Of Werewolves and Wanderers

 
3.
 
Green Skies
 
 
 
Arabella screamed and leapt away from the explosion. She dropped and covered her neck with her arms as flaming debris rained down. For almost five full minutes she stayed, crouched on the ground. Finally, she stood slowly up and looked upon the rubble that littered the small clearing in the woods. Then, gazing at the settling dust, she was suddenly hit with the fact that the house she had just seen explode held in it her three best friends alive. She sank to her knees again, her eyes filling with tears. She could almost hear their voices now.
 
"I told you people hid charms in envelopes," Lupin's voice seemed to echo.
 
"But you insisted that we open it," Black added hollowly.
 
"Fine, blame it all on me," Mundungus said dryly.
 
Arabella wondered if she were going crazy. The voices sounded so real, but the conversation they were having seemed like something so juvenile that they might have had the same argument when they had been students at Hogwarts.
 
"I could have sworn I heard somebody scream," Fletcher added.
 
"I thought so too but unless - " Lupin's voice suddenly stopped and Arabella felt a hand on her shoulder.
 
"Arabella!" Black yelled at the top of his voice.
 
"What on earth are you doing? You weren't crying were you?" Mundungus put in just as if he were taunting her in the Gryffindor common room as he had done so often all those years ago.
 
Arabella leapt up and hugged each of them in turn as hard as she could and said, "You'd cry too if you thought that all of your friends had just blown up in one go!"
 
"Us? Blow up? Well, I suppose however we go, we'll certainly go out with a bang, but we thought we'd stick around for a while yet," Black said with a grin.
 
"You scared me to death!" Arabella frowned at him."Anyway, how on earth did you manage to get out of the house?"
 
Remus then told Arabella the whole story about Mundungus's owl and how it came back dead with an unmarked letter. "Mundungus decided then that we had to find out what was inside the letter, so we opened a window and left the house and used an opening charm to open it from outside."
 
"But Remus, your house! Where are we going to go now?" Arabella asked.
 
The three men then looked quite sheepish and looked quickly at each other. There was an awkward silence.
 
"Oh no," Arabella started. "There is no way my grandmother is going to let three wizards stay in her house for even a day, let alone the amount of time we'll need to - " but Lupin cut her off.
 
"We don't mean to intrude, but we have nowhere else to go. If we could meet somewhere else, we would."
 
"Well - " Arabella started.
 
"And your grandmother will love us," Black teased. "We can help her cook and clean the house and magic off all the neighbors she doesn't like - "
 
"You're not helping," Fletcher glared at him. Black just laughed. He was obviously very relieved that Arabella had finally arrived, as were they all.
 
"Can't you - " Arabella tried again.
 
"No!" all three of her friends said at once.
 
"I suppose that - " Arabella said reluctantly.
 
"Thank you, Arabella," Lupin said. "I can conjure a few tents and we can stay here tonight, but in the morning we'll have to be moving on."
 
"You know," said Black thoughtfully. "This whole thing with the letter might have had some benefit. Moony, do those letter charms ever have tracking devices? So that the sender can know when they go off?"
 
Lupin looked up from the tents he had begun to conjure with his wand and said in surprise, "Why, yes, they usually do."
 
"Then whoever sent that letter probably thinks we're little more than a pile of dust right now and might leave us alone long enough for us to get something done."
 
"Yeah, only problem is, in a time like this, I doubt the sender of that letter is the only one looking for us," said Arabella."Now, if you don't mind," she continued, grabbing her bag and walking towards the finished tent, "I've had a very long day and I'm going to bed."
 

* * * * *

 
Harry had returned to number four directly after leaving Mrs.Figg's house. He suddenly had a pounding headache and wanted to get to bed.When he got to the Dursley's house, he found the car gone so he let himself in with the key under the mat and went up to his room. He opened the door and the first thing he was a large barn owl sitting on the post of his bed. It held in its beak a letter bearing the Hogwarts Crest. He rushed up to the owl and took the letter quickly. Tearing it open and pulling out the parchment, he read;
 
 
 
Mr. H. Potter,
 
We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected to be a prefect for the Gryffindor House. You are expected to be a role model and guide to younger students and be an example for them to follow. This year weare requiring all prefects and the head boy and girl to arrive at Hogwarts exactly one week early. We will be expecting you on August 24th and the Hogwarts Express will be waiting at Kings Cross Station at 8:00AM. Please be prompt.
 
Sincerely,
 
Minerva McGonagall
 
  
"The 24th?" thought Harry to himself. "That's tomorrow! Give me a bit of notice don't they?"
 
Also enclosed in the envelope was a list with the schoolbooks he would need that year and a silver shiny badge with a large letter "P" on it. Harry grinned to himself. He remembered his first year of Hogwarts. Alone and quite terrified, one of the first things he saw when he stepped onto the magical platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross Station, was Ron's big brother Percy who with his chest thrust forward and the very same badge. He hurried to write letters to Ron and Hermione. He explained to Ron that he would be unable to be on the Hogwarts Express on September 1st and he asked Hermione if she had been chosen as a prefect as well. He sealed the two envelopes and handed them to Hedwig who soared, side by side with the Hogwarts barn owl, out of the window. Harry then flopped down on his bed, quite exhausted and fell immediately asleep.
 
Perhaps if Harry had known the dream he was going to have, he would have tried to keep himself awake. Shortly after he had fallen asleep, then he began to toss and turn. Then he began to dream.
 
Harry walked down a familiar hallway. He couldn't quite put a finger on where he was, but he knew he had been there recently. He was also invisible, though how he knew, he had no idea. Down the hallway his feet took him, one step after another until he reached a door. He reached for the knob and as he grabbed it, he somehow realized that if he had been flesh and blood, the handle would have been hot and burned his skin. He opened the door and walked into the room. He heard a high, cold laugh and a meow of a cat and saw that the room was in flames. But they were not ordinary flames, they werebright green. The green tongues of fire licked the walls and the ceilings butseemed to be centered at the large bed in the room. Suddenly the meowingstopped and the cold laugh grew in pitch then was silent. The heat intensifiedand Harry suddenly began to feel it. It felt as if he was on fire himself"
 
Harry jolted awake, and his scar burned as if on fire. He wasbathed in a cold sweat as if the fire had been real. He gasped for breath andfor one terrible moment, believed that his head would be torn apart by the painin his scar. Then, as if it had never happened, the pain was gone. Harryshuddered and stood up from the bed. He walked over to the window and pushed itopen. The last time he had woken with his scar hurting, it had been becauseVoldemort had just killed someone. Could it have happened again? Harry stuckhis head out the window to let the cold night air clear his head, and saw ahorrible sight. Down the street, directly over number 12 Privet Drive, a greensmoke lingered in the air. It made the shape of a skull with a snake protrudingfrom the gaping hole that was the mouth.
 

* * * * *

 
Narcissa was once again entertaining a host of Death Eaters at themanor, but this time, it was a much larger crowd. Dozens of Voldemort'ssupporters who had evaded prison milled around wearing large hooded black robesand eating off plates of appetizers. Lucius and his cronies, ten men and twowomen, who made up Voldemort's inner group were removed from the crowd in asecret room located under the drawing room floor. Narcissa wouldn't havenormally been allowed to join them, but as the house elf was gone, and theghosts didn't make good waiters as they had trouble carrying solid objects,Narcissa had offered to serve them for the night. She had also wanted to pickup as much information as possible.
 
"Thank you, Narcissa," Camilla Lestrange said placidlyas Narcissa poured her a glass of wine. "My that is a lovely dress you'rewearing. It must have cost a fourtune!"
 
"I wouldn't know. Lucius bought it for me," Narcissareplied coldly. Mrs. Lestrange and Narcissa had known each other at Hogwartsand had vehemently disliked each other. They had been quite glad to see theother one leave. Little did they know that they would be seeing a whole lotmore of each other.
 
"Well of course, isn't that sweet," said Camilla, hervoice dripping with sarcasm. "Now Narcissa, dear, why aren't you taking amore active role in out circle, like your husband and I?" Her voice held ahint of a challenge, almost as if questioning her loyalty.
 
"Well, Camilla, I suppose it suits some people, but I preferto stay out of Azkaban when ever possible," Narcissa replied with a hintof a smile. It was clear she had touched a nerve. The Lestranges had spent mostof the past fifteen years in the wizard prison, Azkaban. They had tried to pleadinnocence when they were first convicted but to no avail. Now, after Voldemorthad risen again, enlisted the help of the Dementors, the prison guards, andfreed the prisoners, and he rewarded the Lestranges greatly for not renouncinghim, and braving Azkaban rather that lie about their loyalty, they pretendedthey had never put up a fight. The scars the stay in the cells flanked byDementors, soulless monsters that made you relive your worst memories, had yetto fade from Camilla's mind and she scowled at Narcissa and turned to join herhusband's conversation.
 
Narcissa stood around trying to look useful for the next fifteenminutes. She finally decided to see what Draco was doing and bring down dinnerfor the Death Eaters later in hopes that the conversation would pick up whileshe was gone. She walked to the fireplace, which held a hidden staircase thatwent up to the drawing room above. No one in the room looked surprised whenNarcissa left and as soon as she was gone, Lucius said, "Alright, lets getstarted and make this quick."
 
One by one, all heads turned to Lucius. "There have been anumber of owls to the ministry that we have intercepted. A great number of themsaid absolutely nothing at all, its no wonder, the ministry never gets anythingdone, with dozens of owls each day asking for world peace and moreenvironmental acts. Anyway, there were a few important letters in the junk andit turns out Dumbledore has a lot more people on his side than we thought. Nowthat shouldn't be a problem, but that great oaf of a gamekeeper, Rubeus hasmanaged to get most of the giants on their side."
 
A low moan echoed around the room. The Death Eaters had beenexpecting most of their strength and support from the giants in the north.
 
"There are, however, a surprisingly few number of aurorsworking against us and that number was greatly diminished this evening. I amquite pleased to inform you that Black, Lupin and Fletcher and dead."
 
"Here here!" came a shout from the other end of thetable and the room burst into applause. Lucius bowed his head slightly andsmiled to himself.
 
"But what about Figg?" Camilla asked.
 
"We are not sure of her whereabouts," Nott broke in."You know that the reason we are celebrating tonight was the Dark Mark hasbeen sent up after a muggle killing for the first time in fifteen years. Themuggle that has been disposed of was the Auror's grandmother. Figg was not inthe house and therefore we can only assume that she was with the others."
 
"So she is dead too?" someone asked.
 
"We can presume so, but if not, it won't take long to findher. She has no where to go. Do not worry about a single auror. The Death Markflies again and we should celebrate. This is the first of a longer and strongerreign of the Dark Lord than ever before!"
 
At that point, Narcissa walked back down the stairs carrying traysof food and the talk returned to mindless chatter.
 

* * * * *

 
Harry stood stock-still. He couldn't have moved if he wanted to.It was as if his legs had been glued to the floor and his eyes to the ghastlyscene out his window. Suddenly he saw something that made him feel ten timesworse. Arabella, Sirius, Lupin and Fletcher aparated in front of the house withthe glowing sign still above it. Arabella's shrill scream echoed down PrivetDrive and she shook her head and started walking backwards. She tripped over ahedge and fell to the ground but didn't bother to get up. Sirius, who had takenin the scene much quicker than anyone else, was now racing up the street tonumber four. Harry's feet suddenly became unstuck and he pulled on his bathrobeand grabbed his wand. He raced down the stairs ignoring the loud grunt thatcame from Mr. and Mrs. Dursley's bedroom and yanked open the door just asSirius came leaping up the steps.
 
"Harry," Sirius gasped. "Oh my god, Harry, are youalright?"
 
"I had another dream"" Harry started and then stopped.He wasn't sure how to put his vision.
 
"You see it when he kills someone, don't you, Harry?"Lupin said quietly, coming up behind them and making both Harry and Siriusjump.
 
"God, Moony, don't DO that at a time like this!" Siriussaid, shaking all over as he turned to face Lupin. His face was illuminated bya ghostly green light that the Dark Mark gave off, warping his features andmaking them look somehow quite evil.
 
Harry nodded dully and turned his gaze upon Arabella who wassitting on the ground, her head in her hands, and Fletcher, who was vainlytrying to comfort her.
 
"We'd better go see what we can do," Lupin continued."There should be a whole lot of wizards turning up soon."
 
"Of course," Sirius shivered, glancing again at thehorrid mark in the dark sky. You're right Moony, lets go."
 
The three of them, Harry, Sirius and Lupin walked slowly backtowards number 12. Everything was bathed in a green glow and Harry felt as ifhe were still dreaming, but he knew he could never have dreamt the look onArabella's face he saw when she looked up at them as they approached.
 
"My grandmother?" Arabella questioned, no one inparticular, in shock.
 
Everyone stared blankly at her, unsure of what to say. The silencelengthened and Harry was acutely aware the whole scene; the glowing mark in thesky, Sirius's great panting breaths, Arabella's rigid convulsions, Fletcher,pacing back and forth, and Lupin, standing quite still, hardly seeming tobreathe, looking down at Arabella. In the tense silence and hopelessness of thesituation, no one wanted to venture any closer to the tainted house, but eachof them were thinking the same thing" What if the person who made the mark wasstill inside the house?
 
Suddenly, there was a loud whooshing sound and a sound like aclap, and three figures stood beside them. Albus Dumbledore, headmaster ofHogwarts along with Minerva McGonagal and Severus Snape had aperated into thebegonia flowers on number 12's front lawn.
 
The three of them didn't say anything, but Dumbledore's eyesflashed around to each of them and rested for a moment on Harry. McGonagal alsolook towards Harry and then turn back towards the house. Professor Snape's eyesstayed straight ahead without looking at any of the others. In one motion, thethree of them took out their wands and stepped in to the house. An audible sighof relief rose from Black, Lupin and Fletcher, and although Arabella stayedsilent, she seemed to relax a bit and was able to stand up. Remus moved over toher and put his arm over her shoulder and Arabella leaned into him. All oftheir eyes were fixed upon the house. For hours it seemed, though it couldn'thave been more than a few minutes, no one moved. Harry was slightly amazed whatwith Arabella's scream and Sirius's yelling, none of the Muggles had woken up.Finally, the mark began to blow away in the wind, as brisk breeze had suddenlysprung up over Privet drive and the last traces of the dark mark faded away.Dumbledore exited the house followed by the other two Hogwarts teachers.
 
"They're gone?" Sirius said, walking towards him.
 
"Yes," spat Snape bitterly from behind Dubledore."You didn't expect them to hang around did you? In any case, you hadbetter get out of it too, Black."
 
Sirius opened his mouth to retaliate, but Dumbledore raised hishand and he closed his mouth.
 
"Severus is correct. Mobs of Ministry workers and reportersfor the Daily Prophet will be here any second. You are still wanted, and if youdon't leave immediately, the consequences could be fatal."
 
Sirius paused, then nodded and turned to Lupin. "Well then.I'll go"" but he stopped again.
 
"You'll go to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagalfirmly. Harry assumed Dumbledore had explained all about Black over the summer,as she certainly hadn't know he was innocent the last year. "You can getin as a dog and may stay in my office until I return. You know where it is. Thepassword is Lion's Roar."
 
"If you apperate into Hogsmeade, I'm sure you can manage toget into the castle," Dumbledore told him with a bit of the twinkle Harryknew so well in his eye.
 
"Yes sir. Thank you professor," Sirius said turning toProfessor McGonagal.
 
"Perhaps I should accompany him in case there is anytrouble?" Fletcher asked.
 
"Yes, that might be wise," said Dumbledore. Black walkedover to Harry and hugged him tightly for a moment, whispering, "I'll seeyou soon," and turned away. Fletcher then shook Harry's hand and turned tojoin Black. Then they both disappeared.
 
"Severus, would you be kind enough to escort Arabella back toHogwarts as well? I am quite sure that she will not want to be around wheneveryone shows up, seeing as her Grandmother was attacked."
 
Snape shot a look at Arabella who lifted her head from Lupin'sshoulder to look back. She gave him a small nod and Snape in turn looked backto Dubledore and nodded curtly.
 
"I'll go with her," Lupin said protectively.
 
"As you wish," Dumbledore replied.
 
"I really don't see what point I will be serving in thisexcursion. Perhaps I should remain with you," Snape said sourly.
 
"I am quite sure you will be able to provide more comfortableaccommodations for Arabella and Remus than they could find on their own,"said Dumbledore, slightly annoyed.
 
Snape then growled at Lupin under his breath as he walked over tothem. Lupin also shook hands with Harry, but Arabella kissed him on the headand whispered, "Good luck." Snape tapped his foot impatiently as theyLupin and Arabella returned to his side. He then muttered something under hisbreath and waved his wand around the three of them in a circle. A glowing ringof white light surrounded them and they vanished with a pop.
 
"So Harry," Dumbledore said with a small smile."Quite some excitement tonight."
 
"Professor Dumbledore, sir, I don't want to sound, er"conceited or anything, but why didn't they attack me?"
 
"Well, for one thing, I don't believe Voldemort's DeathEaters know exactly where you live. Secondly, when Hagrid brought you here thenight your parents were killed," he gestured at number four. "Iplaced you under a charm that would keep you safe as long as you were in theirprotection. Even if they did come here, they would be unable to enter the housewithout suffering excruciating and possibly fatal pain. Any curse they castupon the house or its inhabitants would have rebounded upon the one who castit."
 
Harry stared. He found it amazing to think that so much time,effort and planning on the part of some of the most powerful wizards in theworld had gone into keeping him safe as a one-year-old child.
 
Suddenly, a bright flash of light jolted him out of his thoughts.
 
"Smile, kid you're gonna be front page news! This is a crimescene!" A excited looking photographer shouted at him. At his side wasreporter who was staring intently at Harry.
 
"Hold it for a sec Jake! That boy! Its Harry Potter!" Atthese words, the poor photographer became even more flustered and dropped hiscamera on his toe. More reporters and harrassed looking Ministry members werearriving by the second and at the words Harry Potter, some of the reportersbegan to mumble among themselves. One of them spoke up loudly and voiced whatthey all had been thinking.
 
"Here now, wasn't Harry Potter at the Quidditch World Cupwhen the Dark Mark was conjured? And it was conjured with his wand too! What astory- ÔHarry Potter present at the last two Dark Marks in 13 years'!" Hespoke as though Harry weren't even there. Harry looked around quickly forDumbledore, but couldn't see him in the rush of people. There were over fiftynow, milling around Privet Drive and Harry could see some of the lights in thehouses flickering on.
 
The reporters words caused an uproar. Some people were outraged,but quite a few of the Daily Prophet reporters looked rather interested in astory like that.
 
"Hold it," a female voice suddenly was heard over thecrowd. Her voice sounded nasal and strangely familiar to Harry. "Lets findout the," she seemed to choke on her words a bit as she countinued,"The"whole story." And Rita Skeeter pushed her way through the crowdtowards Harry.
 
Rita Skeeter had been a new reported and special corespondent tothe Daliy Prophet the year before and had taken great pleasure in diggingthrough Hogwarts for information and twisting it into a story that antagonizedthe subject. Her stories had hurt Harry, Hermione and even Hagrid, thegamekeeper, but at the end of the year, Hermione had found out that Rita was anunregistered and illegal animagus and had threatened to turn her in if she evertold horrible lies about anyone again.
 
"Lets just find out what really happened before we go jumpingto conclusions," Rita continued. She looked just like Harry rememberedwith foul pointed glasses on a chain around her neck and bobbed black hair.
 
"Fabulous idea Ms. Skeeter," said Dumbledore finallyable to reach Harry's side through the mob. At the sight of him, everyone fellquite and some of the ministry workers began to whisper among themselves."I am quite sure you would rather talk to me than young Harry, here,"he went on. The muttering Ministry members turned away and some of thereporters and photographers seemed to back down as well. Harry then rememberedhow the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge had left the school angrily afterhearing Harry's story about Voldemort's return to power. Harry hoped that the Ministerhadn't been spreading stories about Dubledore, who was one of the few peoplewho could help in a time like this.
 
"I know what your Minister had been saying about me and whileafter seeing this, you may still choose to ignore it, but Lord Voldemort hasrisen again," the crowd gave a collective shudder at the name.
 
Professor McGonagal had been struggling to get to Harry andDumbledore's side, and finally, fed up, had started blasting a path through themob with her wand. "The dark Mark has returned. It was here just minutesago! If you refuse to believe Albus then it is only yourselves and yourfamilies that you are endangering!" She shouted, her Scottish accentbecoming more pronounced in her rage. Everyone quailed under her furious wordsand the reporters began to pack up their quills and disparate and thephotographers snapped a few more pictures of the house before leaving as well.
 
Finally, only a handful of ministry members were left.
 
"We've spoken with Arthur," one of them began, and Harryrealized he must be talking about Mr. Weasley, Ron's father, who had pledgedhis support to Dumbledore at the beginning. "We're ready to do whatever weneed to do."
 
"Thank you, Perkins. The culprit is gone, and so is the DarkMark. I think the only thing we will need some support with is the Mugglesright now," Dumbledore said quietly, staring around at the neighbors whohad appeared, wide eyed, in front of their houses.
 
"Can do, sir," Perkins replied and the ministry memberspulled out their wands to perform the necessary memory charms.
 
"Now, Harry," Dumbledore said, turning to him. "Ina few hours, you will need to be at the Hogwarts express to go up to Hogwarts.We can take you there, if you wish."
 
"I don't have any other way to get to King's Cross, but sir,I don't have any of my books or"" Professor McGonagal cut him off.
 
"Now, don't worry about that. That can be taken careoff."
 
"Great, then, I'll just go back to bed?" Harry said,still slightly shell shocked from the night's events.
 
"Perhaps that would be best. We will be by in themorning." Dumbledore said as he and professor McGonagal took out theirwands to assist the ministry members.
 
As soon as Harry returned to number four and his room, he lay downon his bed, and within three breaths, had fallen fast asleep.
 
 
 
Only a few hours later, Harry's alarm went off jolting him out ofhis dreamless sleep. For a moment he wondered why he had set his alarm for soearly, but then remembered; he was leaving for Hogwarts! Harry stumbledsleepily down the stair with his trunk and set it by the door. Mr. Dursley wasalready awake and eating breakfast in front of the television when he heardHarry.
 
"Just where do you think you're off to, Boy?" He growledat Harry.
 
"He will be leaving for school a week early. You nephew hasbeen choosen as a school prefect. I hope this does not pose a problem?"Dumbledore was standing in the open doorway, dressed in floor length wizardrobes and holding a wand in his hand. The look on his face was one of slightamusement as he watched Mr. Dusley's mouth work up and down, but with no wordscoming out.
 
Uncle Vernon seemed to be on the verge of saying somethingextremely rude, but Albus Dumbledore seemed to command even the Muggle'srespect. Instead, Vernon gasped, "Well, get off with you then," toHarry and could only stare after them as Dumbledore lifted Harry's trunk withmagic and led him out the door.
 

* * * * *

 
"Now be good Draco," Narcissa said, a tad tearfully.
 
Draco Malfoy snorted derisively and saluted to his mother."See you over Christmas," he called with a drawl in his voice.
 
"Come on, Draco, I do not have all day," Lucius calleddismissive to his son, who swaggered over and stood next to his father wholifted up his wand.
 
"Have a good term dear!" Narcissa called, but she wasn'tsure Draco heard her as at the moment she spoke, a green light enveloped Dracoand his father and they disappeared.
 
Lucius and Draco appeared on the secret platform 93Ú4, stillshinning with green light.
 
"This is where I leave you, son," Lucius said coldly as Draco's trunk appeared next to them and Lucius vanished again, leaving Draco tolug his heavy trunk to the train.
 
"Malfoy, Draco!" A familiar voice called, reading off alist of names.
 
"Yes, professor," Draco said insolently sidling up toProfessor McGonagal.
 
"Malfoy, as this is not the first day of the school year, thestudents will not have the train to themselves. In order not to disturb theother passengers," she paused and looked over her spectacles at him for amoment at the word "disturb." She then countinued, "We will beassigning you compartments. Let me see, fifth year boys are in 28 and 29. 29 isfull, so you will be in compartment 28, second car. Please get on board.
 
Midgen, Eloise!" Professor McGonagal sighed and hurried offafter a sixth year Hufflepuff.
 
Draco sighed and resigned himself to lugging his bag to the car.He finally managed to stow it in the side luggage compartment and boarded thetrain. Counting the numbers, he passed 31, 30, 29 and then reached compartment28. He pushed open the door, and saw only one person, sitting in the seat bythe window. Draco swore out loud and Harry Potter turned to see him, andgroaned.