Drifting

Chapter 22: Foreshadowing

"There's a will,

There's a way,

Sometimes words just can't explain,

This is real,

I'm afraid,

I guess this time there's just no hiding-"

Michelle Branch, You Set Me Free.

~*~

Ron and Hermione walked slowly down the hallway after Defense Against the Dark Arts. They were in a deep conversation about Moody's teaching methods but Ron wasn't paying as much attention as he normally would to his girlfriend. He was more interested in watching Harry and Draco's progress down the hall a little ways in front of them.

Ron felt a small ache in his heart as he realized what was wrong with the scene before him. He missed it when it was the trio walking down the halls together. Just a few months ago, Harry and Draco would have been in the midst of a full-blown duel in the middle of the hall. The summer had changed Harry and Ron wasn't sure if it was for better or for worse.

This wasn't the first time Ron had caught himself thinking about Harry like this. He'd been doing that a lot since he'd seen how relaxed Harry was when he was around Ginny, Draco, and Blaise at his birthday party. Ron seemed to be the only one who couldn't accept the new Draco. Even Hermione could tolerate him pretty well and even had a few civil conversations with him.

He knew that in a way it was a good thing that Harry had other people to spend his time with. Ron knew that with his developing relationship with Hermione that Harry would be left out, a third wheel, and he wouldn't like it that much. This situation, however, often left Ron wondering why Harry needed Draco and Blaise as friends if he already had Ginny as his girlfriend.

Ron knew there were a lot of things Harry wasn't telling him. These were things that everyone else seemed to know. Ron knew his best mate and he could tell that something had thrown him, Ginny, Draco, and Blaise into the same bowl and that this thing had brought them together. The harder Ron thought about what it could be, the more outrageous his ideas became. He thought his most absurd one yet was that the four of them were doing something secret together for Dumbledore, something like Order work. Little did Ron know that he was pretty close to the truth.

A thud broke Ron out of his thoughts. His eyes snapped towards the source of the noise and saw Harry crouching down to pick up his fallen books. He could see Draco walking briskly away from him, not glancing back over his shoulder at Harry. Ron and Hermione came to a stop beside him.

"Need some help there, mate?" Ron said.

Harry looked up as he grabbed his last book. He frowned at Ron and stood, clutching his books tightly in his arms.

"Does it look like I need help?" Harry replied sharply.

"He was only trying to be nice, Harry," Hermione said.

Harry looked down the hallway in the direction Draco had gone. He took in a deep breath, as if trying to keep his temper down, which he was. If he couldn't get away from Ron and Hermione he couldn't go to training.

"Ihavetogotothelibrary," he said as fast as he could and sprinted off down the hall.

Hermione and Ron stared after him.

"Hermione," Ron started. "Isn't the library down the other corridor?"

~*~

When Harry's world came back to focus he groaned and closed his eyes again.

"No, no, Harry," he heard someone say. "Stay with us, Harry."

Harry gave another small groan but let the darkness of his mind claim him once again as he drifted into unconsciousness.

"Harry," the person said, shaking him lightly.

This time, Harry made no sound.

Dumbledore stood up and straightened his robes. He required a cot and it appeared before him. With ease, since Harry still seemed to have the weight of a thin twelve-year-old, Dumbledore lifted the boy up and placed him on the cot.

"I suppose we'll just continue without him for the time being," Dumbledore spoke, addressing the three teens that stood beside him.

Ginny and Blaise turned their attention away from Harry and back to the Headmaster. However, Draco didn't. He continued to stare at Harry with an odd expression on his face. An expression that was full of sorrow.

Looking at Harry now made Draco realize exactly how much of a jerk (and much worse) he had been to Harry their first five years at Hogwarts. He had joked about that lightning bolt scar many times in front of Harry, mocking how Harry would suddenly collapse. Now he knew it was no laughing matter. Voldemort had either invaded Harry's mind or drawn Harry into his.

"How long will he be out for?" Draco said, unexpected concern weaving into his voice.

Ginny suddenly looked afraid. She walked back over to Harry and knelt down next to the cot. She stroked his cheek gently.

"He's never gone unconscious right after an attack like this before. He'll normally just wake up and stay up," Ginny said uneasily.

Dumbledore seemed to realize that the lesson was getting nowhere. As he watched Blaise join the group around the small cot he knew that the four of them had formed a deep bond that no one could break. If one was down, the other three were with him. All an outsider could do was sit and wait. So that's what Dumbledore did. He required four chairs to appear and they did. Dumbledore sat in one and the three conscious teens sat in the others around Harry's cot.

I suppose I'll be saving Orli for another day.

~*~

The Gryffindor common room was deserted when Ginny, Draco, and Blaise walked into it.

"Cozy," Blaise commented as she sat in a chair by the fire.

Dumbledore entered carrying Harry's still limp form in his arms. He set Harry down gently on one of the couches close to the fire. Grabbing an extra blanket from the edge of another couch, he placed it over Harry. Then he headed over to the portrait hole.

"I must go attend dinner now. I will be back up to check on Harry later on. If he wakes up, which he should quite soon, do not let him fall back asleep. Would you like me to bring you four something back to eat?" Dumbledore spoke kindly.

"If it's not too much trouble, Professor," Draco said, glancing around at Ginny, Blaise, and Harry's blanket covered form, "I don't think any of us want to leave right now."

Dumbledore nodded gently, a smile forming on his face. Then he turned and left.

An awkward silence fell over the trio. None of them felt like talking much. After fifteen minutes, Draco suggested a game of chess. Ginny agreed to play and as she went upstairs to get her chess set, she passed the couch Harry was on. She heard Harry speak in a low voice that was barely audible and nearly jumped out of her skin.

"Don't leave, Ginny."

Ginny turned and stared at her boyfriend. His eyes were half open and he looked as if he was in a daze. In a flash, Ginny was sitting on the edge of the couch.

"When did you wake up?"

"Only a few seconds ago, I think. Did you all train without me? Is Dumbledore angry? Who brought me here? Why are Draco and Blaise here?" Harry said, hurling questions at her.

"Shh," Ginny said. "We didn't train without you, we couldn't because we were too concerned about you. You've never gone out again like that before. Dumbledore isn't angry at all. He seemed worried. He brought you here, carried you here actually. At one point he commented that you had to have been starving yourself because you seemed to have the weight of a skinny twelve-year-old."

"I am not starving myself. You know what I eat!" Harry protested.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "I know what you eat all right. A roll of bread for lunch is what you eat. Are you sure you're not becoming anorexic?"

Harry took Ginny's hand and held it tight. He wasn't sure why but he was becoming scared that he was anorexic. He knew that anorexics developed their condition because they were searching for some sort of control over their lives. And that's exactly trying what I'm trying to do, Harry thought, trying to get some control over my life.

"I'm not anorexic," Harry stated.

Ginny stroked his hair. She bit her lip as she thought about what Harry had just said. He had sounded like he was trying to convince himself he wasn't anorexic more than convince her.

"All right then, Harry," Ginny said, not believing him in the slightest and she knew that Harry could tell she didn't. "Draco and Blaise are here waiting for you to wake up so I'll go get them. You will tell us what happened, right?"

"I need to tell Dumbledore, too."

"He's coming back after dinner," Draco said as he made his way over with Blaise.

"He's bringing food as well, Harry. Eat it, please," Blaise put in.

"I will, I promise."

True to his word, when Dumbledore presented each of them with a plate of food, Harry took his and ate it all. As Ginny watched him, she began to think that the anorexic scare was just nothing more than a scary thought of what could happen. She brushed off the feeling that Harry was just putting on a show.

"Harry, would you care to fill me in on what happened when you first collapsed?" Dumbledore asked when they were done eating.

Harry ran a hand through his hair.

"I suppose I hadn't been thinking specifically of Voldemort lately. I'd been blocking him from my mind without even realizing it. I think part of it had to do with the fact I hadn't been thinking terribly much about him since there were more pressing matters. When you asked me to teach Ginny, Draco, and Blaise the Patronus Charm it made me think if I could still do it, which made me think of Dementors, which made me think of dark things, which suddenly led me to think of Voldemort," he paused and took in a breath. "Then it's like the thought of him broke a barrier in my mind and allowed him in. He was screaming at me, I could barely make out what he was saying. It was killing my head. He said something about a battle; something like it was coming very soon. I think he accidentally let me slip into his mind too because I saw where he was for an instant. He was in London, near the Leaky Cauldron, I think. I recognized it from when my Aunt took me there when I was seven and we had to get Dudley new school clothes. My best guess is he's either going to attack Muggle London or Diagon Alley. Then everything went black and he was gone."

Dumbledore sat thoughtfully, processing the information. Draco looked at Harry oddly as if he had a new meaning of what that scar was all about.

"So why did you go unconscious again?" Ginny asked, still not understanding.

"When you have Voldemort screaming in you head, the pain doesn't fade that easily. It hurt too much for me to stay awake and deal with it," Harry said simply.

"Does it still hurt?" asked Blaise.

Harry shook his head, no.

"Sir, when Ron was under the Imperius, he was commanded to tell me that a battle was coming closer. I think it's the same battle and Voldemort was giving me a teaser or something. I think he thinks that it'll scare me. Somebody's got to tell him I'm not a baby anymore, or at least get the message through to Bellatrix that she can stop with the stupid baby cooing every time she sees me." He shuddered at the memory of it from when he had first met her in the Department of Mysteries.

"Yes, Harry, I believe you are correct in your assumptions. I will go alert the Order to keep a close watch on Diagon Alley," Dumbledore stated and stood. "I know you four have homework so I will leave you to it. I shall see you all on Wednesday. Mr. Malfoy, Miss Zabini, you are welcome to stay here until curfew."

With that, Dumbledore banished all the dirty dishes to the kitchens. With a small nod to the group before him, he turned and left the common room.

"I brought your things, Harry," Blaise said, indicating the stack of books on the floor next to the couch.

"Thanks," Harry said, looking at the pile. "I really need to get my bag for tomorrow."

All four heads turned as the portrait hole opened.

"Harry! There you are!" Hermione said, her face lighting up as she saw him.

"Hey, mate," Ron greeted. "Er, not to be rude or anything, but what are you two doing here?" he asked indicating Draco and Blaise.

"Dumbledore told us we could stay," Draco said.

"Why?" Ron said, in a tone that said he wanted information right now.

Draco merely shrugged. He knew that they couldn't tell Ron about the training. Also, he knew Hermione hadn't gone to see the Headmaster yet about the training so neither of them knew.

"Where were you? What happened, Harry? You look very pale," Hermione began to ask.

"I got pushed down a flight of stairs," Harry lied.

Hermione rolled her eyes. She knew Harry was a horrible liar. It was evident in his face. His eye would always twitch slightly if he was lying. Only people who had studied his habits for a long time could figure that out. Namely, it was only Hermione and Ginny who knew.

Regardless of the remarks that Hermione always had her head in a book, she was very observant. She had studied Harry a lot in the past year or so. She'd been worried about him so she 'did her research' on him and found out what his habits were in the process. Hermione knew that when Harry lied, his eye would twitch, when he was faking being happy that his eyes wouldn't light up like they did when he was truly happy, during Potions class or any time he was nervous he would twirl his quill in his fingers, if there was no quill, he'd chew on his lip. Sometimes, if he were nervous enough, it would start to bleed. It had happened last year on a test that he knew he wasn't ready for because no matter how hard he had studied, he just couldn't understand the topic. The list went on and on.

"Harry, I'm not stupid. I know you're lying," Hermione remarked.

"All right," Harry sighed.

Ginny shot a glance at him. She was afraid he was actually going to come out and tell her all about the training. Blaise was on the edge of her seat and was thinking the exact same thing.

"I was-"

A sudden tapping on the window made Harry cut his sentence short. Blaise and Ginny both breathed small sighs of relief. Ron, curious as to what it was, went and opened the window. Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix, flew in carrying a letter.

Fawkes circled the room once before coming to land on Harry's shoulder. Harry stroked the phoenix fondly and took the letter. The neat and tidy scrawl on the front addressed the letter to Hermione. Harry handed it to her and sat back, content with having Fawkes on his shoulder.

Hermione looked up a minute later. She clutched the letter tightly in her hand.

"Harry, Dumbledore said that he wanted you to escort me to his office since you know the password. He also said he has something to tell me, and he wants you to stay for it," Hermione said.

Harry glanced at Draco, Ginny, and Blaise. They all nodded at him to go with Hermione. Harry stood up, Fawkes still on his shoulder.

"All right then, let's go," Harry said, and led the way out the portrait hole after Hermione gave Ron a quick kiss on the cheek.

The pair walked in silence for a minute. Then Hermione's thirst for knowledge took over and she began to shoot questions at Harry.

"What does Dumbledore want with me that you have to stay for? I have a feeling you know already."

Harry didn't answer.

"Harry," Hermione prodded gently.

She knew Harry had boundaries when it came to disclosing information to his friends. Hermione could tell by the look on his face that she was pushing his limits. If she didn't know him better she would have thought he was mad at her.

"It's for me to know and you to find out about," he snapped.

Hermione fell silent. Immediately Harry's expression changed to one of regret. He laid a hand on Hermione's shoulder to get her attention.

"I'm sorry, 'Mione. It's just been a long day and I have homework to do that I'm not looking forward to."

Hermione smiled. Harry was never one to be unkind to another unless he had a reason for it. She often caught herself wondering how it was possible Harry hadn't been hardened into a mean bully from all the time he spent at the Dursleys'.

"It's no problem, Harry, I understand."

Harry nodded and stopped walking. "We're here. Skiving Snackboxes."

Hermione cocked an eyebrow at Harry as they moved past the gargoyle and stood on the stairs.

"Skiving Snackboxes. Wasn't that one of-"

"Fred and George's inventions, yeah," Harry said, finishing for her.

When the staircase stopped moving Hermione found herself staring at a closed door. Harry raised his fisted hand and knocked. Dumbledore's voice echoed through the door for them to come in. Harry turned the knob and pushed open the door, allowing Hermione to enter first.

"Good evening, Miss Granger," Dumbledore greeted as Hermione sat down. "Harry," Dumbledore said with a nod.

Harry nodded back. "I'll just stand, sir, since I've already heard what you're about to say. If you need me then just tell me."

"All right then, Harry. Now, Miss Granger, what I'm about to tell you is very important. It needs to be kept secret and I trust you with this. You will need to take a wizard's oath of secrecy." Hermione nodded, listening raptly and watched as Dumbledore produced a gold chain with a small five-pointed star on it. "Harry, this is all I need you for. Someone who already knows about what Hermione will swear to be secret besides the person performing the spell needs to be present and holding the pendant at the same time as the speaker."

Harry tore his eyes away from the bookshelf. He came to stand beside Hermione. His index finger lightly touched the star in the middle of Hermione's palm.

"Repeat after me, Miss Granger. I, Hermione Jane Granger, hereby swear on a wizard's oath of secrecy to never speak of the information that is about to be told to me to anyone except the five members of the star which I will be told about."

Hermione recited the oath back perfectly. She glanced at Harry, wondering if he was one of the five members of the star.

"If I tell a soul about the contents of my knowledge outside of the five I shall condemn myself to a fate worse then death itself. With this promise, I, Hermione Jane Granger, swear to never speak the contents of this conversation to anyone outside the five," Dumbledore said, ending the oath.

When Hermione was done, Dumbledore said the spell to seal her promise into the pendant. Then he instructed her to bow her head as he looped the chain over her head.

"You may return to the books, Harry."

"Yes, sir," Harry said, and turned away again.

"Miss Granger, I'll bet you are wondering who are the five you can talk to about this. Harry, Miss Weasley, Mr. Malfoy, Miss Zabini, and myself are the only five you may speak to about this. I am training the four of them to..."

Harry tuned Dumbledore out as he continued to scan the books. Dumbledore had many interesting reads in his collection. Harry ran his index finger over the spines of them as he read the titles. He stopped when he came to a book titled The First Rise of the Dark Lord Voldemort. He picked the book off the shelf. Holding the book up he turned to the Headmaster. He waited until there was a lull in the conversation before speaking.

"Professor, may I borrow this book?" Harry asked.

"Yes you may, Harry. I daresay I have some interesting books on those shelves. Feel free to take a book whenever you want as long as you check it with me first," Dumbledore replied.

"Thank you, sir."

Harry set the book down on the table in front of the bookshelf to take when he left.

~*~

Now that Harry thought about it, he really had no clue why he had continued with Care of Magical Creatures. He couldn't see where he'd ever need it in life. Unless Voldemort had particularly nasty creatures at his disposal, Harry didn't really need to worry.

Hagrid had let the class leave fifteen minutes early as a treat for it being their first class and for making it to the N.E.W.T. class. Harry had left Ron and Seamus to their argument over Quidditch teams. Hagrid had called him over most likely to catch up with him but Harry had ignored him. For a reason Harry couldn't quite put a finger on he didn't feel like talking today. Instead he entered the castle and began to wander aimlessly through the halls. They were mostly deserted, save a few small groups of seventh years going to study in their free period.

Harry walked by them without giving them the slightest bit of attention. He caught sight of Cho out of the corner of his eye but kept walking with his head slightly bowed. He completely missed Cho's wave for him to come over to her.

"Harry!" she called out.

Harry stopped and turned around. Cho left her group of friends and walked over to him. Harry eyed her with a look of disinterest. He really didn't feel like talking to anyone anymore.

"Are we going to continue the D.A. this year?" Cho asked.

Harry shrugged. "Don't know."

He turned to leave but Cho caught his arm, pulling him back. She eyed him before speaking.

"You've changed, Harry. You're not the Harry I used to know," she stated.

Harry was beginning to feel helpless. He hated being trapped with statements like the one Cho had just said. He shifted slightly.

"You look depressed, like something is haunting you. I could make it go away, Harry. Just give me another chance."

Harry tried to step back as he realized what Cho was saying. She wanted him to give her another shot at being his girlfriend. Harry felt heat rising in his cheeks and he knew his temper was rising with it. How dare she! The nerve of that little bitch!

"You know what, Cho? I'm not stupid. You were using me last year to get over your own stupid pain. You didn't have to see him die and I was still trying to get rid of the nightmares about it. You didn't care. Well, I'm not sorry about this at all, but you've missed your chance. I have a girlfriend who actually gives a shit about my feelings. Go shag Corner in a closet or something because I don't care about you," Harry said, his voice rising slightly.

With that he yanked his arm out of Cho's grasp and stormed off down the hall. He didn't look back to see her shocked expression. Vaguely Harry wondered if she'd ever figure out that he was telling the complete truth.

"Harry, wait up!" another voice called.

Harry, still thinking it was Cho, turned around with his mouth open, ready to tell her off. When he saw it was just Katie Bell he relaxed.

"Hey, Katie. What's up?" Harry greeted.

"I assume you got a letter from McGonagall about the lifting of your ban," Katie said, getting straight to business.

Harry nodded.

"I suppose she told you about captaining the team as well."

Harry nodded again. "Yeah. I'm fine to let you have it. It's your last year and all and that just means I'll get it next year."

Katie smiled. "That's sweet but I had a different idea. Since it is my N.E.W.T. year I didn't want captaining to take up too much of my time. I was wondering if you would agree to co-captain the team with me?"

"Are you sure about that?" Harry asked. "If you're just doing this to be nice, you don't have to."

"I'm positive, Harry. I have a feeling you'll be nowhere as bad as Angelina and Wood were and personally I don't think I could handle the team by myself. It'll be good to have someone to work on it with," Katie said.

Harry smiled. "All right then, Katie. You have yourself a deal."

Katie smiled in return and gave him a quick hug. Then she turned and continued down the hall to her next class. The bell rang, signaling the end of the previous class. Students poured into the halls and Harry took off towards the room of requirement. He had a lesson on Patronuses to teach.

~~**~~