Labyrinth of Illusion

Madame Pomfrey bustled around Hermione, conjuring up white gauze and wrapping it around her mid-section. "You are very lucky, Miss Granger. That creature nearly made you a shish kabob. You should be out of bed tomorrow."

Hermione smiled weakly. "I'm... I'm feeling a lot better than I was."

"Good, good," the Mediwitch commented. She heard the door open. She looked up, as Harry entered, clutching a bouquet of deep crimson roses. "Ah, Mr. Potter. I thought you might come back."

"Harry!" Hermione's face lit up. Her eyes sparkled as Harry moved closer.

"May I speak to Hermione alone, Madame Pomfrey?" Harry asked.

Madame Pomfrey shot him a dirty look. "I have to attend to my patient, Mr. Potter. Give me a moment, I'm almost finished."

She finished wrapping the bandages around Hermione. "There you go, Miss Granger. All better." She rose from the bed. "I'll be in my office if I'm needed."

She bustled out and Harry sat down next to Hermione on the bed. He smiled softly. He held the flowers tightly in his hand.

"You're looking better."

"I'm feeling better. How are you doing?" Hermione looked up at Harry, her eyes wide with concern.

"Gwendolyn is gone," Harry murmured, lowering his head. "She was fired."

Hermione felt torn. Yes, she was pleased that Gwendolyn couldn't meddle with Harry, but... He looked so sad. She had to play it cool. "Oh? Why?"

Harry's eyes glimmered menacingly as he looked up. "You know why." His smile turned into a twisted grin. "You did it. She never did anything to you. You never trusted her."

Hermione's heart stilled in her chest. She drew her lower lip between her teeth. "Ha-Harry.... There was something not right with her.... She's not the way she should be."

"What? Dead?" Harry snarled. He gripped the bed sheets tightly. "How could you Hermione? She was my family. You couldn't stand that for once I was *happy*?"

"No, Harry...." Hermione whimpered softly.

"SHUT UP, you stupid little bitch!" Harry yelled. Tears welled in Hermione's eyes. "I don't ever want to hear you speak again!"

Madame Pomfrey came running in. She grabbed Harry by the shoulders, pulling him off the bed. "Mr. Potter!"

Harry struggled against Madame Pomfrey. "What you did-- You and Ron and Sirius and Remus.... I hope you all die!"

Hermione tried to hold in her tears as Madame Pomfrey hauled Harry out of the room. She lowered her head, clutching the bouquet of flowers tighter.

The tears finally began to slide down Hermione's cheeks, as scarabs crawled out of the red blooms. She screamed, jumping out of bed. The beetles skittered around on the sheets as Hermione sobbed on the floor.

**

"This is absolutely and completely inexcusable!" Professor McGonagall exclaimed, pacing in front of Harry. "You attacked an injured student! One who is your *friend*."

Harry leaned back in his chair, his eyes hollow. "Are you trying to make me feel bad, Professor? It's not working."

"Seventy-five points from Gryffindor," Professor McGonagall seethed. "And you will have detention for two weeks."

Harry shook his head, smiling. "Really, Professor.... I'm SO sorry." He laughed. "That bitch had it coming."

"One hundred points and you are suspended from Quidditch." McGonagall crossed her arms over her chest.

Letting out a derisive snort, Harry leaned back in his seat. "I really don't think you're going to do that."

"And why not, Mr. Potter?"

Harry smiled wickedly. "Well, we have a Quidditch game in a hour. There's no back up Seeker. Do you just want to give Slytherin the Quidditch Cup now, save the trouble? You can't play without me."

"You'll play today," Professor McGonagall said sharply, "Then Miss Spinnet will take over Captain duties and the team will find a new Seeker. You're off the team."

**

As he slid his shin pads up his legs, Harry had an odd feeling in his stomach. What had come over him today? He had also gotten himself banned from Quidditch. Quidditch was his favourite thing to do! He had attacked Hermione, one of the most important people--

He wasn't able to finish his thought because a fist connected with his jaw. He was sent across the room, tasting the bitter blood in his mouth.

"You bastard!" Ron roared. He grabbed Harry by the front of his red and gold robes, thrusting him against the wall forcefully. George began to come forward, trying to grab his little brother. Ron knocked him away. "Stay out of this, George!"

"Ron--"

"I just saw Hermione!" Ron bellowed, punching Harry in the gut. "What the hell is wrong with you? She loves you, you prat! And you do something like that! How *dare* you?"

Harry pushed Ron away, swinging at him. He hit Ron in the eye, which became red and bloodshot.

"*Hey*!" Fred jumped in now. "Stop it, you two!"

"You and that bitch got Gwendolyn kicked out of Hogwarts!" Harry yelled, brandishing his wand. "I was saving something special for you, Weasley."

Ron pulled his own wand out. "You're going to be sorry, Potter."

"Expelliarmus!" George yelled. Harry and Ron's wands flew out of their hands.

"Are you two off your bird?" Fred bellowed. "I don't care WHAT happened! We've got a Quidditch game to play. You two are both going to put aside your differences, and we're going to go play Quidditch. Then we're going to talk about what the hell is going on!"

Ron and Harry glared at each other.

"There's no room for argument," George said, "This is important. Come on."

**

Albus brought his withered hands to his face, rubbing his wrinkled temples. Minerva watched him as he put his elbows on the desk, sighing deeply. Fawkes squawked from his perch, flying to his owner's shoulder.

"Albus, what is wrong?" Minerva asked softly, placing a hand on her friend and boss' shoulder.

"I don't know what I'm doing anymore, Minerva," Albus sighed, looking up. His usually sparkling blue eyes were dull and tired. His face was gaunt and pale. "We're at war, and I find myself falling apart. I've been making the wrong decisions. How could I be so stupid? Bringing Gwendolyn into the school? She's been gone for sixteen years. She must have changed in that time."

"Don't tell Severus that," Minerva sat down, rubbing the back of her neck. "He'll never let us hear the end of it."

"I thought his feelings were getting in the way of his judgment," Albus took off his glasses, rubbing his eyes. "In truth, it was my feelings getting in the way. I just couldn't let myself believe that a Potter could turn to darkness. Their line stretches back to Emrys Merlinus. In all that time, not a one has turned." He let out another sigh. "I forgot that Gwendolyn is a Maclay and not a Potter."

"You cannot blame yourself, Albus. You're human," Minerva took his hand, squeezing it gently. "I wanted to believe Gwendolyn was without sin myself. Mistakes are bound to happen in times like this."

"I can't afford to make these mistakes. Voldemort is a powerful enemy. With him resurrectedÉ." Albus slipped his glasses back on his nose. "If the boy falls, our world will not survive. And I doubt I can undo the influence Gwendolyn has had."

"Do you really believe Harry is falling to the side of evil?"

"You saw what he did to Miss Granger, Minerva." Albus shook his head. "He loves that girl. If Harry has turned against her and Mr. Weasley I doubt there is anything we can do." He touched Fawkes' red head. "I just hope we can do something before."

"Before what?"

"Before someone else dies."

**

The sky was bright and clear; a perfect, almost unearthly, blue. The Gryffindor stepped out onto the field.

Remus clapped hard, watching the red and gold clad teenagers mount their brooms. On one side, Sakura sat primly. On the other, the large, black dog that was Sirius sat on his haunches.

"Welcome to the Gryffindor-Hufflepuff match!" Lee Jordan yelled into his megaphone. "The Gryffindor team is taking the field! New Keeper, Ron Weasley; Beaters Fred and George Weasley; Chasers Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet and Katie Bell and Captain and Seeker Harry Potter!"

Sirius barked loudly as Harry took the field.

"Did you hear what happened with Miss Granger?" Remus asked Sakura softly.

She nodded her head. "There's something quite wrong with Harry. To attack a friend." She sighed deeply. "Whatever power controls him, it is greater than we expected."

"You can say that again." Remus rubbed his tired eyes.

"The Hufflepuff team is coming to the field! They have dedicated this year to Cedric Diggory, promising that they will bring home the cup for their friend. Keeper and Captain Justin Finch-Fletchley; Beaters Wayne Hopkins and Kevin Whitby; Chasers Susan Bones, Mick Richards and Owen Cauldwell and their new Seeker, Derek Kalderasha!"

Sirius made a strange whimpering noise. He looked up to Remus.

Remus looked around at the witches and wizards in the box with them. They were looking at the large dog strangely. "Snuffles, sit," Remus said firmly, trying to treat Sirius like a real dog. Sakura stared up passed the Quidditch players, to the empty sky.

The Hufflepuff team took off into the air, their yellow robes fluttering in the wind. They took their positions in the middle of the field. They faced against the Gryffindor team, waiting for the game to begin.

Madame Hooch, dressed in black and white robes, released the bludgers, which flew up in the air. The large, iron balls immediately began to assault the two teams.

The Snitch was released. The gold ball moved as fast as a hummingbird, quickly disappearing in the bright light. Madame Hooch gripped the red Quaffle in her hands, throwing it up in the air.

The two teams immediately began to battle over the Quaffle. A flurry of red and yellow robes flitted around, blending together in the high-paced match.

A yellow blur shot towards the Gryffindor goal posts.

"Whitby gets the Quaffle!" Lee Jordan announced. "He races towards the goal"

The red blot that was Ron Weasley darted around the goals. The Quaffle shot through the air, hitting Ron hard. He flipped over, the force of the ball hitting his stomach sending him backwards."

"Whitby misses! But Weasley's knocked off course... Will he be able to get back in ti--"

Lee cut himself off as the sky turned black. A hush fell over the crowd. No one spoke, no one moved. They just stared up at the sky as the sun was blotted out. For five full minutes, Hogwarts was bathed in complete darkness.

A blinding bolt of lightning flashed across the field, breaking the blackness. A strangled cry killed the silence. Silhouetted by the flash, one of the players arched as the energy bolt shot through him. Darkness settled again, the silence returning.

A sickening thump made everyone wince. Remus was already on his feet, trying to push his way blindly in the crowd.

The sunlight re-appeared and everyone could see the lump on the ground. Crimson robes covered him, a bit of red hair visible.

Sakura, Hagrid and Sirius were following quickly behind Remus. Dumbledore and McGonagall had risen from their seats, rushing down. Ginny Weasley was standing in her seat, mouthing noiseless words.

Finally reaching the fallen player, Sakura turned the body over. Ron's face was burnt and bleeding. She gasped softly, placing two fingers at Ron's throat. "Oh.... Oh no....." She looked up to Dumbledore, who had just reached to the pitch. Tears were in her eyes.

Dumbledore knelt down, removing his half-moon spectacles. "Sakura?"

Sakura swallowed hard, removing her fingers from Ron's throat. "He's dead."