Hogwarts OverExposed - Salazar's Return

HOGWARTS OVEREXPOSED - SALAZAR'S RETURN

"I'm scared," Timmy wailed. "I want my Mummy."

Emily lifted Timmy into her arms and tried to calm him.

"Jamie, what are we going to do?" Caitlin asked, their situation seeming hopeless.

"I don't know," Jamie sobbed as Ben sucked frantically on her nipple, trying to get nonexistent nourishment.

"Jamie, are we all going to die?" Timmy asked between his sobs.

Jamie didn't answer. She just held Ben tightly as tears streamed down her face.

Chapter Eight

The Milk of Life

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

"He hasn't kept anything down except water in the last seventy-two hours," Jamie pleaded. "If Ben doesn't get some real nourishment soon, he'll die."

"If the infant dies, so will you all!" Hooch screamed heartlessly.

"I can only guarantee that all your deaths will be extremely slow and painful, especially yours," she said, staring at Jamie, before taking her leave and slamming the dungeon door behind her.

"What does she expect me to do?" Jamie cried in frustration to the room in general. "Ben will only drink breast milk. How the hell does she expect me to get that for him when I'm locked in a dungeon?" Jamie dug her fingernails into her own breasts, purposely causing them to hurt. "What good are these damn things if they can't do their intended job?"

"Why is that?" Emily asked.

"Why is what?" Jamie asked impatiently.

"Why don't women's breasts give milk at all times? I mean once you have reached the age when you can have children, of course. Cows give milk every day of the year and they aren't always pregnant or feeding a calf, are they?"

Jamie stared at Emily, suddenly aware of how Hermione felt when asked a question to which she didn't know the answer.

"I can't answer that," she said. "Maybe that is one of the reasons why they are starting sex education classes this year at Hogwarts." Jamie shook her head in frustration. "I can't believe that I'm capable of transforming into another creature, yet I can't even explain properly how my own body functions."

Out of the blue, Jamie was struck with an inspiration. "Caitlin, whilst working with Madam Pomfrey at the Hogsmeade clinic, didn't you say that you were once able to help a woman go back to breast feeding? A woman's whose milk supply had dried up?"

Caitlin had been scratching Timmy's back in order to calm him down. The toddler had fallen asleep, his head nestled in Caitlin's lap. She looked up at Jamie as if reading her mind.

"Jamie, that woman had given birth and was already breast feeding. What I did for her was akin to repairing a broken bone." Caitlin gritted her teeth. "I'm not sure if I can do what I think you're suggesting. I wouldn't even know where to begin."

"Will you try?" Jamie implored.

"But what if I do something wrong, something that damages your ability to give birth or even worse kills you?" Caitlin asked.

"Then you'll deprive Damien and Hooch of the pleasure of butchering me," Jamie replied. "Caitlin, if there is even the slightest chance of this working, we have to try. Don't you see? If we don't, Ben is going to die."

Emily gulped. "If it works on Jamie, you better do the same to me."

"Why?" Jamie asked staring at her sister in amazement. "I'd certainly be capable of supplying enough milk for Ben's needs."

"It's not just Ben," Emily replied. "You and I seem to be the only two in the group that can stomach what they pass off as food around here. Timmy isn't eating and neither is Caitlin"

"I'll be okay," Caitlin disputed. "If I get hungry enough, I'll learn to tolerate the slop. But Emily is correct about Timmy. I've seen him empty his plate into the sewer when he thought no one was watching."

"Are you suggesting that you breast feed Timmy? He's not a baby." Her words faded off. It seemed impossible that in such a short time they had been pushed to such extremes.

"I'm suggesting that we all have to do whatever is necessary to get us through this intolerable situation," Emily declared.

"Let's not argue about something I'm not even sure I'm capable of doing," Caitlin implored.

"No, let's not," Jamie agreed, "but we can't shilly-shally either. Ben is already behaving in a lethargic way. The longer he goes without sustenance the slighter his chance of full recovery."

Caitlin slipped out from under Timmy and, after placing his head gently on the floor, walked uncertainly over to Jamie. "I'm glad that I've been giving those massages to Mum," she said. "I'm in harmony with exactly how her body feels both on the surface and internally. I think what I'll have to try and do is to adjust your organs to mimic hers."

"Does that mean you're going to have to have to physically touch me? Can't you just do it mentally?" Jamie asked.

"I can only do healing mentally when I'm able to utilize my own body as a draft of how things are meant to be." Caitlin blushed. "That's why I wouldn't be able to heal certain parts of a male without actually touching them.

"I have to approach what we are going to attempt with the same attitude. I have to envision how Mum's breasts felt, both superficially and internally. Then using her as a guide as to what is accurate, I will attempt to amend yours."

Jamie had numerous questions she wanted to ask, but decided against posing them. This was uncharted territory for Caitlin, so she indubitably would not be able to answer without reservation. Besides, there was no other alternative; Jamie had to go through with this no matter what the upshot. Without a doubt, this would mean the difference between Benjamin living or dying.

"Emily, this may take quite awhile," Caitlin said, her voice sounding not in the least bit confident. "You'll have to tend to Ben and Timmy if they wake up. It would be risky for us to stop in the middle."

Emily nodded her head in understanding.

* * * * *

"How is she?" Sam asked.

"Exhausted, but she refuses to let up. I had to threaten her last night before she'd finally agree to take a break and get some sleep," Harry answered.

"What time did you get back last evening?" Ron asked as Harry ushered Sam and him into the bedroom.

"Close to midnight," Harry said. "I don't know how she's doing it. Hermione's been in the air fifty-six of the last seventy-two hours and we all know how much she hates flying. Hell, she won't even land for meals -- insists on eating while in flight."

"Where is she now?" Ron asked, looking around the empty room. But before Harry could speak, Hermione entered the room, her wet hair wrapped in a towel.

"I'm glad you're early," she said cordially, obviously trying to conceal her true feelings. "We need to discuss some changes in our strategy. Harry, do you have that grid map of Great Britain that Severus and Draco prepared?"

"Over there on the table," he indicated.

"Good," Hermione said, as she unwrapped her hair, tossed the towel over a nearby chair and then did a quick drying spell on her hair before hurrying over to the table.

"We can't continue to use Hogwarts as our base of operations, it's just too far north," she declared, pointing to a flag marking the location of the Wizarding School on the map. "We need to secure lodging as we travel south, otherwise we'll spend an inordinate amount of time retracing our steps as we fly back and forth to the castle."

"That makes sense," Ron agreed looking at the map. "We'll have to adjust the shifts for flying escort." He used his finger to draw an imaginary line on the map.

"Instead of alternating every eight hours, one group will have to remain with you until you reach the southern most point of the search area and then return again north. At that time, we will change escort teams."

"Hermione, are you up to this?" Harry asked. "Fortunately, the weather has been in our favor, but it's still an unreasonable amount of flying with little rest or sleep."

Hermione looked at Harry as tears filled her eyes. "Harry, if anything happens to Jamie or any of those innocent children, I'll never be able to have a restful night's sleep again."

Harry nodded his head in agreement.

"Let me slip some clothes on and we'll get started," Hermione said, rushing to her dresser.

* * * * *

"Caitlin, what on earth are you doing?" Jamie cried anxiously. "They're getting bigger. The last thing I need is bigger boobs."

"Relax," Caitlin whispered softly. "That's a good sign. Growth and enlargement are a sign of the breasts evolving and preparing for the baby."

"They're not going to get as large as Hermione's, are they?" Jamie asked in concern.

"Quite possibly," Caitlin answered softly, as if in a semi trance, her hands continuing to move over Jamie's changing body. "Your body structure was nearly identical to Hermione's before she became pregnant. It wouldn't be surprising for it to react in the same way as hers did."

Jamie's body stiffened. "You're not actually making me pregnant, are you?" she asked in panic.

Caitlin smiled, although her eyes remained closed and her mind focused. "I'm a healer. There are limits to my ability, as there should be. You are not pregnant, but I seem to have managed to convince your mammary glands that you are."

"Is that why my breast feel so tender and hypersensitive?" Jamie asked.

Caitlin nodded her head. Meanwhile, Emily couldn't take her eyes off Caitlin and Jamie. Emily continued to be in awe of her sister's great power. She had watched mesmerized as before her eyes, Jamie's breasts had increased dramatically in size, her nipples and areolas darkening and becoming larger.

Now, as Caitlin's hands gently touched Jamie's breasts, they began to leak a thick yellowish substance.

"We're almost there," Caitlin said, thrill evident in her voice. "You're starting to produce pre-milk. Madam Pomfrey taught me that normally happens in the second trimester. "Just a few minutes longer."

Jamie was both elated and... she couldn't quite describe her mixture of emotions. If this worked, as it seemed now that it might, she'd be able to hold Ben to her breast and actually feed him; he would live. This knowledge sent an emotional ripple of happiness through her body.

But as she looked around the dungeon, Jamie was brought back to the harsh reality of their dire situation. Was she actually saving Ben's life or guaranteeing the death of all four innocents? What hell would be released upon the world if, in fact, Salazar Slytherin actually were reincarnated?

She had to take one step at a time. The immediate concern was Ben. Her job was to do everything within her power to keep everyone alive until...

"I think I'm done," Caitlin sighed, sounding both physically and emotionally drained, but at the same time delighted with her accomplishment.

"Perfect timing," Emily said, as Ben began to stir and whimper. "Are you ready to road test those?"

Jamie nodded her head for Emily to get Ben while she silently prayed that Caitlin had been successful. By this time, Ben was crying non-stop. Emily picked the unhappy baby up and practically ran to Jamie, who took Ben in her arms. Ben instinctively went for her nipple and immediately quieted.

"Is it working? Is he getting milk?" Caitlin asked.

"It's working," Jamie grimaced. "My nipple is tender and it hurts like hell, but he's getting milk. It's remarkable how something that hurts so much can feel so good."

"I think the hurting will go away in time," Caitlin commented. "It doesn't seem to hurt Mum."

"I'm hungry," Timmy wailed as he woke up.

Emily looked in Caitlin's direction and gave her a 'see what I mean' look. "When you're up to it, I think you should do me," she said looking extremely apprehensive. Then she went over to try and calm Timmy.

"Emily, I appreciate your intentions, but since Timmy can't stand to eat the garbage they serve us, what makes you think he'll be able to keep down breast milk? It's nothing like cow's milk, it's warm and, well I don't know whether he'll be eager to do what's necessary to get it."

"Do you think you can do the same thing you did to Jamie, to me?" Emily asked, ignoring Caitlin's comments and pushing the subject.

"Now that I've done it once, I don't think it would be at all difficult" Caitlin answered, "but we don't know whether Timmy will be able to drink it. Besides, he isn't a baby. You'd never be able to produce enough to feed him."

"Probably not, but Jamie will more than likely be able to generate more than Ben can drink. He may not end up with a chock-full stomach, but anything is better than zilch. We have to make an effort." Emily watched as Jamie lovingly nursed Ben.

"We could let him give it a try before making any physical changes to me," Emily suggested.

Jamie had been concentrating on feeding Ben, letting most of Caitlin and Emily's conversation go in one ear and out the other. For some reason though, Emily's last suggestion registered.

"I didn't think you were serious," Jamie said incredulously. "Are you seriously suggesting that you and I breast feed Timmy? He's four years old."

"Right, and he hasn't eaten anything of consequence in the last two days. It's damp and chilly in this hole. I realize it's not the most engaging idea, but we have to do something. I know you've been concerned about Ben, but haven't you seen the change in Timmy? He's suffering, too." Emily, went over to Caitlin and put her arm around her. "I don't know about you, but I'm willing to do anything that will increase the chances of us all making it through this hell on earth."

Jamie gulped, bit her lip and then looked up at the ceiling. "When I'm done feeding Ben, why don't we give it a small test?" She looked over at Timmy who was lying listlessly on the floor. "I'll try feeding Timmy. If he's able to keep it down; we should do as Emily suggests."

* * * * *

Madam Hooch stopped so suddenly as she entered the dungeon that she caused Crabbe to rear end her and Goyle to get caught in the chain reaction.

"What the hell happened to you!?" she yelled, staring unbelievingly at Jamie's breasts.

Jamie was about to explain what Caitlin had done and why, but before she had a chance, Hooch's eyes fell upon Emily. Her eyes practically jumped out of her head.

"My God, girl, what have they done to you? Can you actually stand without tipping forward?"

When Jamie finished nursing Ben, the baby had straightaway fallen asleep, what would be the most contented sleep he had experienced in days. She then anxiously called Timmy to her side. Jamie realized that Emily was right, that this was something they had to try in order to keep Timmy alive, but that didn't stop it from feeling strange, and in some ways, wrong to her.

Ben was a little baby, not quite three months old. He was helpless and it felt totally natural and correct to have him snuggled next to her, sucking on her nipple for sustenance.

Timmy wasn't a baby. He was a little boy, a little boy with teeth. He was over four years old and at times could be a little monster. Yet, in many ways he was as just as helpless as Ben.

"Come and sit on my lap," Jamie said lovingly to Timmy. "Emily and Caitlin tell me you haven't been eating, that you've been throwing your food away when you thought no one was watching."

Timmy stared angrily at Emily and Caitlin. "I tried to eat it," Timmy said, his eyes filling with tears. "I wanted to be brave and make Mummy and Daddy proud of me, but I couldn't. It makes me sick."

"Are you hungry right now?" Jamie asked, already knowing the answer.

"Very," Timmy said, his facial expression so sad that it nearly broke Jamie's heart.

"Caitlin did some magic on my breasts so that I could feed Benjamin just like his mother does," Jamie explained.

"I was watching," Timmy said, between sniffles.

Jamie bit her lips before proceeding. "Would you like to try?"

"But I'm not a baby!" Timmy said, ostensibly upset at the thought of being treated like one.

"No one said you were," Jamie said, holding Timmy tightly. "We love you. You can't stomach the food they give us. This is the only alternative we can think of to keep you from starving. Will you please at least try?"

Timmy gazed into Jamie's loving face and then looked at Emily and Caitlin who both gave him encouraging smiles.

"What should I do?" he asked uncertainly.

Jamie gulped. "Just place your lips around one of my nipples and gently suck. Please be careful not to bite with your teeth."

Caitlin and Emily watched as Timmy slowly moved his head closer to Jamie's breast. Jamie seemed to be holding her breath. Then finally he made contact and Jamie could feel suction on her breast.

"It... It tastes good," Timmy said, sounding as if he felt it was wrong for him to like it. "It's sort of sweet."

Jamie just smiled as she hugged Timmy tightly.

"Can I have more?" he asked.

Jamie nodded her head and then sighed as she looked towards Emily.

"I guess it's time for you to go back to work," Emily gulped as she reached for Caitlin's hand. "Jamie can't possibly feed the two of them by herself."

"It shouldn't hurt," Caitlin said reassuringly. "It didn't for Jamie and now I'm a little more skilled."

"I'm not worried about it hurting," Emily said with a sigh. "It's just that I'm only twelve years old. Breast feeding a four year old at this age is something I never envisioned myself doing."

"When Hooch tied me to that tree and left me to die, I never thought I'd live to see age eleven," Caitlin said sadly. "I even prayed to die." Caitlin threw her arms around Emily and hugged her tightly.

"Now I have a family and friends that I love," Caitlin said. "The last thing I want to do is die or witness anyone I love die. We have to do whatever necessary to ensure our survival. Somehow, we have to defeat these bastards."

Emily agreed and so they started the long procedure that would permit her to breast feed just like Jamie. Unfortunately, Caitlin forgot to take a number of things into consideration that made Emily's situation much different from Jamie's.

Jamie was seventeen and had reached her full adult height. She was also fully developed. Emily was only twelve. Although she had a figure, she had not reached what would be her full height and she was nowhere near fully developed.

When they were midway through the attempt, both girls realized there was a problem. They also both realized that they couldn't stop. To stop might cause irreparable harm to Emily, but it would also leave them with no way to nourish Timmy. They had to finish.

"Well Jamie, I always dreamed of having big tits like yours," Emily said, trying to force a smile.

Jamie hadn't worried before about her own physical change, but now she felt compelled to query Caitlin. "If we're fortunate enough to survive all of this, can you undo the changes you've made to Emily and I?"

"I'm not really sure," Caitlin said. "In both your cases, it ought to be possible to convince your bodies that you are no longer breast feeding." She looked at Jamie. "That means your breasts would return to approximately the same size and shape they were before I did anything. I can also alleviate any sagging that takes place."

"But what about Emily?" Jamie asked, nervously.

"I'm afraid the rest of her body will just have to catch up," Caitlin said sorrowfully.

"But that will take years," Jamie replied.

"Probably four or five," Caitlin agreed.

Picture, if you would, a very well endowed woman such as Hermione or Jamie. Now imagine their breasts increasing dramatically in size due to pregnancy. Place those breasts on the body of a slender twelve-year-old girl and you'll have an idea of how Emily currently looks. It's not a sexy or a pretty picture, but rather gross, almost deformed in appearance. The good news was that they were at least functional.

After Jamie finished explaining, Hooch uncharacteristically laughed. "What do you think of the girls' new looks?" she asked Crabbe and Goyle.

Goyle, as normal couldn't take his eyes off of Jamie. The increased size of her breasts only seemed to intensify his interest. Crabbe on the other hand was no longer torn between looking at Emily and Caitlin. His eyes now remained focused on Caitlin, totally ignoring the overly endowed Emily.

"You seem to have lost Crabbe's attention, my dear," Hooch said nastily. "If you'd like those tits reduced in size, I'm sure Damien would be happy to strip some flesh from them."

"Only if he wishes his own toys turned upon him," responded a mysterious female voice.

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice, but Crabbe, Goyle and Hooch dropped to their knees.

"Great One, when did you arrive, how long have you been listening?" Hooch asked, fear evident in her voice.

"Long enough," she declared as she stepped from the shadows, "to know that the loyalty these children share for each other is stronger than the allegiance my servants demonstrate for me."

"That is not true!" Hooch wept, flinging herself forward and trembling from head to foot as she collapsed at the Great One's feet.

"Crucio!"

Hooch writhed and shrieked until the Great One finally raised her wand.

"Do not ever take it upon yourself to correct me," she roared.

"Isn't that Emma Wrong, the Minister of Magic?" Caitlin whispered.

Jamie didn't answer, but merely nodded.

"I gave orders that the innocents should be protected; that no harm should befall them. Yet I now learn that two of them were on the verge of starvation." She looked long and angrily at her minions. "You three owe your lives to these girls. If my plans to awaken Salazar Slytherin had been thwarted because of your incompetence, you would have paid with you lives."

"Give them proper bedding and decent meals three times a day. I shall on occasion sample what you feed them and it best be to my liking," she howled. "If one of them ends up with so much as a scratch on them before the ceremony, there will be hell to pay."

"What about the older Zacherley girl?" Goyle asked.

"Thus far she has been more devoted to my wants than have any of you," Wrong declared disgustedly." She will continue to watch over the children, unharmed, until the proper time. Once Salazar has arisen, I will decide her final fate.

Hooch, Goyle and Crabbe all seemed disheartened, but remained silent.

"Come," she ordered. "We must meet with Damien and make sure that everything is in place. The third of September will be here soon."

The girls stood silently until the door closed, and then all three tried to speak at once.

* * * * *

Friday, August 27, 2005

"Hermione, you need to rest," Harry insisted as his wife stumbled toward the shower. "I know you're worried, we all are, but you're going to kill yourself if you try to keep up this pace."

"I'll be all right," Hermione maintained. "Once they are all safely home, I'll have plenty of time to rest."

"You're not all right," Harry responded crossly. "Ginny told me that you dozed off last night and almost fell off your broom."

"Ginny has a big mouth," Hermione retorted.

"She's only concerned about you, we all are. You're just pushing yourself too hard."

"Harry, I'm the only one that can contact Caitlin," Hermione reminded him. "We only have a week before the new moon. If we don't find them before that..." She couldn't finish the sentence, but there was no real need. Harry knew that with the arrival of the new moon all hope of finding any of them alive would be lost.

"Don't you understand that is why you must take a break?" Harry pleaded. "You are the only hope we have of finding them." Harry put his arms around Hermione and drew her tightly to him.

"I've waited my entire life to have a family to love. I can't bear the thought of losing any of them, but if I were to lose you too..." The possibility was more than Harry could bear. He couldn't hold back the tears as he hugged Hermione desperately. "I need you so much," he cried. "I can't envision life without you."

Hermione returned Harry's embrace, her eyes swelling with tears. Then, unexpectedly, Harry found he was supporting Hermione's entire weight. She had collapsed in his arms.

* * * * *

"What happened?" Hermione asked, a few hours later when she awoke in the hospital wing, steam escaping from her ears.

"You passed out," Harry said, leaning other to kiss Hermione gently on the cheek. "Poppy gave you some Pepperup Potion. It seems that you had a cold, but because of overexertion and lack of rest, it was on the verge of becoming pneumonia. She wants you to stay in bed for at least twenty-four hours."

"Harry, I can't," Hermione disagreed.

"Don't be stubborn," Harry said firmly. "Poppy is preparing you a sleeping potion now. We'll carry on the search tomorrow when you're feeling better. Meanwhile what do I tell Alex, Kim, and the others that are sending owls inquiring about the girls?"

"The truth," Hermione sighed, accepting the fact that she really did need rest. "They are too close to the girls; we can't lie to them. Besides, school starts in a week; the entire wizarding world will know the truth then."

"You know, of course, that they'll want to return to school straight away," Harry advised. "They'll probably insist on joining the search."

"Kim and the others are too young," Hermione said, "but I think Alex should be allowed. He's of age, after all, and Jamie and he plan to marry."

"I wouldn't even think of trying to stop him," Harry said. "You try to get some rest and I'll send owls off to Alex, Kim and the others."

Harry leaned over and kissed Hermione tenderly. "We'll find them in time, Mione. We have just got to."

Hermione drank the sleeping draught that Poppy gave her and then lay staring at the ceiling, waiting for it to take effect. There had been a time when she felt that with Harry her life was complete, but that was before Benjamin and the girls. At the end of the war, despite the deaths of her parents and losing her two best friends, she had somehow managed to go on. She shuddered at the thought of losing Jamie, Caitlin, Emily or Ben. But what if she lost all four? Tears filled her eyes as she drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

* * * * *

Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Jamie listened as the hour chimed faintly on a distant unknown clock. "The Sorting Ceremony will be starting shortly, followed by the start-of-term banquet," she announced forlornly. "I've always loved the Sorting Ceremony, except when it was mine."

"Were you scared, too?" Caitlin asked. "You've always seemed so brave and courageous."

"I put on a plucky front," Jamie said with a laugh. "Besides, remember I was only eleven. I doubt any first year isn't petrified. I was shy, didn't know a soul. Just walking into the Great Hall is overwhelming; then add to that the ghosts, everyone staring at you and the creepy Sorting Hat."

"I found that the scariest," Emily declared. "I hated sitting on that stool with everyone gawking while that Hat made up its mind. There are times I still can't believe I talked it into putting me in Slytherin; I could have been with you guys in Gryffindor."

"That would have been nice," Jamie said, putting her arm around Emily's shoulder, "but you did the right thing. Kim needed you. Besides, look at the great friends you two have become. I have a feeling Kim and you are going to bring big changes to Slytherin house."

"Maybe Kim," Emily said sadly; she glanced to check that Timmy was still sleeping. "Jamie, it's time we stopped kidding ourselves. We are just three days away from the new moon. Mum and Dad aren't going to find us in time. We're all going to die and never see them, our friends or Hogwarts again."

"You can't give up hope," Jamie implored. "I know they are searching for us. They won't stop looking until they find us. You can't give up hoping."

"Besides," Caitlin added lightheartedly, "You have to get back so you can show Tyler your new boobs."

"Will you stop it?" Emily shouted angrily. "I've told you a million times that Tyler and I are history." She looked disgustedly down at her breasts. "Even if we weren't, one look at these monstrosities and we would be."

Emily shook her head in disgust. "The most depressing thing is that it was all for nothing. Once Emma Wrong got on Hooch's case, the food changed dramatically and Timmy started eating. I'm deformed for no reason at all."

"You're not deformed," Jamie insisted. "Once we get home, I'm sure that between Caitlin, Mum and Madame Pomfrey, they'll be able to restore you."

"If we get home," Emily said in frustration. "Meanwhile, I have two oversized basketballs as breasts and my back hurts all the time."

* * * * *

Amanda looked disconsolately around the Great Hall. The excitement normally associated with the start-of-term banquet was absent. Most certainly, the Sorting of new students had taken place as it did at the start of every school year, but the cheers erupting from the house tables had been more sedate than in years past.

Why Jamie, Caitlin and Emily were missing was supposed to be a complete secret, so, naturally the whole school knew about it. They similarly knew about the prophecy, therefore no one questioned the absence of Professors Potter or Granger from the head table. Amanda felt quite alone and lonely despite being in a crowd. Her two best friends for the last six years were missing; Alex was with the Potters searching, but it was doubtful that she would ever see Jamie again.

Tyler had initially sat next to his brother, but once he had learned the reason for Emily's absence, he moved and squeezed himself in at the table next to Kim. This move greatly displeased his brother, Dick Bancroft.

"Is there any news?" he asked Kim, placing his hand caringly over hers.

"I'm afraid not," Kim whispered softly. "You know about the link Caitlin and her Mum have. Well, they've been searching everywhere since the disappearance was discovered, hoping that Professor Granger could contact Caitlin. They covered the Shetland and Orkney Islands, all of Ireland and Scotland, including the Isle of Man. They've also covered England and Wales as far south as Cardiff. They're now covering the rest of England from the west heading toward London."

"What if they don't find them in the United Kingdom?" Tyler asked, his grip on Kim's hand tightening.

Kim bit her lip. "Then they'll keep searching, starting with France." Kim's voice became scratchy and she coughed. She threw her arms around a surprised Tyler as those sitting nearby looked on in shock. "The Potters feel that the innocents will be sacrificed with the new moon. Tyler, if they don't find them by moonrise on Saturday, they won't find them alive."

Tyler hugged Kim as everyone about them stared and whispered. "They have to find them; they just have to," Tyler cried, tears beginning to fill his eyes.

"You really do care about her, don't you?" Kim asked gently.

"I can't explain it," Tyler said, holding on to Kim as if his life depended on her touch. "I know we're only twelve and it's ridiculous to say I love her, but I don't know how else to describe my feelings. Our times together were the happiest moments of my life. Since we broke up, I've been miserable. I can't get her out of my head. I know she hates me, but I don't think I'll ever stop caring for her."

Kim gave Tyler a kiss on the cheek as she broke their embraces. "She doesn't hate you. I don't know if it will help, but I'll tell her how you feel when they bring her back to us."

"All that's important is that they bring her back unharmed. Bring back all of them alive," he added.

The buzz of chatter filling the Hall ceased as Severus Snape got to his feet.

"So!" said Snape, looking around at them all, a cheerless expression on his face. "Now that we have eaten, I must ask for your attention, while I give out a few notices. As ever, I would like to remind you that the Forbidden Forest on the grounds is out-of-bounds to students, as is the village of Hogsmeade to all below third year."

The Headmaster sighed deeply, picking at a stray hair on his sleeve as he measured his words. "The Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not take place this year," he said as if out of the blue.

Amanda looked around the Hall at the appalled students. They were staring soundlessly at Snape. Many had been expecting Snape to say something about the kidnappings, but this announcement came totally unexpected.

"Life continues," he went on, but it was obvious he was having difficulty maintaining his own composure. "For a number of years we have been planning a special event that will be starting in October. Since this event will continue throughout the school year, and take up much of the teachers' time and energy, having a Quidditch Cup concurrently would be impractical. I am, however, sure you will all enjoy it immensely."

Severus coughed. "I would find much greater joy in announcing this special event if it were not for the grievous situation we are currently faced with. I'm sure that by this time you have all listened to the rumors concerning our missing students. It is my sad duty to confirm much of what you have in all probability already heard.

"Jamie Zacherley, Emily Zacherley-Potter and Caitlin Potter along with Benjamin Potter and Timothy Weasley were all kidnapped upon return from their summer holiday. They are believed to be presently in the hands of the person calling herself the Great One."

The Hall remained silent, the students hanging on Snape's every word.

"We believe that unless a rescue attempt currently underway is successful, they will be sacrificed in an attempt to fulfill a prophecy evolving the resurrection of Salazar Slytherin."

Amanda noticed that even the Slytherins, with a few exceptions, seemed appalled at this notion.

"I'm sure that we will all pray for their safe return," Severus added. "Initially I considered canceling the upcoming event, but decided to the contrary. With or without them, I'm sure Jamie, Caitlin and Emily would want to see ties established between young wizards of different nationalities.

"As I was saying, we are to have the honor of hosting a very exciting event over the coming months. The first of what I hope will be many such events that will strengthen our binds with our American cousins. It is my very great pleasure to inform you that the very first International Wizard Survival Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year."

This announcement would, under normal circumstances, have been greeted with enthusiastic cheers, but due to the Headmaster's previous illumination concerning the kidnappings, it was only met with only polite applause.

"This will be our first competition with the United States since the colonies declared their independence. All the details as far as participating have not as of yet been ironed out, but will be forthcoming in the next few weeks. And now, it is late, and I know you all want to be alert and rested for your first day of classes. So, off to bed."

Amanda remained seated as with a great banging and scraping of chairs the students got to their feet and hurried toward the double doors and into the entrance hall.

"He's right," Amanda thought to herself. "Life goes on. We are all but players in the game of life. No matter who dies; no matter how much they mean to us, the game goes on."

She closed her eyes in an effort to suppress her tears.

Amanda jumped as a hand pressed against her back. "They'll make it," Tony said. "We can't give up hope."

* * * * *

Saturday, September 3, 2004

"Thanks, Tom. Tell them that we'll join them shortly for breakfast," Harry said closing the door to the room Hermione and he had rented the previous night at the Leaky Cauldron.

"Severus, Ginny, Alex and Draco are downstairs waiting for us," Harry advised. "They just arrived on the midnight train from Hogsmeade."

"Why?" Hermione asked. "Ron and Sam are already here. How many people do they think I need as an escort?"

"I think they all wanted to be here for either eventuality," Harry said, a depressed look on his face.

"Either?" Hermione questioned.

"By this evening we will have completed our search of all the remaining territory in England. They want to be here to either help us with the rescue or comfort us if we come up empty handed."

"Harry, if we don't find them today, do you think we have any chance of finding them alive?" Hermione asked, apprehensively.

"We'll find them." Harry said with conviction. "We just have to."

* * * * *

For the first time since their incarceration, the captives had been immobilized. Crabbe and Goyle had entered the dungeon late in the afternoon and one by one chained them, spread eagle to the wall by both their wrists and ankles. Caitlin, Timmy and Emily actually hung by their wrists, their feet, especially Timmy's, not even nearly touching the floor.

Jamie, because she held baby Benjamin, had only been secured to the wall by leather cuffs around her ankles that were connected by chains to the wall. She found it extremely difficult to stand because of the distance apart that her ankles were secured. Two weeks had passed since their kidnapping and now the rising of the new moon was only a few hours away. They weren't going to be rescued; they were all going to die. Jamie watched helplessly as little Timmy bawled hysterically. Caitlin and Emily, who were chained on either side of the toddler, tried to calm him, but their words had little effect on the terrified child.

It was hours before anyone returned to the dungeon, and when they did, Crabbe and Goyle were pushing a huge stone cauldron. It was larger than any cauldron Jamie had ever seen; the belly was large enough to hold two adults, or four children. Jaime shivered at the thought.

Crabbe and Goyle had to struggle with the cauldron and even cock it to one side in order to finally get it through the door. Once finally inside, they ignored their captives as they first filled the cauldron with water and then with their wands conjured a crackling fire beneath it.

The liquid in the cauldron heated extremely fast. The surface was not only bubbling, but also sending out sparks as though it, too, were on fire.

"There was definitely something already in that cauldron before they added the water," Caitlin suggested. Jamie agreed.

As they all watched, mesmerized by the surface of the water, alight with sparks, the door opened. The Great One entered accompanied by Damien and Hooch, they each carried an open container.

"The time has come," The Great One said, first looking at the bubbling liquid and then at the helpless innocents.

Emma Wrong walked over to the cauldron and dumped the contents of her urn into it, the water hissed and turned a vivid yellow.

Hooch followed and emptied her container causing the liquid to turn a dark poisonous-looking blue.

Damien hesitated as if unsure he wanted to empty the contents of his vial, but when he looked toward The Great One for direction, she returned an impatient glare. He quickly emptied the vial's contents into the cauldron. It no sooner touched the boiling liquid than the potion turned a burning red; the light it gave off filled the dungeon as if sunlight was suddenly streaming in through a hundred windows.

"It is ready for the blood of the innocents," Emma Wrong shouted madly.

"The blood of the heir first," she commanded.

Damien walked slowly toward Timmy, a shining silver dagger in his hand. Timmy struggled hopelessly at his binds, crying even harder than before. Jamie closed her eyes as the point of the knife penetrated Timmy's arm and blood seeped from the cut. Timmy wailed uncontrollably as Damien collected a vial of his blood and returned to the cauldron.

Damien had barely turned his back, when the cut on Timmy arm miraculously healed. Jamie's eyes went from Timmy to Caitlin who was deep in meditation, a trickle of blood on her own arm.

"Blood of the heir, given to return his greatest ancestor."

Damien walked over to the cauldron and carefully added only two drops of Timmy's blood.

"The enemy," Wrong bellowed, seeming to be on the verge of losing control.

Hooch handed Damien a new vial and his cleaned dagger. Jamie clutched Ben to her chest and tried to shield him by turning as best as possible toward the wall.

"His arm is small, the dagger extremely sharp," Damien said, almost sympathetically, as he neared Jamie. "I need but two drops. Struggling will only serve to enlarge the injury."

Reluctantly, Jamie turned toward Damien, thus exposing the helpless sleeping infant. Damien pressed the blade gently against the crook of Ben's arm until blood began to trickle. He collected what he needed and went to turn.

"Thank you for being gentle," Jamie murmured, tears filling her eyes.

Damien didn't speak, but gave Jamie a weak nod of his head, then returned to the cauldron to add two drops of Ben's blood. Ben turned restlessly in his sleep as Caitlin healed his arm.

"Blood of the foe...forcibly taken."

"Sight and health," Wrong squealed. "Health first."

Caitlin gritted her teeth, knowing that no one was going to share her pain or heal her wound. But Caitlin was surprised. Damien was being uncharacteristically gentle. She had expected him to sadistically slash her arm, but instead he had only pricked it enough to cause bleeding.

"The blood of the Healer for Health and Strength."

Emily cringed. Her blood was the final ingredient. Would Emma Wrong actually succeed in resurrecting Salazar Slytherin?

"You have the makings of an admirable foe," Damien said as he approached Emily. "It's a pity that you must die so young." Without further word he slashed her arm. Because of the speed with which it was done, Emily thought the wound would be deep, but it was only superficial.

"The blood of the Seer to light the path."

As Damien added Emily's blood, the Great One mumbled an incantation and then stepped away from the cauldron. At first, it seemed like nothing was going to happen. The cauldron just seemed to be simmering, continuing to send off blinding sparks.

Then, without warning, the sparks were extinguished. The cauldron stopped bubbling; steam billowed thickly from it, filling the room and obscuring the view. No one was moving; even Timmy was quiet. It seemed like everyone was holding his or her breath waiting, just waiting. Then...

"WHO DARES TO AWAKEN ME FROM THE SLEEP OF DEATH!?"

End of Chapter 2

As always, I would like to thank those of you who took the time to review chapter eight. If not for your encouraging words, I doubt very much that the series would be on its third book.

Amber, you were greatly missed on this chapter. I hope you'll be back for chapter nine. Thank you to my betas for this chapter: Allison, Bluezy, Don, Dove, Lucy and Peter.

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