Twilight

Twilight

L.S. Song

Chapter Nine - Preparations

"Where on earth is Potter?" snapped Snape at a still sleepy Hermione. Ron had his arm around her in a protective fashion, but she shook it impatiently off.

"No idea, ask Ginny or something..."

"Miss Weasley is gone too. Where is Potter's map, we need to find him now!"

"No need, Professor, here I am. What do you need?" said Harry, who had just walked through the portrait hole with a sleeping Ginny in his arms.

"What I NEED, Potter is for you to stop being ridiculous and put Miss Weasley down, and for you and Granger get your inflated heads into the Headmaster's office now!" snarled Snape.

"Yes Professor," replied Harry. "Ron? Could you take Ginny up to her bed please?"

He handed the sleeping Ginny lightly into her brother's arms like a porcelain doll, and walked with Hermione and Snape out of the door.

Snape walked ahead of them choosing to act as if they weren't there.

Whilst Harry was wondering what on earth he had done to be summoned to the Headmaster's office, Hermione was twittering away.

"Where did you go, Harry, you smell like Ginny's perfume and you have her lip gloss shining on your cheeks..."

Harry shot Hermione a smirk that asked 'do you really want to know?'

Hermione groaned, and shook her head.

"I didn't think so."

"Potter, Granger, IN!" snapped Snape.

Harry and Hermione walked into Dumbledore's office, to find all the members of staff, Cornelius Fudge, and all the members of the Order of the Phoenix assembled there, waiting patiently for those two.

"My apologies, Headmaster, for the delay, but Potter found it necessary to go sneak off somewhere with Ms. Weasley..."

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley shot Harry fervent looks at that, and gave Harry a small nod each.

"It isn't of any matter, Severus. Harry, Hermione, please take a seat," said Dumbledore, with a wave of his hand conjuring up three more chairs for Snape, Harry, and Hermione.

"Now, firstly, Cornelius, have you any information on Voldemort's recent moves?"

Cornelius Fudge swept off his lime bowler hat, and straightened himself up.

"I'm afraid to say that You-Know-Who is slowly gaining a strong grip hold on Britain as we speak. Death Eaters attack at random positions, and destroy entire villages... Obliviators working overtime every night... it's just like the first war all over again..."

"What of his follower strength and numbers?"

"We have seen and identified at least six hundred dark wizards in Great Britain alone."

Harry had expected a gasp or something from the people sitting in Dumbledore's office. Six hundred dark wizards on Voldemort's side? He thought to himself. Ridiculous.

"However, the ministry has reason to believe that there are even more..."

"Thank you Cornelius, that will be all for now."

Dumbledore had then turned to each Order member in turn and asked them questions.

By half an hour, Harry and Hermione had found out that Voldemort had already taken the entire country of Iceland, and part of Ireland already, and was slowing closing a death grip on Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Harry was also shocked to find that Azkaban had been completely taken over by Dark Forces, and now Ministry members and Aurors were being held there if they were captured and withholding information.

The room had dissolved into quiet chatter as Dumbledore pulled Snape aside and had a few words with him. When Dumbledore had stood up, and the room fell silent.

"Severus here has returned with Voldemort's plans. As most of you know, he is a spy, and recently he has found out the most important plot yet. A kidnap attempt will be made on Mr. Potter or one of his friends, in an effort to lure him into a trap. The planned date was the Hogsmeade weekend in two days. The outing will be canceled of course, and the school defences set on high alert. However, the most disturbing fact is that Voldemort has a strike force of one hundred dark wizards to capture Mr. Potter. Everyone in this room will be defending the school, including Mr. Potter and his friends, and any aurors the ministry can spare. We must not allow his plot to succeed. I daresay everyone in this room knows how important Mr. Potter here is?"

Everyone in the room nodded, even Snape, although he did it grudgingly.

"Mr. Potter and his friends will be able to participate for three reasons. Firstly, two of his friends are prefects and standing in front of us are the Head Boy and Girl. Secondly, all of Mr. Potter's friends are remarkably well trained in dueling, especially these two here. Doubtless, all of you know that that Ronald Weasley and Harry Potter here were involved in the battle of Diagon Alley, and they showed that they can handle the situation. Finally, for the sake of the wizarding world's morale, Mr. Potter's presence is important."

Again, everyone in the room nodded.

"Cornelius, how many aurors can you spare?"

"Fifty to sixty, at most." Harry was amazed at how the Minister had changed now that the public knew that Voldemort had returned.

"That will do."

"Now, when Voldemort finds that there is no one at Hogsmeade, he will come to Hogwarts, as he has enough firepower at his disposal now. I need twenty aurors positioned in the forest. The other aurors should be positioned around the castle, and the members of the Order will guard the students at the front doors. Be here the on the night of Friday. You may leave unless you have any questions. Harry, Hermione, please find Ron and Ginny Weasley and inform them of our plans. Their attendance is optional."

Dumbledore sank back down into his chair, looking older than ever. Harry guessed that his old age must be getting to him at last.

People in Dumbledore's office started leaving, either through the fireplace or out the door.

"Harry, can I have a word?"

Harry turned and approached Remus Lupin. "Hello Remus, how have you been?"

"As well as I can be, given the circumstances... now the reason I wanted to talk to you is about Saturday... I know that nothing I say will change your mind about going, but I'm asking you now, please don't do anything rash..."

"It's okay Remus, I won't. Thank you for caring." Harry embraced the older man, and when he broke away he saw a faint trace of a smile.

"Just like James, Harry, just like James..." Remus flashed Harry a genuine smile, although it was a sad smile from a man who had suffered more than what should be allowed in a lifetime, losing all of his close friends.

With another hug and a pat on the back, Remus Lupin walked back into Dumbledore's office.

Harry and Hermione went back to the Head Boy and Girl dorms, finding Ron sleeping on the couch. Harry and Hermione decided to wait until the next morning to tell the two Weasleys, as they tiptoed to their own respective rooms and went to bed.

The next morning, Harry and Hermione broke the news to Ron and Ginny before they went to breakfast.

"You're joking... they wouldn't dream of attacking at HOGWARTS would they?"

"One hundred dark wizards... anyway, they want us to participate... Hermione and I because we're head boy and girl, you two because well... you're Weasleys, and you're our best friends," said Harry.

"But, You-know-who wouldn't dare attack Hogwarts with DUMBLEDORE here, would he?"

"Look, Ron. I don't know if its just me, but Dumbledore doesn't seem to be in that high a level of physical fitness anymore... Yesterday, when he was holding the meeting, after he dismissed everyone, he immediately slumped into his chair... and he looked really frail..." said Harry.

"Yeah I saw that too..." nodded Hermione. "Do you reckon we should go see him about it?"

"Are you crazy? Go to the Headmaster and say 'Oh, I noticed you weren't looking so well lately, are you getting too old to function properly?'" asked Ron.

"Not like that..." began Hermione, but turned quiet before she finished the sentence.

It was in a dark mood that the quartet walked down to breakfast. Harry caught Dumbledore's eye and nodded. Sitting down to a plate of scrambled eggs with ham, he heard Hermione shout, "HARRY!"

"What? What?"

"LOOK! YOUR EGG! IT'S HATCHING!"

"What? OH!"

Harry gently removed the egg from his open backpack, and placed it on the breakfast table, where he watched the pattern shake. He watched motionlessly, unsure of what to do.

By now, many Gryffindors had gathered around Harry's egg.

"Oh my god! I have to check on MY egg!" shrieked Parvati, and sprinted away, followed closely by Lavender.

"Oh look! A bit of the shell broke off!" yelled somebody.

Harry bent forwards to look into the egg. All he saw were a pair of green eyes staring back at him. He almost flinched.

Another piece of the shell broke off, as a small mewing sound came from the creature inside. Another shake, and the shell broke open.

It was a small black creature, looking exactly like a cat. Picking it up gingerly, Harry said, "Funny, cats aren't supposed to be born from eggs, are they?" The kitten had immediately shut its eyes, and had snuggled up against Harry's shoulder, letting out another long, "Meeeeow".

"Awwww, it's so cute!" squealed Ginny and Hermione at the same time.

"But why is a cat born in an egg?"

"That's no ordinary cat, Harry... I'm going to the library to check, come with me!"

And with that, Hermione dragged Harry off to the library.

Harry's stomach growled loudly, "But Hermione!"

The kitten had now opened its eyes. "Wow Harry, look! It's eyes are exactly the same color as yours! Come to think of it, it really resembles you... messy black hair, green eyes..."

"Yeah, I saw... But come on, if we're going to do some research before Dumbledore's class, we better hurry. We have fifteen minutes. Let's just get the books, and sign them out."

Harry and Hermione ran and pulled down Magical Cats, Different Breeds of Cat, and Rare Species of Cat from the shelves, stuffed it under the vulture like librarian's nose, and signing them out, they ran to the gargoyles outside of Dumbledore's office and shouted, "Acid Pop", and quickly sprinted up the stairs.

"Ah, Harry, Hermione. I see your mysticat has hatched! Wonderfully loyal creatures, they are, once they bond with a wizard they stay with them until they die... they gain very unique magical powers as they grow with the wizard..."

Seeing Harry and Hermione's looks of disbelief, Dumbledore smiled tiredly, and said, "Did I just ruin hours of research? Or did you by any chance expect something else?"

"Neither, professor. I'm just shocked that I got such a good creature for my class... but could I ask a favor? Could you perhaps tell me what gender it is?" asked Harry.

"Oh, that's a male mysticat," replied Dumbledore. "Now, on with the lesson. Harry, Hermione, can you please call Ronald and Virginia up to my office please? Today will be a training session for what's to happen tomorrow. Here, take these notes with you to give to the lesson teachers... I daresay you know where the two are now?"

Harry and Hermione nodded, took the notes, and walked off.

"Gin's in Divination, I'll get her. You go get Ron, he should be in charms now..." said Harry, and the two ran off in separate directions.

Running up to the Divination Tower, he climbed up the staircase and smiled at the sixth year class, with his mysticat on his shoulder.

"Ooooh, such a cute kitty!" squealed a few of the sixth year girls in delight.

"Hello Professor Trelawney... may I snatch Ginny away from you for today? Important business with Professor Dumbledore, I have a note..." Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Dumbledore's head in the fire, and he gave it a wink.

"Business with Dumbledore, that's an excuse if I've ever heard one," whispered one of Ginny's friends, and they collapsed in giggles.

"Ah Mr. Potter, I have just seen something horrible in the crystal ball..."

"Let me guess, I get killed one way or another?"

"My, you do seem to have developed the Inner Eye over the two years we've been apart..."

"Professor? I'd love to stay and talk, but I really do need to collect Ginny, we have some urgent business with Dumbledore..."

"But Mr. Potter! You must know what I've Seen! You will be betrayed!!! OH it's HORRIBLE!"

"Yes, I'm afraid so, Professor, I just hope my death isn't long and drawn out... I'd rather just die quickly, wouldn't you?"

"Ever so a hero, Mr. Potter. If only you knew what awaits you..."

"Well, I'll be going with my damsel in distress now, if you don't mind? Battle awaits, and the hero must sharpen his sword..." said Harry in a sarcastic way, but Trelawney didn't notice.

Wiping a tear away from her eye, she said, "Go on, go on."

The whole class was already filled with giggles and laughter, as Harry led Ginny towards the staircase, climbed down, and yelled loudly, "Jump, fair maiden in distress, for I will catch you in your moment of need!"

The sixth year class had erupted with roars of laughter at that, and Trelawney said, "Now really!"

Harry was grinning like a Cheshire cat when he and Ginny had walked down the stairs going to Dumbledore's office, Ginny still caught in her fit of giggles.

"Acid pop," said Harry as they reached the gargoyles.

"A nice show you put on there Harry," smiled Dumbledore as he and Ginny sat down. Hermione and Ron were already sitting.

Harry grinned back at Dumbledore saying, "Thanks, Professor."

"Okay, I'll be straight with you four. You are the four are amongst the most brilliant of students to come to Hogwarts as of late. Hermione in particular, has achieved the highest grades Hogwarts has seen since Tom Riddle... Anyway, tomorrow Voldemort is supposedly going to attack the school. It is my responsibility to make sure that you are well protected tomorrow, you could imagine the consequences if one of you were to get seriously injured..."

Dumbledore had probably expected one of them to wince, or look around nervously, but the four teens sat there stonily, looking the Headmaster in the eye. He afforded himself a little smile.

"Today, I will teach you the immensely powerful absorption charm, it works by sapping the target's magical power into you for a period of five minutes, none more. This will, in effect, almost double your magical power, allow you to do various things you usually would not be able to do, such as unforgivable curses - but you won't be doing that. The key point is that for five minutes, your opponent is left a muggle, in which you can disarm or stun them. The incantation is parasitran magica. You may practice on these." With a flick of his wand, Dumbledore summoned four dummies.

It was a long and terribly hard process to practice, as the beam of light moved a lot slower than a normal spell, and Dumbledore enchanted the dummies to dodge the hexes thrown by the four students.

After an hour of throwing the same hex, Dumbledore held up his hand and asked them to stop.

"Professor? Why is it that this spell moves so much slower than the other hexes?" asked Hermione before Harry had a chance.

"A good question, Hermione. It is because you have not practiced enough. All of your hexes are very weak and slow right now because it hasn't been used enough yet."

"ENOUGH? We've been using the same spell for an HOUR, professor!" cried Ron.

"Yes, well let me show you what it should look like at nearly full power... my magic isn't what it used to be..."

With that, Dumbledore hurled four of the absorption charms into the dummies, and Harry saw that the charm flew even faster than the average stunning charm. The dummies flew and hit the wall, collapsing into four heaps. With a wave of his wand, the dummies disappeared.

"By the end of today, I expect all four of you to at least equal that effect. Would you four like some refreshment before we try again?"

The four famished teens nodded, and before them platefuls of pasta appeared in front of them on the table, with a goblet of butterbeer at the side. A bowl of fish and a bowl of milk appeared on the ground for Harry's mysticat.

Ron sighed contently as he helped himself to the delicious food. The mysticat purred as it lapped up the milk and ate the fish contently.

Harry smiled inwardly at the similarity between the baby kitten and his seventeen-year-old friend.

Soon, the food and drink was finished. "Shall we return to our exercises?" asked Dumbledore, summoning up the four dummies again.

Harry, Hermione, Ginny and Ron had now managed to hit a dummy every once in a while, and the speed of the hexes were now just a bit slower than the stunning curses.

When it was five o'clock in the afternoon, Harry managed to throw the absorption charm so quickly that he hadn't missed a single dummy in his last seven shots. Hermione was around his level, although Ginny and Ron were still casting the charm as fast as they would a stunning spell.

Dumbledore smiled down at them. "Now, Harry, Hermione, try to stun all of the dummies before they reach you." With another wave of his wand, there were twelve dummies standing motionlessly at the other end of Dumbledore's office.

"Go."

The dummies ran towards Harry and Hermione at a disturbingly fast speed.

"STUPEFY, STUPEFY, STUPEFY!" cried Harry and Hermione many times in succession.

Surprisingly, they found that the spells flew much faster than they used to. Only one dummy had reached them.

"Very good, very good... you see, as you become more fluent in casting curses and hexes, almost all of the spells you learn can be improved in speed and power. The absorption spell is one of the slowest spells that can be cast. Since you now can cast it with reasonable speed, I daresay that you won't find the Death Eaters too much a challenge. Now, why don't you four run off and enjoy yourselves for a while before dinner. I suggest you get an early sleep for tonight. We will need to be prepared for tomorrow. I must go set up the defences, good afternoon," said Dumbledore, dismissing them.

As soon as Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny walked out of the office, Albus Dumbledore collapsed in his chair, moaning softly, clutching at his heart in pain. Minerva McGonagall had walked out of the fireplace and said softly, "Albus, Albus, Albus... you actually did it didn't you... oh Merlin's beard... wait here, I'll fetch a potion from Severus..."

The teenagers were oblivious to the fact as they walked down to visit Hagrid that they had sapped some of their own Headmaster's power, to permanently keep for their own in the war that would soon escalate to frightening scales.