Labyrinth of Illusion

The sun was dipping below the horizon, the last bit of light quickly dying. Harry sat on the roof of Number 4 Privet Drive, his invisibility cloak drawn tightly around him. Hedwig hooted softly beside him.

"Shh, Hedwig.... You don't want anyone to hear you." Harry gave his owl a pat on the head and reached into his truck. He pulled out a spare bit of parchment on which he had been sketching a rather creative picture of Professor Snape being transfigured into a pig.

He turned the parchment over, getting his quill and ink.

The Muggles think I killed Cedric Diggory. They're kicking me out. I'm going to the Leaky Cauldron.

Can you tell me what you and Professor Lupin are doing? No one has told me a thing about what's going on in the wizarding world. You haven't been writing me; Ron and Hermione haven't told me anything. I got so desperate I even tried to get the Daily Prophet sent to me. It never arrived. They didn't refund my subscription money!

What's going on? Is this some plan to protect me? Well, all it's doing is driving me crazy!

Harry

He looked over the letter. Could he really send this to Sirius? It wasn't HIS fault Harry was being kept in isolation.

No, this had to be done. He was not going to back down.

Harry tied the letter to Hedwig's leg, giving her another pat on the head. "Take this to Sirius."

Once Hedwig was on her way, Harry levitated himself and his trunk to the ground. He looked around, then glanced at his watch. Giving a nod, Harry walked to the road and stuck out his wand hand.

A large purple bus roared up the street, stopping in front of Harry. The door swung open, a spotty faced man with large, protruding ears stepped out. "Welcome to the Knight Bus, Emergen-- Well, lookit 'oo it is! 'ey, Ern! It's 'arry Potter!"

"Hi Stan," Harry greeted the conductor. He had met Stan Shunpike and Ernie Prange, the driver, on the Knight Bus two years ago, after he had blown up Aunt Marge during a particular nasty holiday with the Dursleys.

Stan broke out into a large grin. "Well, 'arry, where can we take you?"

"Diagon Alley," Harry replied, digging in his pocket and pulling out a handful of sickles. He put the money in Stan's hand and dragged his trunk onto the bus.

"Full 'ouse tonight," Stan commented. He set Harry's trunk down next to one of the only available beds. "'ere we go. Next t' Miss Savori."

Harry gave a weak smile to the witch in the bed on the other side of him. His stomach felt a bit queasy as he looked at her. She was draped in a long, black hooded cape, making her look too much like a Dementor.

Lying back on the bed, Harry stared up at the ceiling. A million things went through his head.

He wondered if he would run into Ron and Hermione in Diagon Alley while buying their school supplies. Would Ron get the new broom he had been hoping for? He was going to try out for the Quidditch team this year.

He thought about Sirius. What were Professor Lupin and Sirius doing at Hogwarts? Was Lupin going to return as Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?

Most of all, Harry wondered about what condition he would find the wizarding world in.

**

The Knight Bus had arrived at Diagon Alley shortly after midnight.

"Good t' see you again, 'arry!" Stan said as Harry got off the bus.

"You too," Harry replied, "Bye."

He looked around the street. Unlike the last time, Cornelius Fudge was not waiting for him. Not that Harry really wanted to see him. He just wished someone were there.

He felt completely alone as he walked into the Leaky Cauldron. Tom gave Harry a large, toothless smile. "Hullo Harry. Blow up your Aunt again?"

The heat quickly rose in Harry's face. He stared down at his shoes. "No.... Not this time. I'd like to rent a room."

"Course." Tom got a large, brass key from under the bar and took Harry's trunk. Harry was taken upstairs to room eleven, the same one he had stayed in two years ago.

"I remember you stayed here last time," Tom explained, "Thought you might like a bit of familiarity."

"Thank you," Harry replied. He thought about what the Dursleys had said that morning. "Say.... Tom... Would it be okay if.... Well, next summer.... Could I rent this room for the whole holiday?"

"Don't see why not," Tom said, nodding his head. "But that's pretty far off. Something else might come up. Sleep well, Harry."

Tom left Harry alone in the room. He collapsed onto the bed. He sighed, not even having Hedwig to say goodnight to.

But there was a warmth inside Harry. Even thought he was alone, he was still back in the wizarding world.

He was where he belonged.

**

It took several hours of manual and magical labour to get Gwendolyn decent. The mud that caked her skin was scrubbed off, leaving her clean and terribly pale. Her long hair had been sheared just about her shoulders, but was as unmanageable as ever. She was given clean robes, which made her look more like a proper witch. She seemed disoriented and frustrated, which gave a sense of normalcy to the situation.

Gwendolyn sat in Dumbledore's office, holding a teacup and saucer in her trembling hands. Dumbledore and Professor Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress, sat across from her. Dumbledore kept a friendly expression in his blue eyes. While still keeping a look of severity, McGonagall seemed quite happy to see the young witch. Snape stood in the corner, shadowed and mysterious. His cold eyes bore into Gwendolyn, the sneer never leaving his face.

Truth was, the Professors were happy to deal with a problem that did not involve Voldermort for once. Snape was the exception, who watched the proceedings through cold, unfeeling black eyes. He seemed unhappy to deal with this, yet unwilling to leave.

"Dear, I hope you don't take this the wrong way," Dumbledore said, "but we thought you had died! We thought Voldemort had gotten you."

Gwendolyn laughed. "I doubt *he* would have much interest in a me. Like I said, I've been lost."

"For sixteen YEARS?" Snape cut in.

"I got really lost," she replied sheepishly. "I couldn't help it."

"Of course not," McGonagall reassured her, "We are all aware of your situation, Gwendolyn. That curse is a nasty bit of business. Where have you been?"

"All over," The reply was quick and automatic. "I think I've been everywhere in the world. I could never seem to find the way back home. I was quite shocked to realize this was Hogwarts. I never thought I would see this place again!"

"Well, Wrong Way returns," Snape muttered, "How fortunate for us."

"Did I cross you in some way, Severus?" Gwendolyn asked, glaring at the Potions Master.

"You know what you did," he snarled back.

Dumbledore waved his hand to end the spat. "Now, now... Stop that. Now that you have been found again, Gwendolyn, what will you do?"

"To tell you the truth, Professor.... I was trying to get here. When I got lost last time, I was going to start my professorship here. I was rather hoping you could take me on in an apprentice capacity. I'm sure you already have a potions teacher, but if the position opens up...."

"I'm afraid we do have a potions teacher, Gwendolyn. It is Severus here."

"Severus? Teaching?" She put a hand to her mouth, chuckling softly.

"And what is so funny about that, Wrong Way?" Snape hissed.

Gwendolyn shook her head, adjusting her glasses. "Nothing. Just.... You.... Children.... You didn't like children even when you were one."

Dumbledore again waved his hand in annoyance. "We already have a Potions Professor. Now, Gwendolyn.... In your wanderings, what kind of Dark Arts have you encountered?"

**

"Are you sure this is wise, Professor?" Severus asked after McGonagall had escorted Gwendolyn to the empty teacher's suite.

Dumbledore glanced up at Severus. "What? Keeping Gwendolyn at the school? I thought you of all people would appreciate it."

Severus' lip curled in a hiss. "I meant giving her such an important position. I know you promised Maclay a job, but that was sixteen years ago! She could be dangerous."

"You believe *Gwendolyn* could have allegiances to Voldemort? Now Severus," Dumbledore shook his head, "Your vigilance serves you well at times. This is not one of them."

"What about the boy?" Severus crossed his arms over his chest. "Since everyone is so intent on protecting him, I would think this appointment is rather dangerous."

"*The boy* is the exact reason I gave Gwendolyn the position," Dumbledore replied tersely. "He needs to know her. She is perfectly qualified as a Professor. There is no harm in it."

"We do not know where she's been or what she's been doing...." Snape started.

"And I plan to find out," Dumbledore cut him off. "But to do that, I need to keep her here. This is the only way I can think of keeping her at Hogwarts."

Dumbledore crossed his arms tightly over his chest. "I warn you Severus.... Do not let your personal feelings towards Gwendolyn Maclay influence your judgement. Your dislike of my choice in Professors is why we're in this mess in the first place."

"She's a danger, Dumbledore. And believe me, I will prove it."