Harry Potter and the Maneosioan War

Chapter 15 Unanswered

     "Are you completely mental?"

     "Play games? At this time?"

     "I think he's had it!"

     Harry knew that he was about to get this response, and he was ready for it since he had spent much of his time at Hogwarts trying to convince many of those that attended the school that he was not hit in the head.

     "Would you just listen to me?!" he shouted above the disturbed murmurings in the room.

     Everyone, even Ron and Hermione, suddenly looked at him, slightly taken aback.

     "Thank you," said Harry furiously. "Look, just let me explain, all right." He began to pace again.

     "The only way that we can be prepared for this is if we take them by surprise. It is most casual and the best way for us to plan our steps from the Quidditch stadium. The entire school will have to be there, including the professors. We'll have our brooms and we will be divided into teams. If all of us are given the right directions, then this may just be the safest way to - "

     "But Harry," said Hermione quietly. "I mean, I know what you're thinking and all, but...how can you be sure that everyone will be willing to participate?" As Harry cast her an angry look, she quickly continued, "I mean, I'm not so sure that the Slytherins will want to take that big a part in this."

     Harry was ready for even this and so he replied, "Well, if they don't participate, then I suppose that they may simply stay back at the castle and be murdered like the rest." (Several gasps emerged from the crowd.) " Not like they have much of a choice, do they? Besides, one House against the whole school is not that big of a threat. Especially since a bunch of them are wimpy cowards anyhow."

     A majority of the D.A. members laughed nervously.

     "So.." said Hermione nervously. "So...what exactly are you thinking?"

     Harry smirked. "I thought you knew?"

     Hermione blushed slightly.

     He continued.

     "Just as long as we can be prepared for it. This will take a lot of work and concentration, but the important thing is that we all agree to do it. Look, the Quidditch pitch is the closest to the forest. If anything, a majority of us will be able to fly away on signal before any attack comes. I bet you anything they'll go after the castle - "

     "But won't they be able to stop us on brooms, though?" asked Seamus.

     "Not unless we Disillusion ourselves," said Harry.

     "That's right!" Hermione whispered to herself, her eyes widening and her mouth slightly plopping open as she now appeared to be deep in thought.

     "So," Harry continued. "So, with that, I believe that it would be proper to evacuate all under the ages of fifteen - "

     "Hey!" came several outbursts.

     "DON'T YOU DARE TELL ME THAT ANYONE UNDER THAT AGE SHOULD BE PART OF A WAR!" Harry was suddenly screaming. He didn't know why, but something inside of him had suddenly burst. After so much patience, for so long, the fact that so many lives were going to be risked had finally got to him. "DON'T YOU GET IT? THIS ISN'T JUST ANYTHING! IT'S NOT JUST QUIDDITCH! THIS IS BLOOD ON MY HANDS! I AM GOING TO COMMAND YOU WHAT TO DO AND YOU BETTER LISTEN TO ME BECAUSE IT'S PROBABLY THE ONLY HOPE WE HAVE RIGHT ABOUT NOW. SO DON'T YOU GO AND TELL ME WHAT I SHOULD AND SHOULD NOT DO; WHOM I SHOULD AND SHOULD NOT TAKE; WHO SHOULD LIVE AND WHO WILL NOT! I MAKE THAT DECISION, YOU HEAR ME?" Harry stopped screaming and was breathing very deeply. Everyone was staring at him with completely frightened faces. He couldn't distinguish one expression from the other. It seemed as if every person in the room had gone as white as a ghost.

     "Sorry about that," he mumbled, "but it kind of irritates me when you think that you know what you're doing; when you think that all of this is just another lesson. This isn't school any longer! It's a battleground! And as much as it has been my home for so long, I'm afraid that we may have to leave it behind unless we win this war. We can't risk everything for Hogwarts. We just can't..."

     Harry looked at Hermione and saw that she had only just began to regain some of the color in her face. Suddenly, he was taken aback as she stood up and came to stand by his side, taking his hand, and facing the meeting.

     "Harry is absolutely right! We have no right to decide what's good for us! Harry is the only one here who truly knows what it's like to face Voldemort and if we're here in the D.A. then we have to trust him to deliver our lives where they belong. He'll give us a place! Hogwarts has also been my home for a long time and I will not give it up to some lousy, no good, rotten Death Eaters who have nothing better to do than ruin people's lives! I've had enough of this, and I'm more than sure that many of you have too! So the only way that we can win this is if we trust Harry and listen to him! He is probably the only person in here that knows how to face this battle or that has any idea in the least! So are you with us? ARE YOU WITH HOGWARTS? ARE YOU OR ARE YOU NOT DUMBLEDORE'S ARMY?"

     A loud outburst of cheers rose from the group as Hermione raised Harry's hand up high and the rest of them came running up to the couple, clapping, whistling, and shaking Harry and Hermione's hands. Harry caught a glimpse of Ron, Luna, Ginny and Neville grinning at them from the crowd. If Harry felt that he could have produced a Patronus when he won the Quidditch Cup, that was nothing compared to how he felt now, knowing that he had the support of all of these kids that trusted him with their fates. Harry could have cried, but didn't find it appropriate for the moment when they had just elected him as the one person who could save the school from what can well be the worst attack that it will ever experience.

     After the rally, as everyone cleared out, Harry noticed that Luna had stayed behind to talk to Ron. He knew that it would have been appropriate to leave them alone, but there was something in Harry's chest that seemed unresolved; something that he had been curious for such a while and, yet, even though he knew that it was probably wrong to ask, he felt as if he had to. The urge inside him was too strong to resist, and so he came up to Luna as she was still in deep conversation with his best friend and tapped her on the shoulder.

     "Er - say, Luna, d'you mind if I have a word with you? I have to ask you something," he said grimly.

     Luna nodded her head and said, "Just one moment."

     She whispered something to Ron, who smiled, and kissed him on the cheek, turning to Harry.

     "Is something wrong, Harry?" she asked, looking dreamily about the room.

     "Well, it's just - " Harry began, wondering how to phrase it. "Luna, how did you - whatever happened with - with the veil."

     Luna's perturbed eyes widened even more and she opened her mouth to speak, but didn't seem to be able to find the right words.

     "W-Well, I just - you see I can't - Really. Say," she finished, looking at him.

     Harry took a harsh breath. What was it with women and secrets? Did they absolutely have to have one that could be so crucial?

     "Look, Luna, have a seat, why don't you," he said, leading her toward one of the tables and pulling a chair out for her.

     "No, that's all right, I'd rather stand," she said.

     Harry walked around the table and sat down. Motioning with his hand to the other side, he said, "Please have a seat."

     Luna seemed slightly surprised, but followed his order.

     "I don't think you realize how important this is to me right now," he said, leaning toward her from his chair. "Luna, you have that power or whatever it is you said. That's important for me to know. I want you to help me. If you can learn how to use your power or whatever, then so can I! You have to help me! Please."

     She looked at him pityingly. "I'm sorry, Harry, I really am, but there is nothing I can do. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't tell you." She got up. "I'm sorry," she said once again and began to walk away.

     Harry stood from his chair and said, "Could you at least consider telling me?"

     She turned and walked up to him. "There's nothing to consider, Harry. There is nothing I can do."

     "Right," said Harry. "Of course there isn't."

     "But Harry, if there is ever anything that you need me to help you with, I'll always be there for you. I want to be your friend, Harry, but there are just some things that I don't have answers to. Neither does Hermione, I'm sure," she said, smiling sadly. "Even though I may believe in some absurd things, even I sometimes doubt their existence. I'm afraid that it is the same with life. You may often think that there is an answer to everything when really there is not. That is where I cannot help you, Harry. Sometimes things must be left...unanswered. That's why I don't think Hermione is always right. Because to be right you have to know that you are right. And knowing you are right, in her case, takes more than what you believe to be true and what is truly real."

     "I don't understand," said Harry, perplexed. "How can something exist that cannot be answered? Have no resolution?"

     She smiled again and said, "You'll see. In time, you'll always see. They never do. But you will, I'm sure."

     Luna came up to Harry and hugged him. Puzzled, Harry hugged her back. It was a strange hug and, knowing Luna, he expected nothing less, but Harry couldn't really explain how much that hug meant to him. She didn't hug him like a friend, but like a brother. It was as if she was telling him that she was looking out for him and, somehow, hugging her back, Harry sealed the contract. Being the most peculiar person he'd ever hugged, Harry soon let go of Luna and smiled back.

     "You're weird, Luna Lovegood," he said. "But you've got a good heart. You take care of it. And take care of my friend too. That Ron Weasley, he deserves you."

     Luna smiled, her bulging eyes seeming wider than ever, and walked out of the room.

     Harry didn't know if what Luna had said made him feel more confident or uncertain, but whatever she had meant, he couldn't wait to find out what she was talking about, because it seemed like a hell of a lot more than he could handle. And he felt ready for whatever it was.

     As Harry sprang back to the Gryffindor common room, he found Ron waiting for him by the fire.

     "So what d'you talk about?" he said, rather densely.

     "I wanted to ask her...about the - you know - about what happened with the veil," said Harry, somewhat hesitantly.

     "Oh," said Ron, sounding a bit relieved. "Is - Is that all?"

     "Yeah," said Harry, suspiciously. "Why? What else would I talk to her about? Ron, you know she's just a good friend of mine, right?"

     "Oh. Yeah. Yeah, you're right, Harry, I just - I don't know - I've - all this time Luna and I have been together and it's - I dunno. Weird. I haven't had the chance to be jealous of anyone yet. She's so...loyal to me. I mean...I feel...bad."

     Harry raised an eyebrow. "Ron, what are you talking about? Why should you feel bad? That's kind of the opposite of what you should be feeling!" He gave a nervous laugh.

     Ron sighed. "No, it's not that I feel bad about her. It's that I feel bad about me. I feel as if - I dunno - I haven't been loyal to you before. Or Hermione. I mean, no one's really payed as much attention to me as she has and now I just - I feel lost!"

     "So," said Harry, racking his brains, "So she's loyal to you so you feel bad because you think that you haven't been loyal...to us?"

     "Well...yeah," said Ron.

     "Don't be thick!" said Harry. "Are you mad? Ron, you're my best friend and you've always - well, most of the time - have been there for me. Look, I wouldn't choose anyone else to stand by me except you and Hermione and that's because I trust you, d'you get that?"

     Ron went red.

     Harry groaned. "Let me guess. Now you feel even worse?"

     "Sort of," said Ron in a whisper.

     "Look, Ron, you're being ridiculous about the whole thing. You've never really betrayed me at all. The only time that you've ever wavered on me was during that Goblet fiasco, but that's behind us, all right? Look, I don't even know why I'm talking about this. You should know better Ron, honestly."

     Harry shook his head and was about to head for the boy's dormitory when Ron's voice stopped him again. "It's not just that," he said.

     Harry spun around. "What d'you mean?" he said suspiciously.

     "Harry I...I've sort of...betrayed you more than that one time..."

     "I'm listening," said Harry.

     "Well, you - you know how I said that Hermione had loved you for who knows how long?"

     Harry thought back, though it was hard. After all of that yelling at the D.A. meeting, he could hardly think properly. "Yeah. So?"

     "Well, I - I did know for - for a while..."

     "How long a while?"

     "Well, since - since the beginning of fifth year."

     "So..."

     "See, I sort of figured how she felt about you...but...I...I..."

     "What Ron? Would you just spit it out?"

     "I tried to stop her," he said really quickly, not looking at Harry.

     "Stop her? Stop her from what? Ron, what are you talking about?" Harry was beginning to get angry. He didn't see where Ron was going and he wished he would get to his point already.

     "I..I tried to stop her from - from telling you," he breathed.

     "What - ? Ron...why?" said Harry.

     He turned to face Harry now, and spoke, "I tried to stop her for - for several reasons. One, I guess, was that I didn't want her to get hurt because - because I sort of thought that she would - that you wouldn't, you know, feel the same way and the second was that I - I just didn't want you two to be together without - without me."

     "Ron..."

     "Look, Harry, I'm really sorry. I know, I do feel like a git, but I just didn't want to lose my friends. Believe me, I wanted you to be happy, I really did. I mean, I sort of didn't even like Cho either. I didn't like Krum. I hated everyone who would take you two away from me. But then if you...got together...then I thought...where would that leave me?" said Ron in a very small voice, staring at the floor.

     "Ron, you'll always be our best friend no matter what. Nothing will change things!"

     "Yeah, but now with this war...I mean, Harry you're taking up a really serious role and all. I just - I don't think - I'm not so sure we can all make it."

     Harry clapped his hand on Ron's shoulder and smiled.

     "Look, mate, if I don't make it, then you sure as hell can't make it, so if we go down, we go down together!"

     Ron grinned and said, "Yeah, I guess you're right. No one's getting left behind, right?"

     "Right!" said Harry and they began to climb the staircase that led to the boy's dorm.

     "So...um...is there anything else that you've forgot to mention, Ron?" said Harry. "Like, oh, I dunno...have you betrayed me any more than that?"

     "Well," said Ron, smirking, "maybe just once when I didn't tell you about taking your Invisibility Cloak several times to go and take a bath in the Prefects bathroom in the middle of the night."

     "But you were a prefect. Couldn't you just do that - "

     "Nah. A bunch of naked prefects running around the place during the day. It's sickening! I thought my eyes were going to bleed. Bloody hell, they needed help!"

     Harry and Ron laughed, going up to sleep only to get up for another day of classes and planning however it was that they were going to fight in the war.

     The next day, they made their way down to breakfast and through their classes. Separated for the day, he only got to see Ron again during lunch time but then had to head off to Defense Against the Dark Arts with Hermione.

     "Why don't we just skip the class?" he asked her. Hermione looked mildly offended.

     "It's only study hall. Professor Malfoy's - "

     " - just returned!" Hermione finished the sentence for him merrily and watched the woman fumble at the desk at the front of the class. Harry stared at Narcissa. Hermione made her way hurriedly toward the Professor and said, "Professor Malfoy! How've you been? Are you feeling better?"

     She looked up for the first time and said, "Why, of course, Miss Granger, why do you ask? Do you assume that I am incapable of feeling well?"

     Hermione looked a bit stricken. "Well - no, it's just that the last time we saw you - you - well you - "

     "I was doing just fine. Now if you would, Miss Granger, please have a seat. Just as always. You should know my instructions by heart."

     "Yes, Professor," Hermione mumbled, slightly put out.

     "What's got her throat?" asked Harry, sitting next to Hermione.

     "I - I don't know what you mean Harry," said Hermione cooly. "She's always like that."

     Harry raised his eyebrows.

     "Well - all right, she is acting a bit - strange, I suppose. But do you think she might have been out on a mission for the Order?"

     Harry snorted. "Right. All we're missing is Lucious Malfoy's wife on a mission for Dumbledore. Just shoot me now - "

     "Mr. Potter, are you incapable of following my usual directions? Or have you perhaps...forgotten? Very well. Books Away! Wands out! Pay attention! And if I hear another peep out of one of you I don't want to see your face in my class again. Is that clear?" she snapped. Harry and Hermione grinned to themselves; Professor Malfoy was back after all.

     "Now, I'm happy " - she paused on the word as if she'd spoken it for the first time in her life - " to announce that you all did exceptionally well on your latest exams so far in the class, but I must warn you that only the most complex Eternal Spells have yet to be covered. And so, for these few remaining spells, I will have you do some research for me in the Restricted section of the library."

     Several excited murmurs erupted in the class.

     "Have I said something?" she spoke silkily. "Silence! I believe that I have already reminded you not to speak! Now, as long as you can thoroughly research these last remaining six spells, then I am more than sure that you will be able to cover it most defiantly in your Final Exams and will be sure to defend yourself against any opponent. For, you see, I have failed to mention this, but it is in the art of a witch or wizard to simply be familiar with the Eternal Spell and that will enable...all."

     Harry looked at Hermione who, like him, seemed to be sitting at the edge of her seat and looking so hungrily up at the professor that it seemed as if she was hanging on to her every word for dear life as if off a fifty foot cliff.

     "You look excited," Narcissa said to the class, as if surprised. "But don't be fooled yet. We have much to cover. And so, let us move onto the seventh Eternal Spell, otherwise known as the Animism Spell. Anyone?"

     Hermione raised her hand, though rather tentatively.

     "Miss Granger?"

     "I'm not exactly sure, but is it a Spell that transforms a human permanently into an animal?"

     "Ah. Well done. Yes, I do believe that is as close as anyone in this room is going to get," she replied. "As a matter of fact, the Animism Spell is one of the cruelest spells known to wizarding kind. It is a spell known to manipulate the bodies of both humans and animals...into whatever they please."

     "That's horrible!" said Hermione.

     "Indeed," sneered Narcissa. "And you barely know the half of it yet. That is why it is in my desire that this Spell, amongst several others, be researched thoroughly. I will be handing out signed permits for you to use the Restricted Section of the library, and, of course, I have recommended the exact books that you will need, so it will not be necessary to do any further research. You may trust me on that. After the research is complete...well, we will go a bit further into the Spell. For now, take your passes" - she cast her wand to a drawer and dozens of small papers flew out to the class, each student catching his or her own. Harry took his paper and saw Fauna Anomalousness by Crow Degrobrithson written on the parchment.

     Harry looked over to Hermione's paper and saw that, on it, the words Mutata Construira by Shastine Vantonavich were written.

     "What do these words mean?" he whispered, pointing to his paper. She looked at it an sighed, saying, "They mean...abnormal animal-humans."

     Harry looked at it.

     "How did you know that?" he asked her, looking upon the words etched upon the parchment.

     "I read, Harry," she answered in a rather shaky voice just as the bell rang.

     "Well, what does yours mean?"

     Hermione looked at down at her paper and gulped, looking at Harry. "It says...It says the construction of mutation."

     Harry whistled. "This is going to be a fun term," he said and, grabbing their books, Harry and Hermione exited the classroom, heading off for Gryffindor tower.

     "Harry!" called Lupin as he strolled over to them in the halls.

     "Remus? What are you - what are you doing here?"

     Lupin walked over to the two of them and stared at the parchment in their hands.

     "Well, I should think that you would recognize that I'm here for the Order, aren't I?"

     "Oh, yeah," said Harry. Hermione beamed at Lupin.

     "What's that you've got there?" he asked the two of them.

     "Oh, they're a list books that we have to check out for Defense class," said Hermione.

     "May I?"

     "Sure," she replied, handing him her paper.

     "Ah. Mutata Construira. I've read that book. Very interesting read. A bit unpleasant, of course but - "

     "How do you know about it?" she said. "Surely you didn't - "

     "Well how else do you suppose that James and Sirius learned to become Animagi? Picked the lock in the Restricted Section and ripped out some pages from the books. Dumbledore reckoned I should read that one, though, considering my condition."

     "Right," said Hermione, thought slightly shocked at the fact that they would sabotage the school library books.

     "And - er - by the way, Hermione," said Lupin, gazing at her, "would you mind meeting them in the Third Tower this evening?"

     "Third Tower? But that's - "

     "It's a bit high up, but you can handle it, can't you?" he said kindly, smiling. Hermione gulped but nodded.

     "I'll leave you two at that then," he finished and left Harry looking dumbstruck after him.

     "Wha - But - b-but - what did he just mean?" Harry rounded at Hermione.

     She turned to him and said, "It's nothing, Harry. Just never mind."

     "Third Tower? What was he talking about, Hermione?" he spun on.

     "Nothing! I already told you Harry, just forget it - "

     "Does this have anything to do with your wounds?"

     She suddenly looked at him, stricken. For a moment, he thought that she wasn't going to say anything at all, but then she responded, "Harry, forget about it, all right? It's none of your - "

     "You're damn right it's my business!" he said, stopping her from walking any further down the hall. She looked at him, her eyes watering.

     "I - I can't," she whispered and, head bowed, quickened her pace to the library.

     Furiously swearing under his breath, Harry wheeled around and followed after her, only to find a large group of student, obviously seeking out their Defense books, packed around the librarian in an angry mob.

     "It's taking forever!"

     "Can't we just get the books ourselves?"

     "We know what we have to check out!"

     "All right!" Madam March finally screamed. "Fine! Do as you please! Oh, I can't wait to get out of here. Of course, not that it matters, after all it's only the Restricted Section! The things they're teaching the students these days. Back when I attended Hogwarts we weren't even allowed to come feet within it's distance, but noooo!" Mumbling angrily under her nose, she scampered over to the lock on the Restricted Section and opened the doors.

     "There! Go! Get what you need, but come straight to me! If I so much as see one of you leaving this library before seeing me, believe me, I will know! Oh how I will know..." she said nastily.

     A majority of them, however, hadn't even listened to what she was saying and immediately walked in to the section, shuffling and whispers coming from the strange books.

     Following the crowd, Harry looked down upon his sheet of paper one last time and searched the shelves for Degrobrithson. Although, it definitely wasn't that hard to find considering the fact that he had snuck into the Restricted Section once before.

     He located the book amongst the shivering and slightly moving books on the shelf, and saw that the cover was made from metal, looking centuries old. Trying to obtain the book in the middle of a rummaging crowd earnest to reach for whatever it was that they needed was certainly not that easy, but Harry pulled it out rather quickly, nearly dropping it because of it's weight and left to find the end of the line at the check out with the librarian.

     "And don't read too much into that!" she screamed after Neville. "I don't think it mentions some appropriate imagery for your age!"

     Neville shook his head, but shuddered slightly, looking at the book in his hand. No sooner had he left the library, however, than Harry witnessed as two hollow screams came from the hall. Draco Malfoy had come in screaming with one of his crones and holding what appeared to be an extremely bloody book. He dropped it as soon as he got to the library and looked up at the librarian, who was smirking. "I warned you," she said.

     "What was that supposed to be? Was that supposed to scare us?" he spat.

     "Well it sure did a bloody good job," Harry commented as he leaned against one of the book shelves, snickering, as the crowd in the library followed suit.

     "Shut it, Potter," said Malfoy.

     "I'm not the one that got my fingers caught in a book. Did the mean wittle book scawe you, Malfoy?"

     Malfoy turned red. "We'll see, Potter," he said. "We'll see who'll have the last laugh in the end."

     "Oh, I'm not so sure you've got a good sense of humor," said Harry.

     Malfoy smirked, rubbing the blood off on his robes. "We'll just see about that," he said and left the library, kicking the book across the floor so that it made a trail of blood, walking though it so that his footprints now left bloody marks in his pace.

     Harry stared after him, the rest of the class murmuring about the event behind him, unsure of how it was possible for Malfoy to have ever been Narcissa's son.

     Sitting down by the common room fire that evening, Harry plotted out a sheet on which he drew the Quidditch stadium, laying his book on mutation aside. Ron had gone to bed early and he was left alone by the fire, trying to figure how to best arrange his plans, but his mind was jumping now and then to the thought of where Hermione was at the moment. He couldn't possibly decide what it was or where it was that Lupin had instructed her to go.

     As he dwelled on the thought, reminding himself that he should be able to trust her, Harry leaned back into the cushion of the couch and closed his eyes, tying to image what the attack would look like, but he couldn't do it. He couldn't seem to be able to focus his mind on such a horrible thought.

     Suddenly he felt a pare of gentle hands find their way on the back of their neck and begin to massage it. Harry opened his eyes and saw that Hermione had walked in quietly and was looking down at him and smiling, her hair windblown and her cheeks rosy.

     "Hey," he said. "Where've you been?"

     She shook her head, grinning. "Are you still on about that?"

     "Yes," Harry said defiantly

     "Just relax, Harry. You've had a rough day..."

     "Not really," Harry admitted. "It's pretty much like this all the - "

     "Don't argue with me," she whispered. Harry knew that he couldn't bring himself to do so.

     "You argue with Ron," he pointed out.

     She grinned. "That's different, though, Harry. I don't mind fighting with Ron but with you it's - I don't know. I hate it when we don't agree on something."

     Harry considered it for a moment and then nodded. He had to admit that the massage that she was giving him was wonderful and that he really did need it.

     "That's really great, Hermione," het told her, "I needed that."

     He watched as she smiled once more, turning his head to see her fully. Hermione bent over and kissed Harry very gently, opening her eyes to meet his slightly and grinning. Just then, she gave a slight yelp as Harry pulled her over the side of the couch and onto his lap. They both laughed and Hermione continued to stare into his eyes just as he did into hers.

     "How are those plans coming along?" she whispered.

     "What plans?" he replied comically.

     She smiled again. "You know what I mean."

     "Oh, you mean these plans?" he asked her and leaned over to kiss her once more.

     Hermione grinned, laughing slightly and said, "No, I mean the Quidditch plans, Harry. Have you gotten any work done?"

     He frowned slightly. "You really need to loosen up, Hermione. I'll get to them."

     She raised her eyebrows, but threw her arms around his neck and said playfully, "Isn't this loose enough for you?"

     "It depends by what you mean," he answered, smirking.

     Hermione leaned into him and gave him a very deep kiss.

     "That was nice," said Harry breathlessly when she finally let go.

     "Mmm," said Hermione, looking at him.

     Sparing a breath, Harry and Hermione leaned back in, staying up for much of the night until it was only too evident that if they didn't go to sleep soon, they wouldn't be able to get up for their morning classes.

     Later that week, Harry's thoughts were still dwelling on the battleground. Hermione walked up to him one day and sat down urgently, looking upset about something.

     "Harry, I don't know what we're going to do," she said, looking stern.

     "What d'you mean?" he asked, puzzled.

     "Lavender knows. She saw us," she whispered.

     "Saw us - what? What are you talking about?"

     "She saw us, you know, that night...The night that we were together in the common room," she said pointedly.

     Harry's eyes widened and he slammed down his fist, swearing.

     "Damn! Why did it have to be Lavender? Any. One. But. Her. Damn it!" he said through gritted teeth.

     "I know," she whispered. "I know, Harry - so we have to do something - "

     "What, Hermione? What do we do know if she - she's like the one thing that won't shut up!"

     "I know, I know," said Hermione nervously, looking around, "but I'll try to think of something, I promise," taking Harry's hand under the table and smiling slight.

     Harry smiled back and nodded, though not all together reassured.

     Just then, Ron walked over to the pair and sat down on their other end.

     "Oy," he said, in an undertone, "you're not serious, are you two? Lavender reckons you're cheating on me, Hermione, which means - "

     "That she knows, yeah, we know. Thanks, Ron," said Harry irritably.

     His eyes widened. "So what're you going to do?"

     Hermione shook her head but, just then, a smile broadened on her lips and she gazed dreamily into space.

     "What - ?" asked Harry, but she had already gotten up and said, "I'll see you later."

     "Does she always have to do that?" said Ron, watching her go.

     Harry sighed, "I just hope she's got a plan, is all."

     Ron nodded.

     "So have you started to read that book yet?"

     "Huh - wha - ? Oh no," said Harry.

     "I have. Well, only a bit."

     Harry was so shocked that his mouth dropped. "You mean you actually opened the book?"

     "Well, yeah," said Ron. "And I've got to tell you, it's got some pretty gross stuff in there," he said, laughing.

     Harry shook his head, grinning.

     Ron suddenly looked somewhere above Harry's head and stopped laughing. Harry turned around only to see Mr. Thompson standing there in his grey coat, Matt standing by his side, though looking a bit woozy, accompanied by Professor McGonagall and Remus Lupin.

     "Well, Harry? Are you ready?" asked Mr. Thomson.

     Harry stood up, nearly falling over. "Er, ready for what?" he asked slowly.

     "We were told...that you have a plan."

Chapter 16 A Glimmer of Hope

     Harry stared blankly from one to the next, not knowing what to say, his mouth hanging slightly loose, and nodded numbly. Mr. Thompson smiled and said, "Follow me."

     As the group slowly wheeled around, Mr. Thompson in the lead, his grey cloak swaying wildly behind him, Harry left Ron behind at the table and suddenly came to his senses as he chassed after them.

     Harry focused his attention on Matt, who seemed to be barely holding his balance and showed very glassy eyes, and blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "Matt are - are you okay? Why are you - ? Mr. Thompson?"

     "Mr. Potter, I assure you that Matthew is in no condition to be interrogated at the moment. However, it is in the wish of his father that he be in your company at the time. Is that clear?" said Professor McGonagall, rather seriously.

     Harry nodded, still not aware of what he was agreeing to. Trying his best to keep up, still slightly unsure from having received a bit of a shock, Harry stumbled now and then as he tailed the group. So many questions were in his mind at the time that he felt that he had to start with where they were going and why they were taking Professor McGonagall, Lupin, and Matt of all people.

     Watching Matt, Harry saw that the boy seemed mildly dreamy, as if still in the trance of a sleep-walk and reminded him slightly of how Luna Lovegood would look whenever she would walk into a room. He couldn't help but wonder if Matt had been asleep all along or if he had just lain there...unable to move yet aware of everything that was happening around him. Harry knew what that felt like...it was the worst feeling in the world...being unable to do anything about something that was right under his grasp, as it often had been. For one, he could have broken the rules of Time Travel and captured Peter Petigrew. Another, he could have spared Sirius's life. And now, he can't even do anything about Dumbledore's death or the war. It was the worst feeling of helplessness and, just then, Harry had wondered what it would have been like if it was him that had been hit with the curse. What would happen if Voldemort did kill him? What if he didn't succeed in the war? What would happen to the sacrifices of Sirius and Dumbledore? Would they have all been for nothing? Would all of the deaths, including those of his parents, have been worthless? But of course! Was there another alternative? And yet he couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if their wands hadn't performed Priori Incantatem...if Harry had died in a previous encounter with Voldemort, how would that have changed things? Was he, Harry, really the only hope for standing against Voldemort? Did it all really lie in his hands?...

     "Harry?" said Lupin. "Mr. Thompson was addressing you, didn't you hear?"

     "Oh, sorry," Harry mumbled, escaping his thoughts.

     "As I was saying, Harry, I suppose that you would like to share that plan of your with us, would you not? Currently, we are going out onto the grounds to discuss this and then we shall return to the castle."

     "Yeah but - isn't the castle gated for now?"

     "Of course, but this is a bit more important at the moment," he said.

     Once they came outside, Mr. Thompson and the others faced Harry.

     "So what is it going to be, Harry?" he asked intensely.

     Harry looked from Mr. Thompson, who was staring meaningfully at him, to Matt, who had crossed his arms and was looking about, to Lupin, who was smiling slightly, and then Professor McGonagall, who's eyebrows were furrowed and said, "I was thinking of - I know this is going to sound stupid - but I was thinking of Quidditch."

     "Quidditch?" said Lupin interestingly.

     Professor McGonagall raised her eyebrows, Matt's attention had suddenly come to Harry and Mr. Thompson seemed deep in thought.

     "Go on..." he said.

     Harry sighed with relief and decided to take a plunge at it.

     "See, I was thinking that, if anything, Voldemort would come after the castle, but, I mean, I just don't see how it's going to help if we don't do anything about it. If Voldemort comes after the castle, then I'll know because my scar will most likely begin to hurt. It's happened before. Whenever danger would come, my scar would begin to hurt, or whenever Voldemort was feeling murderous - "

     Professor McGonagall snorted. "I do not think that you realize that the only thing that Voldemort can be feeling at this time is murderous, Potter - "

     "I wasn't finished," said Harry rudely and Professor McGonagall opened her mouth slightly, but then closed it again and Harry went on. "Although, since Voldemort has decided to block me out by Occlumency, I no longer knew what he was feeling until he had just grown weak recently. Has he regained power yet, I do not know, but I know that I would be aware if he was about to come after the school. I'll just know, I know it! And if we could all be pretending casually as if we're playing Quidditch, then we could easily Disillusion a majority of the students and make sure that they get to safety by giving them the right directions. The rest will stay behind and try to hold back as much as they can, including the professors. I mean, it's just that this is the only way that I figured we could have a casual battle plan." Harry waited to see if Mr. Thompson would say something critical, but it was Professor McGonagall that spoke first.

     "That's all very nice, Potter, but I am afraid that you are forgetting one thing: you are a student! Which means that you know nothing or very little, in the least, about war. And may I remind you that, as a student, you tend to make very foolish mistakes - "

     "Professor, would you mind if I interrupted for a second?" asked Mr. Thompson. Professor McGonagall looked slightly taken a back for a moment, but then said, "No, of course," though rather hesitantly.

     "Harry, what you have thought out is very wise, but the problem with your plan is that so many things could go wrong that it would simply take months thinking of ways to counteract them - "

     "Not to mention the fact that Voldemort is working on something new that we know not of," said Lupin.

     "How did you know about that?" said Harry. "Did Dumbledore tell you about the dream that I had?"

     "Of course, Harry," said Lupin, "but we also have outside information linking us to - "

     "What kind of outside information?" said Harry furiously. "If it's Snape, I'll bet you anything that's he's a spy for - "

     "Harry, Severus Snape is on our side," said Lupin patiently.

     "Then who betrayed us?!" Harry yelled. "Who was it then? Who's the bloody traitor who told Voldemort where - "

     "Harry, we really cannot say anything at this point - "

     "So do you know who it is then?"

     Lupin sighed and shook his head. "I'm afraid that your guess is nearly as good as ours, Harry, unfortunately, and that all of the predictions that we have made have been disproved countless times. I just doesn't seem possible - "

     "Then it must be Snape! Or Narcissa! I'm sure that it's - "

     "Potter, how dare you!" said Professor McGonagall suddenly, her eyes wide with rage. "You are accusing the very last people who would do such a thing, though you do not know the reasons why. I assure you that it would be the same as accusing Cilia of such a crime! Severus and Narcissa are loyal members of the Order who - "

     "But Lucious Malfoy - "

     "Was a Death Eater, unlike his wife," said Lupin.

     Harry breathed heavily. "So she wasn't - she never served - "

     "No," snapped Professor McGonagall. "She has not."

     Harry let out a gasp of air. "So what do we do?"

     "Well, Harry, it's rather simple, actually," said Mr. Thompson. "We combine your plans with ours."

     Harry raised an eyebrow. "What plans?"

     "That's what we'll have to work on," said Mr. Thompson. "That's why I brought Matt along, because I want you to work with him on the organization of the Hogwarts Quidditch team. The team...that will bring us victory, I'm sure."

     "How can you be - ?"

     "Harry, I told you to think of using what you do and do not have. What you have, Harry, is an incredible use of your own abilities, although you do not often realize it, as I have been told, but what you do not have are the proper...materials."

     "Materials, sir?"

     "Yes, Harry. You will see what I mean soon enough. Next time, I would like you to meet us in the Great Hall once more and we shall be out here once again. Do you see that Golden Snitch, Harry?" said Mr. Thompson, pointing over to the forbidden forest.

     Harry looked over the treetops and saw a glimmer of gold flicker in the air, skimming above the forest. "Yeah," he said.

     "That, Harry, is where the Hogwarts graveyard is located."

     "The graveyard? What do we want to do with a graveyard?"

     "I will explain that more thoroughly during our next meeting," Mr. Thompson said and rounded to return to the castle. Harry looked back at where the Snitch had been moments ago, but noticed that it was gone from sight. He frowned slightly and followed the rest of them back to the school as Lupin and Professor McGonagall beckoned him forward, walking on either side of him as if he couldn't take care of himself.

     Days passed, and Harry found himself consumed in his work now more than ever. He wasn't even sure how he was supposed to find time to work on his plans with Matt if the professors kept assigning so much homework, especially since reading Fauna Anomalousness wasn't as easy as he had hoped; the language that the author used was worded very complexly and Harry had to double back after reading each paragraph to get it to sink in, despite the fact that some of the ideas that the book was describing were a bit disturbing. He was now more than positive that the thought of becoming an Animagus would never cross his mind again.

     Hermione had isolated herself from both Harry and Ron, still not saying what she was up to and pouring over heavy books that Harry had never seen before. To add the cherry on top, Ginny Weasley would occasionally come to Harry for guidance, still seeing Tom in her dreams, though she did not seem to see as much of him in Harry since he had tried to focus his mind on other things. But other than that, in Harry's opinion, everything was just fine.

     "You don't think there really is a weapon that Dumbledore has, do you, Harry?" asked Ron after Harry had discussed the meeting with him time after time.

     Harry was in deep thought for a while and then said, "No. D'you know what, I really don't think he does."

     "Who has what?" said Hermione as she just came to join them over at the table with Ginny.

     "Would you mind telling us what you've been doing for the past couple of days?" said Harry irritable.

     "No," said Hermione coolly. "But I will say this: I sent another letter to Rita Skeeter and I should be hearing from her in the next couple of days."

     "Why?" said Ron suspiciously. Harry raised his eyebrows and Ginny stared.

     "Because I want her to write an article on Ron and me - "

     "On what?!" yelled Ron.

     "On you and me, Ron. Trust me, you're the Minister's brother. The topic's just as good: Hermione Granger Has Moved On, But is She Playing a Heart to Get At What's Left of the Ministry?" she announced proudly.

     There was a moment of silence.

     "Are you mad?" said Ron.

     "No, Ron, I'm actually quite sane because the only way that we can take Lavender's and everyone else's attention from Harry and I would be to focus it on us, which would mean making up a few white lies, but it really shouldn't be that difficult. Especially for Rita - "

     "Hermione, I'm not so sure that this is going to work - " Harry began.

     "Oh, it better work!" said Hermione defiantly. "Because if it doesn't then I'll have no other choice than to - "

     "Attention students," sounded Professor McGonagall's booming voice through the school. "There will be an assembly this evening precisely at seven o'clock that everyone is required to attend. All students are to report to the Great Hall and seat themselves in time for the meeting to take place. No excuses."

     "Wonder what that's all about," said Ginny curiously.

     "I think," said Hermione, looking around, "that it might have something to do...with the war..."

     "Do you really?" said Harry.

     "Yeah," Hermione said slowly, furrowing her eyebrows. "I don't see any other reason for us to get together. Unless its an emergency - "

     "Voldemort can't be coming after Hogwarts already!" said Harry more loudly than he had meant to and several students turned to stare.

     "I never said that, Harry," Hermione replied calmly. "Don't worry so much, it's not a good thing, but I just hope that everything - or should I say everyone - is all right in the Order..."

     "Why do you say that?" said Ron, raising his eyebrows.

     Hermione looked at him meaningfully. "Because...something really weird has been going on with Narcissa, according to Dobby, and from what I've researched, it might not be a very good symptom..."

     "Hermione, what are you talking about? What's wrong with Professor Malfoy? What did Dobby say?" Harry said urgently.

     Hermione took a breath and answered, "It's not so much as what he's said, as the way that he acted when I asked him what had been happening to her. Harry, I think that Narcissa might have been tortured by her husband for information. But I'm not so sure that she gave it to him."

     Harry's eyes widened, as had Ron's and Ginny's, who had gone pail.

     "But then what would - "

     "I think someone saved her from him...someone from the Order..." she mumbled

     "But who?" said Ginny, looking from one to the next.

     Hermione shook her head. "One of the people that are missing from the Order right now...Moody, Tonks, Kingsley...or Snape..."

     "Snape?" said Harry. "Where's he gone to?"

     Hermione turned her head toward him. "I think...one of them might be in trouble, Harry. I think one of them might be the spy for our side...And they're not coming back..." she whispered.

     "How did you figure this?" he asked quietly, still processing the information.

     "Narcissa Malfoy was absent after you had your dream, Harry. After Voldemort revealed his scheme to plan something..."

     "So you reckon she knows something?" he said.

     Hermione sighed and said, "I don't reckon, I know."

     As Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Neville made their way down to the school assembly, they kept discussing what had happened that would cause Professor McGonagall to call the entire student body together. This was the first time that all of them had to get together without a feast or celebration in mind, and they all had a feeling that it definitely was not going to be anything of the sort this time.

     However, as they walked into the Great Hall, they received an even bigger shock as they saw that the House tables were gone and only a sea of chairs stood within the Great Hall, all pointing toward the front.

     "What kind of a sick joke is this?" he heard Malfoy spit as he walked into the hall. "No House divisions? What are they trying to do, make us sit together? Ha! As if I'm going anywhere near those wimpy Hufflepuffs or those stuck-up Gryffindors."

     "Funny," said Ron loudly, "I was just about to say the same about you, Malfoy!"

     Malfoy's blonde head snapped toward them and said, "Better keep your comments to yourself, weasel. I heard there might be a war and I'm not so sure that hamsters like yourself may be brave enough to - "

     "SHUT UP, MALFOY! JUST SHUT UP! I'VE PUT UP WITH MORE THAN YOU COULD EVER HANDLE SO JUST SHUT UP!" Ron yelled at him as Harry and Neville held him back from Malfoy who had raised one eyebrow and was the least bit mortified. He yawned and said, "You should learn to handle your temper better, Ronnie. Granger just might leave you for Potter. Meanwhile, you'll excuse us but we have got to go have our seat."

     Ron was breathing heavily and jerked himself from Harry and Neville's grasps.

     "Git!" he said, rounding at them. "The hell is his problem?" he asked.

     Ginny shrugged. Neville raised his eyebrows and Hermione scowled.

     "You shouldn't do that Ron!" Hermione said furiously.

     He turned to her. "Oh, yeah? So I'm just supposed to take it all, am I?"

     "Yes you are!" said Hermione defiantly.

     "You try it then, Hermione!"

     "Ron, if you think that you're the only one that has problems to deal with, then you are sadly mistaken, but, like it or not, we need Malfoy on our side!"

     There was a moment when Ron's jaw dropped and he looked at her as if she was insane, no one saying a word.

     "You've gone mental!"

     Hermione shook her head, "No Ron....You just don't get it...None of you get it..." Hermione looked extremely disgusted and left with Ginny to proceed to the chairs.

     "What's her problem?" said Ron, frowning.

     Neville shrugged and Harry looked after Hermione, who had seated herself somewhere along the middle behind - wait was that Cho and Marietta? It was! And she - was she talking to them? Calmly? Harry blinked and shook his head to make sure he wasn't hallucinating.

     He watched as they smiled at each other and eventually turned their attention from one another to someone else. Harry rubbed his eyes. Cho and Hermione? Conversing? And smiling at the same time? Something had to be wrong!

     Harry suddenly snapped out of his haze as he noticed that Ron and Neville had already gone to sit down (as far away from Malfoy and the Slytherins as possible) and went to catch up with them just as he saw Dumbledore come up to the front of the Hall and assume his usual place.

     "Attention! Please have a seat somewhere within the Hall and the assembly will be taking place shortly. Thank you!" he said kindly.

     A round of murmuring and whispers aroused within the Great Hall as Dumbledore finished speaking, students finding their ways to a chair that they pleased, eventually conversing about one thing or the other and being called to attention by Professor McGonagall, who stuck two of her fingers in her mouth and let out a rather loud whistle, after which the noise in the Hall immediately ceased.

     Professor Dumbledore assumed his place at the front once more, his arms folded within his robes, and said,"I know that this time hasn't been the easiest on any of us, especially for those of us who have been secluded within this school during current events, but the only way that we can cope through what we will discuss tonight, through what is happening at this very moment in time, is to find each other for support. Hope is all that we can give one another, but with hope there is the burden of trust. My children, you must understand that your parents and even your grandparents have been through a great deal of suffering because of the cause that haunts us all, but that is why we must stand strong. I, for one, would be nothing if it wasn't for the Hogwarts staff and it's students. You are my all and if we look to one another, then we may find so much more than we are looking for. One cannot progress if one's seed is not at first planted by another. And so, remember these words, and remember them well as you go through all hardship, joy, and sorrow, and find the loyalty to stand together. Remember...for every two, there is one, but for every one, there is always each other."

     Everyone clapped as Dumbledore finished speaking and stepped away from the podium. Instead, Professor McGonagall, Flitwick, Spout, and Malfoy came up and stood at the front as everyone wondered what they were about to say that had to complement Dumbeldore's speech.

     "Good evening, students," began Professor McGonagall. "It has come to our attention that times have gotten to some of their worst and it is feared that the outcome of all of this is quite unpredictable..." she said gloomily.

     "And therefore we have gathered you here today to listen in wisdom," said Professor Flitwick, "and concentrate clearly on what we are about to advise you."

     "With all of our hearts, we ask you today to not look upon yourselves as individuals, but as one school that can think, plan, and act as one," said Professor Spout.

     "And so doing it is important to accept one another despite our differences, problems, and experiences." spoke Professor Malfoy.

     "The irony!" whispered Ron.

     "Shush Ron!" said Harry.

     He looked over to the other side of the Hall where he saw Malfoy sitting amongst his crones, his arms crossed and clearly scowling. Why would he? After all, this was his mother. Harry didn't know if she clearly was referring to prejudice against blood as well, but was this not the same woman that had sat with them in the top box as if she had stink under her nose? It simply did not make sense. Would she have changed her mind, or was she simply speaking for Dumbedore?

     A Malfoy. She was a Malfoy! Stinking pure-bloods who had their noses up and about things and hated anything crawling that was not pure magic. Her husband was a Death Eater. Her son was just as bad. And yet...Narcissa was different. Yes, she was strict. She definitely did not go soft on any student that Harry's ever met; he'd say even worse than Professor McGonagall, and that was saying something, yet how could she be so...not cruel...it just didn't make sense! She didn't even seem like a Slytherin. Had she been? She'd have to have been. It was practically in her blood. Still, Sirius didn't talk much about her. Harry knew that Narcissa had been related to him, but what more? All his impressions had been centered on Kreacher running off to her house and betraying them because she was Sirius's cousin, yet why had Harry never seen her as one of Voldemort's Death Eaters? Why had he witnessed Bellatrix murder Sirius yet Narcissa had never seemed to have done anything...He knew nothing, absolutely nothing about her past. Should he? Always assuming - that's what it was. Harry had been making too many assumptions in his life, but it was not too late to change.

     "You have all been through a lot together," came Professor McGonagall's voice once more, "and have learned to trust each other through thick and thin. The one thing that divided you, however, was your own pride, pride in spite of anything and anyone."

     "We ask you today to focus on the revelation that Hogwarts is most definitely a clear target for the Dark Lord as is every person sitting in this room...though some more than others," said Narcissa, richly.

     "We understand that it is most difficult for all of you; some of you coming here for the first time, while some of you having been here for years, but you must understand that this was in no way planned by anyone except those who wish to defy us, and so, this day, we ask you to stay strong as we announce that one of our staff members may no longer be with us considering thus so far as we have been informed," said Professor Flitwick.

     "Professor Severus Snape...did not seem to report when required while serving in our name, but you must understand that he was serving each and every one of you in this room with all of his heart..." Professor McGonagall said darkly as sudden breaths were taken in the room. "He was serving Albus Dumbledore, a man that has by no doubt been fighting for each and every one of your lives equally, and yet there is one person in this hall at the moment that also needs your support. One person who has suffered many trials and yet has wished to be your friend all the same. One person who would go through any length to make sure that every one of you were safe in his name. Harry Potter (Harry immediately felt the color rise in his face.) has been more than a student to many of you, but a loyal friend that has by no doubt faced You-Know-Who a countless number of times and relives them everyday...because he is still out there and he still haunts every single one of us. And so, Harry Potter, Albus Dumbeledore, and a countless number of people that include your parents and grandparents, relatives, and friends, have stood up for you, this school, what is right over what is wrong, and attempted to save us from danger, evil, and even ourselves. Yet do we express the same gratitude to them? To us? I want you all to think right now, for a moment, and consider what you have ever done that would have aided in the downfall of the evil that haunt our dreams, our lives, our past, and even our future - if we could even consider discussing one - and believe...that it is possible to overcome even the horrors of the present-day if we work together and stand as one school that wants nothing more than to succeed - succeed in the name of righteousness. And so, hearing this speech, I want you to look backward and forward, and all around you and wonder if this is all worth it or not. Your friends? Your family? Your loved ones? And think...do they deserve this torment? Because we can stop it, but only with your help and cooperation. Months ago, many of you were still sharing the summer break with your family, and today, here you are, siting before us, and representing the future witches and wizards of tomorrow and the day after - " Professor McGonagall stopped and seemed to be fighting back the urge of spilling tears. Professor Spout patter her on the back and she shook her head.

     Professor Flitwick continued for her, "All we're saying is consider unity and consider bravery and consider innocent blood that lies in all of our hands, and accept each other as the true brothers and sisters that you are. Your parents grew up together and went through similar experiences in bonds and friendship, so, now, look upon the people that are sitting next to you and those across the room and those surrounding and apart from you, and put aside all that might have gone wrong, because nothing compares to what we are about to face together as a school. We love you all dearly and all we can hope is that you express that love amongst yourselves and for every person in this room."

     Professor Dumbledore suddenly came up and joined the other four just as Professor Flitwick finished his speech. "Remember these words, and remember them wisely. Look upon yourselves and consider the truth. Thank you for being here today and thank you for being together. You are dismissed."

     For a moment, no one seemed to move. The silence was absolutely still as the professors at the top table got up from their chairs and left. Slowly, students began to get up as well, one by one, still in near silence.

     As Harry watched Hermione get up, he saw Cho turn around from her seat and get up as well. They whispered something to each other and hugged. Harry had a feeling that his glasses were failing him. As they drew apart, he saw them both smile and apparently possess tears in their eyes. Ginny and Luna accompanied Hermione as they made their way toward the other three boys and toward the exit.

     "What was - what was that?" Harry asked urgently. "What was up with Cho?"

     "Harry, you see, unlike you, some people can get over a grudge. I just want to be her friend, all right! You would think - after that speech!" She sounded rather stiff and hurt at Harry'a tactlessness, but, just then, Draco Malfoy had passed them just as everyone else was exiting the Great Hall and commented, "What a bunch of rubbish. That had to be the cheesiest show I've ever seen - "

     "Your mother was part of it, Malfoy!" Harry said. "How can you even say that when your own mother -"

     "My mother had no choice, Potter. She works for this damned school now so - "

     "Shut up! She's not like that! She meant it! I could tell!" yelled Harry and several people turned around to gather their attention toward them.

     Malfoy shook his head, a smirk across his face and said, "You know nothing about me and you know nothing about my mother, Potter, so stick to your own family. Oh, wait...I forgot, you don't have one - "

     Before Harry was ready to plunge at Malfoy, Hermione calmly came before him, restraining him gently with one hand and said, "Of all of the snakes that I've ever met in my life, Malfoy, I didn't think it was possible, but did you prove me wrong! Don't you get it? Voldemort's going to come after the school and he's coming after you all the same. I would at least think you'd be scared for your own skin, but you really stand by it, don't you? Well let me tell you something, you bastard! ("Hermione!" moaned Ron.) Harry has fought him time and time again and all you can think about is how this will benefit you in your sick little way. Do you not understand that you're turning everything to hell even for yourself? So what if you and Harry have your differences? Your mother is fighting against Voldemort! Snape fought against Voldemort - "

     Malfoy began to laugh. "You really don't get it, do you, Granger? This isn't about that! This is about power! It's about vengeance! It's about - "

     "Being a complete and total idiot!" snapped Ron.

     "Stay out of this, weasel!" said Malfoy. "As I was saying, this is about control and order, just as it should be - "

     "Oh yeah? You ever met Voldemort, Malfoy?" spat Harry. "He's not exactly very orderly. In fact, if he wanted to, he could put you on his Death Wish list in a matter of seconds!"

     "But he won't," whispered Malfoy.

     "Oh yeah? And why's that?"

     "Because I know how to get him the one thing that he's been craving to get at in order to keep his own life..."

     "And what would that be?" said Harry angrily.

     "You, Potter," said Malfoy and began to laugh, leaving the hall by himself, eventually calling Crabbe and Goyle along with him.

     Harry was so tense and breathing so heavily that he could feel himself shaking out of rage. Had it not been for Hermione stroking him gently on the back, he would have chased after Malfoy and torn him limb from limb.

     "He can't - he wouldn't - "

     " - dare. I know, Harry," said Hermione softly. "He doesn't know what he's talking about. He just wants to get you upset."

     "What if he's not joking, though," spoke Harry as he noticed that most of the Hall had already cleared itself out.

     "I'll never let anyone try to hurt you, Harry," said Hermione, engulfing him in a hug while Harry could still very well see tears shining in her eyes as she tried to hide them from him.

     "I know...I know..." Harry whispered in her ear as he closed his eyes and brought his hand up and down her back. However, the only thing he could really think at the moment was: I wish I could say the same...

     Hermione had been right about Snape's disappearance, but, during the next several days, no one seemed willing enough to bring anything up yet on the topic and Harry, Ron, and Hermione had all avoided doing so altogether. Whenever anyone mentioned Potions, a bunch of people jumped, stricken, and then continued timidly with their activities.

     His disappearance was so subtle, and yet, somehow expected. Now, however, he most likely was not coming back. And yet Harry wondered if it was still possible for him to have been a spy for both sides.

     As they all sat quietly at dinner, no one speaking much, Harry watched Hermione and wondered what was on her mind, her face screwed up in concentration.

     However, before he could ask her what was the matter, the daily owl post had been released within the castle and a greyish owl swooped over next to Hermione, who had been looking up toward the ceiling for mail, and dropped an envelope in her hand.

     She ripped it open as Harry exchanged a curious look with Ron, and scanned her eyes through the paper that she unfolded.

     Harry watched as her eyes filled with what seemed to him like despise and absolute fury. Hermione bit her lip harshly and looked up at them, swallowing unpleasantly, and began to read the letter:

     "You foolish girl. Do you honestly believe and have the nerve to think that I would consider writing such a useless piece for no particular interest or profit? Do you not understand that it's over? The Ministry of Magic is gone, you idiot girl! Which means that no one is nearly as concerned in who is an Animagus as they ever were! Oh I can't wait until this is over and I can properly start writing again. I have oh so much to comment on! And, this time, you're not going to stop me. Why is that, you ask? Well, you have no idea, Miss Perfect, just how much freedom I have now. You see, I am now a Registered Animagus. Illegally, of course, but that'll be our little secret. You see, Miss Know-It-All, since everyone is running around too busy to pay attention to any of the unimportant details, it had been oh so easy for me to forge my registration.

     So what are you going to do about it? Send me to Azkaban, perhaps? Well, the news is no you, Prissy, Azkaban's been destroyed, and if you think you can use this letter as evidence, you've got another thing coming. Oh, I know your sick little mind, girl! That's why I've put a Vanishing Spell on this letter so it should be long gone just moments after you finish reading it. And don't even try to duplicate it, it'll get nasty! I won't be in contact with you anytime soon so hesitate to write on my newly privileged honor.

Rita Skeeter, Registered Animagus and Successful Reporter." Hermione stopped reading the letter and seemed to be shaking slightly.

     Surely enough, as soon as Hermione had finished reading the letter aloud, it ripped itself out of her hands, folded itself several times and disappeared with a ‘pop.'

     Hermione was breathing very heavily and her eyes were shining with tears of rage.

     Harry watched as her hands formed themselves into fists and she got up from the table, furiously, storming out of the Great Hall.

     "Hermione, wait!" Harry yelled after her. "Hermione!" But it was too late and he had no choice other than to chase after her because she was walking very rapidly, her cloak violently swishing behind her, with no intentions of turning back.

     "Hermione - " he called once more, but she still seemed too determined to pay attention.

     Finally, he heard her yell, as she was still speed walking, "I don't believe it! I don't believe it! She's lying. She can't have done! It's against the law..."

     "Hermione, this is Rita Skeeter, she's not exactly a lawful - Where are you going?"

     "I need to know..."

     Harry had no idea what she was talking about, but panted as he ran after her up a flight of stairs, down several corridors, and over to the hall where he knew perfectly well that the Room of Requirements appeared.

     As Hermione found her way toward a newly-appeared door at the side of the hall, she swung open the door and walked inside.

     "I need the official list of legal Animagi!" she snapped to the room, looking about.

     No sooner had she said so than she had picked up the sheet from a table found in the room just as Harry had managed to walk in after her. Her eyes scanned the paper very rapidly and she sniffed, shaking her head. "Yep. She's here," said Hermione furiously, still looking down at the parchment. "Her name is written - " Suddenly, Hermione's eyes seem to focus on one spot on the paper and they widened, her mouth slightly opening in horror.

     Harry furrowed his eyebrows and asked "What is it?" curiously.

     "Oh my goodness..." she whispered, lifting her hand to her mouth, still gazing at the paper.

     "What? What's wrong?" Harry said urgently.

     Hermione looked at him, biting her lip nervously. "Oh...Harry...It's...N-Narcissa Black's name is on the list."