGonagall. The solution was then put into bottles for the students to keep for this potion luckily had required none of Snape's stores to create, thereby meaning they were free to keep what they had produced. Harry had been surprised at his making a decent potion without any mishaps and on his first attempt. However, he supposed it was probably down to the amount of time he had spent catching up on the notes and that all he had learned on the subject of indicating solutions was still fresh in his mind.

Thinking about his notes reminded him that he still had to hand them in, so he tapped Ron on the shoulder to get his attention. Once Ron had turned around, Harry nodded in Professor Mcgonagall's direction and held up his notes. Ron got the message and together they swaggered down to the front of the class.

Harry plonked the stack of papers down in front of Professor McGonagall with a proud flourish. She eyed it dubiously. "And what, may I ask, is all this?"

Harry glanced pointedly at Ron who answered for him, "It's all the work Harry was set on Tuesday by Snape err, Professor Snape - he said he wanted it in today."

"You've done all this between Tuesday and today?" Professor McGonagall asked faintly for the wad of paper was approximately seven inches thick. Harry nodded, trying not to look too pleased as she said, "Well, I must say I'm impressed... I suppose that means you haven't spent much time on the notes I set you."

When Harry didn't reply she eyed him more piercingly than an eagle before saying, "You still can't speak? And you are quite sure you do not know what might have caused this...?"

Without hesitation Harry inclined his head to say that yes he was sure. He still didn't really understand why he didn't just confess except he had received that same feeling that incited for him to hold his tongue as he had earlier.

Professor McGonagall didn't press the matter, however, she did content herself with telling him, "I really think it would be a good idea for you to go and see Madam Pomfrey, even though you may not want to."

She then went back to shuffling the papers on her desk and Harry and Ron returned to their desk to collect their bags and head off to lunch with Hermione.

When they emerged from the dungeon staircase into the Entrance Hall, Harry, Ron and Hermione spotted Susie waiting for them, standing with her back against the opposite wall.

She looked up when they approached and shot Ron a nervous smile. Harry could see that she was slightly jittery and supposed it was because she'd not sat at any other table other than the Hufflepuff one before and it was generally assumed that people only swapped tables when they were dating someone from another house.

The first time Harry had joined Cho at the Ravenclaw table, he had felt apprehensive as to what sort of reception he might receive seeing as she had been the only Ravenclaw he had really known back then. When he remembered how he felt, he could readily sympathise with how Susie was probably feeling now.

"Al -alright?" Ron asked her a little hoarsely.

She nodded and her smile broadened. Then the four of them strolled amiably into the Great Hall and selected seats at one end of the Gryffindor table, out of the thick of thing s so they could talk freely without being overheard.

Ron and Susie were both discernibly pink as a few pairs of eyes - including Malfoy's - watched them keenly as Susie settled down into a chair next to Ron and opposite Harry.

"You found your voice yet?" Susie asked, looking sympathetically at Harry as he shook his head sadly. "Don't worry - we'll figure out what's happened to it and why it's gone."

Harry gave her a meek smile for he knew that she was trying to make him feel better, but right now he wasn't in the least bit reassured and he somehow didn't think he would be until they actually had some idea of what had happened.

He wondered if perhaps the box had stolen his voice somehow when he had pushed down the moon for it was as he had pressed the button that his voice seemed to get snatched away.

With a tremendous effort, Harry shook himself out of his reverie, as he became aware that his friends were talking again. It had appeared that Ron had asked Susie if she had had a chance to give the box the once over since break but she hadn't for apparently they had been kept occupied through the whole of Care of Magical Creatures so there had been no opportunity.

The talk of Care of Magical Creatures reminded Harry that he had once more forgotten to visit Fang and Merula. His insides writhed guiltily as he imagined how disappointed in him Hagrid would be if he knew that he - Harry - had been neglecting his dog. Harry, who had not had much appetite in the first place, pushed his plate away disinterestedly.

Seeing this, Ron looked up and said, "What's up Harry? Aren't you hungry?"

Harry shook his head then spent the next five minutes trying to communicate without words that he needed to go and feed the dog and the horse. When they finally understood what he was trying to say, Hermione informed him, "Well, luckily for you Ron and I went down there this morning before you were up so you don't need to worry. Ron also fed them for you yesterday too."

He smiled at her in grateful relief and waited patiently for the others to finish their lunches, still touching no more of his own. Once everyone had eaten as much as they were going to the four of them slipped of their chairs and made their way across the Great Hall with the intention of finding an empty classroom where they could study the box in peace.

However, they got no further then the bottom of the marble staircase before they found their path blocked by three very unwelcome people; Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle.

Oh great, Harry thought to himself bitterly, just what I need - to meet Malfoy when I'm unable to speak.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Susie all stopped and glared at the three figures who stood barring their way.

"So Weasley, you've found yourself a girlfriend," Malfoy sneered in his bored, drawling voice. "I must say I'm surprised at your choice - even I thought you'd have higher standards than this Hufflepuff filth. But then I suppose a talent-less, plain-Jane like her was the only one who'd have you."

Ron lunged forward, Harry and Susie only just managed to grab his arms to haul him away from Malfoy, whose eyes gleamed at the reaction he'd produced. It was plain to Harry that he was in a particularly vindictive mood.

"Truth hurt, does it?" Malfoy jeered softly, taking a step closer to Ron as Harry and Susie between them struggled to hold Ron back.

"If she's so talent less," Hermione spoke coolly, glancing at Malfoy with pronounced dislike, "then it can't say very much about you, can it? Seeing as she is the reason your pathetic house got flattened in the Quidditch match last Saturday."

"Who said you could speak, Mudblood?" Malfoy spat at her, his eyes flashing as he shot her a withering look.

"You watch your mouth!" Ron bellowed, flaring up again. Harry was trembling furiously as he fixed Malfoy with his most intense look of loathing, wishing more than ever that he still had the use of his vocal cords.

Malfoy immediately picked up on the fact that Harry hadn't responded as Ron had when he had insulted Hermione. "What? Not sticking up for your Mudblood girlfriend? Now that does surprise me - especially seeing as I'd heard that this pitiful excuse for a witch was the one thing most precious to you."

Harry let go off Ron and the pair of them hurled themselves at Malfoy, however, it was Susie who got there first. She stepped right up close to Malfoy and pressed her left palm flat against his chest while clenching her right one into a tight fist.

Harry and Ron both staggered to a halt in surprise as Malfoy let out a high-pitched yell. It seemed to Harry to be a cry more of utter shock and disbelief than one of pain.

Harry looked on in amazement as Malfoy stared with wide, horrified eyes into Susie's. A jumble of emotions sped across Malfoy's face ranging from anger and hurt to content and peacefulness. Susie began to shake slightly just before she pulled her hand away, clenching that one into a balled fist too. The best words Harry could find to use to describe what he'd witnessed were that it had looked as though a poison had been extracted from Malfoy, for when he strode away a minute later he appeared calm; all his spite had temporarily left him.

Crabbe and Goyle didn't seem to know what to make of the situation - not that this surprised Harry - and they blundered gormlessly after Malfoy, following him down the stone steps that led to the dungeons.

Harry, Ron and Hermione stared at Susie open-mouthed and speechless as she turned to face them now visibly quivering and looking drained. Next moment she had fainted and luckily Ron managed to catch her before she hit the floor. Hermione and Harry rushed over anxiously as Ron gently laid her on the floor so he could pick her up.

"We'd better get her to the hospital wing," he said tensely.

Hermione nodded then murmured softly, "What did she do then?"

Harry shrugged and mouthed, "I've no idea."

All of them mounted the staircase tensely and none of them spoke on the journey up to Madam Pomfrey's ward - they were too worried and puzzled as Susie was still out cold when they arrived in the cosily lit wing.

Hearing the door creak noisily on its hinges, the nurse poked her head around the door to her office. She tutted when she saw it was them back again and stuffed the last mouthful of her sandwich into her mouth and bustled over to them. Ron meanwhile had placed Susie down on one of the beds and was alarmed to see that her eyes were no longer closed, but half-open and staring blankly straight ahead of her.

"If I didn't know better, Potter - I'd say that you're a bad influence! If it isn't you in my ward, then it's one of your friends." Madam Pomfrey told him wryly. Harry of course could not reply, so merely blinked and frowned steely at her.

The matron did not notice this, however, for she was bending over her patient to peer into her eyes. Ron had just opened his mouth to explain what had happened but he was unable to say more than three words before Madam Pomfrey cut across him, "There's no need to explain - I can see exactly what has happened. I've lost count of the number of times I've had her in here for the same reason..."

She then marched back into her office leaving the three of them staring after her in confused astonishment. Apparently she had gone to retrieve some medication, for when she strode back into view several minutes later she carried a tray with a bowl of a warm, steaming liquid, some cloth and bandages and a large blue-glass bottle on it.

Madam Pomfrey set the tray down on the bedside table while Harry, Ron and Hermione looked on speechlessly. She then tutted and muttered something as she took Susie's left hand and wrapped it up in a bandage. Next she poured out a beakerful of the bottles contents, which she then dribbled into Susie's mouth whilst tilting her head forwards. Having given her the whole beakerful Madam Pomfrey put a piece of cloth into the warm liquid, rung it out then draped the damp material gently across Susie's eyes.

"You said Susie's been in here like this before - what is it that has happened exactly?" Hermione asked the nurse as she turned to look at the silent bystanders expectantly

The smallest of frown's creased Madam Pomfrey's brow. "You - you don't know what she did?"

They all shook their heads mutely.

"Well, it's not my place to tell you - you'll have to ask her about it once she's recovered..." Madam Pomfrey told them appearing both mystified and doubtful.

"How long will that take?" Ron asked, gazing at Susie anxiously as he drew up a chair by her side.

Madam Pomfrey removed the cloth from Susie's eyes, soaking it in the aromatic water and wringing it out once more before placing it across them again. She looked up at Ron kindly. "I don't know - it varies. Anything from twenty minutes to the rest of the afternoon, depending..."

"Depending on what," Hermione asked quietly.

"I really shouldn't say - I'm afraid you are just going to have to wait until she is feeling better."

"But you've told us this much," Hermione pointed out persuasively, "so it won't hurt if you tell us the rest."

"I haven't told you anything!" exclaimed the nurse indignantly.

"Yes you did," Hermione insisted, "we thought she'd just fainted but you implied that there was more to it than that and it's happened before."

Madam Pomfrey pursued her lips and replied defensively, "I only said that because I assumed you already knew the cause."

Before Hermione could say anything further, Ron asked quietly "Is it alright if we stay with her?"

Madam Pomfrey, who had been scowling at Hermione, turned to him and Harry saw her expression soften. "You can stay for a little while, but you'll have to leave at the end of the lunch break."

"But you let us stay through lessons last week when Harry was in here," Ron protested.

Madam Pomfrey pursed her lips again. "Well, that was different - none of us knew if Potter was going to wake up."

She turned to glance at Harry but he did not notice for he had been staring at Ron in disbelief since Ron had said that they'd skipped classes to stay with him. Seeing Harry staring at him, Ron frowned quizzically. "What? Why are you staring at me?"

Luckily for Harry, Hermione had noticed when he had started gazing at Ron in surprise so was able to answer for him correctly.

"I think he's a bit surprised that we missed lessons to stay with him," Hermione had been looking at Ron, but she turned to Harry as she added, "Is that right?"

He simply nodded.

"Are you feeling well, Potter? No ailments today?" Madam Pomfrey asked him slowly with a perceptive gleam in her eye.

Harry nodded cautiously, suspecting as he did so that Madam Pomfrey had just noticed he was not speaking. She peered at him astutely for a moment then said casually, "So - if I were to ask you if you could talk, presumably you would be able to would you?"

Harry was now in a situation that made it impossible for him to prevent Madam Pomfrey knowing that he had a problem. If he were to shake his head she would know he couldn't speak, but if her were to nod she'd then ask him to prove it - which obviously he couldn't so she would find out that way. Even if Ron or Hermione answered for him it would confirm her suspicions for she would wonder why they spoke for him if he himself was capable of doing so. This was therefore why he very reluctantly shook his head.

The speed with which she now crossed over to him from the opposite side of Susie's bed was astonishing. If he had not seen her pace around it then Harry would have said that she had leapt over it. Immediately she was feeling his forehead with the back of her hand, checking for a temperature at the same time as peering into his eyes. Next moment she was feeling the glands under his chin at the top of his neck.

When he opened his mouth to protest she peered inside keenly so he instead closed it with a snap. Hermione laughed openly at Harry who was indignant at being inspected by the nurse. Madam Pomfrey was now forcibly steering Harry over to a bed and pushing him firmly onto it. Putting a hand on his shoulder to prevent him from rising again, she asked him, "Do you know what happened to make you lose your voice?"

Harry scowled crossly at her and instantly shook his head. It seemed that Madam Pomfrey was not entirely convinced by his answer and frowned, muttering "Hmmm..."

She then turned to Ron and Hermione imploringly. "I don't suppose either of you can tell me what happened?"

Ron opened his mouth uncertainly and glanced at Harry. Harry's scowl deepened then he stared pointedly at Susie. Ron too looked in her direction before shaking his head slowly. "No - no we don't know either."

The matron then looked at Hermione who reluctantly confirmed what Ron had said at a furious glare from Harry. Madam Pomfrey peered suspiciously between the three of them but didn't say anything more about it at present. Instead she bid Harry to remain where he was while she went back to tend to Susie again.

There was no apparent change in her condition when Madam Pomfrey removed the damp cloth, repeating the process of swirling it in the water and wringing out the excess before replacing it over her eyes once more.

"So can we stay, then?" Ron pleaded quietly, shooting Madam Pomfrey a baleful expression before returning his gaze to Susie's limp form.

"Certainly not," she replied sternly.

"But you're letting Harry stay and he doesn't even want to!"

Madam Pomfrey smiled wryly. "Whether he wants to or not is irrelevant - I am of the opinion that he needs to stay, which is why he is."

"You won't be able to do anything for him, though," Ron insisted sulkily. "Because this spell-thing seems to be resistant to your healing remedies."

No matter which tack Ron tried, however, Madam Pomfrey was adamant that he could not stay during class. This made Ron even more resentful about their loss of Friday afternoons as leisure time. For their sixth and seventh years respectively the lesson-free Friday afternoons were denied them because of the increased demands on their time now that they were working towards their NEWTs.

What made it doubly hard was that they had to endure an hour of Professor Binns droning on about various notable dates and people of the magical past, whilst the lower years were out enjoying themselves. The history they studied might have actually been interesting had it been taught by someone else for Professor Binns had an uncanny ability of making the subject seem as dead as himself. But as it was, Friday's were definitely not their favourite day.

Having finished seeing to Susie, Madam Pomfrey returned her attention to Harry. She was apparently baffled by his sudden loss of speech and though she checked him over thoroughly she was unable to discern anything else wrong with him. However, she remained insistent that he stayed in the wing so she could keep an eye on him.

Repeatedly she got up and returned to check on Susie but each time there was no obvious alteration neither for better nor for worse. The current inhabitants of the ward remained in silence. Harry, Ron and Hermione for their parts were all pondering on what it was that Susie had done.

It was with much reluctance that Ron left the hospital wing when the lunch break was over. Hermione on the other hand had not been so desperate to stay so it did not come as much of a blow to her that she would have to go to class. Harry almost wished he could have swapped places with Ron - he was that sick of being in the hospital wing. Nevertheless he stayed resignedly where he was, feeling somewhat relieved that he had managed to avoid a whole hour with Professor Binns.

The time dragged by for Harry after the departure of his friends. Besides himself, the only people in the ward were Madam Pomfrey and Susie, both of whom were noiseless. Not that Harry should have minded, for he himself was unable to hold conversations at the moment anyway.

After about half an hour, the door to the ward swung open and in marched Professor Sprout accompanying three young students who were all looking a little the worse for wear. Each of them had a smattering of painful-looking pus-filled blisters that Harry had no trouble in recognising as being caused by contact with undiluted Bubotuber pus.

As Madam Pomfrey left her seat at Susie's bedside she turned to Harry. "Would you please keep an eye on her for me while I see to these patients? Thank you."

Harry nodded and swung his legs over the side of his bed before crossing over to the still-motionless Susie. He settled himself in the chair Madam Pomfrey had vacated whilst listening curiously to the conversation on the other side of the room. It turned out that the three students had had a bit of scuffle in their Herbology lesson while they were meant to be collecting Bubotuber pus and had ended up throwing the pus at each other. Funnily enough, Professor Sprout was livid with them and had no sympathy for their blistering skin.

It was as Harry was snickering inwardly to himself that he heard a soft moan beside him and he instantly realised that Susie was coming to.

Unsure of whether he ought to or not, but feeling it logical at the time, Harry carefully removed the cloth from Susie's eyes as they flickered back into focus. Susie smiled meekly at him and slowly sat up. Harry noted that she was extremely pale and looked remarkably as though she had drunk far too much butterbeer and was now suffering the after effects.

Harry smiled at her in relief and got up, tapping Madam Pomfrey on the shoulder as he drew level with her and indicated that Susie was now awake.

"Thank you Harry, I will be there in just a minute," she told him as she disappeared off into her office apparently to retrieve the antidote for the Herbology students.

Harry returned to his seat and when he saw that Susie was watching him, fixed her with a look that was both questioning and sympathetic, hoping that she would understand that he meant to ask her how she was feeling by it.

After a minute or two of staring at him with a puzzled expression on her face, she realised what he was trying to say and replied to his unspoken question. "Yeah - I'm alright, feeling a bit woozy at the moment though. You still can't talk then, eh? Well, I've had an idea. You know the cat-pendant that came out of the box? Have you still got it?"

Harry nodded and pulled the talisman out of his pocket waiting patiently to see where she was heading.

"I was just wondering if maybe your voice is inside it or something? I mean, it seems to be connected to you in some way because when I picked it up it made you choke - maybe if you put it on..." she trailed off, eyeing the amulet with keen interest.

Harry sat marvelling at her - she had been unconscious for over an hour and when she woke up one of the first things she did was to solve a mystery that had been troubling them all day.

Now that he thought about it, Harry wondered how he could have possibly failed to spot the simple logic of it; the most obvious thing was for the cat-pendant to contain his voice.

He grinned broadly at Susie but decided he would not slip the talisman over his neck just yet - he would wait until after Madam Pomfrey had come over to check on her patient.

"Well, aren't you going to put it on then?" Susie asked him, a note of confusion detectable in her hoarse, reedy voice. Harry shook his head and glanced at Madam Pomfrey who was just showing Professor Sprout and her students out of the ward.

Susie followed Harry's gaze but did not twig as to why he was peering in the nurse's direction, nor why he was stalling about putting the necklace on. She gave a small shrug of her shoulders and turned to Madam Pomfrey who had once more bustled over.

Madam Pomfrey checked Susie over then carefully undid the bandage that was covering her left palm. Harry gasped when the bandage was removed, revealing blistered and inflamed skin that had the appearance of being burnt by a corrosive substance. Susie winced but seemed almost uninterested and Harry realised that she must be used to the burns if this had happened to her several times before.

"Who was it this time?" Madam Pomfrey asked softly as she rubbed a cooling ointment onto the raw flesh, whilst ignoring Harry's presence.

Susie glanced warily at Harry before replying, "It was Malfoy; Draco Malfoy."

"Draco Malfoy?" The nurse repeated sharply then shook her head wryly as she re-wrapped the bandage around Susie's hand. "I really don't know why you keep doing this to yourself. Well, you know the routine - you'll have to stay in here for a little while to get some rest. I'll be in my office if either of you two need anything."

She then got up and left quietly. Susie chanced to meet Harry's eyes and found him staring at her in nonplussed astonishment. She smiled slightly at him then said casually, "I suppose you're wondering what it was I did?"