The Resurrection of Sirius

7

Finding Bellatrix

"Harry?" Ron came into the room. There was no answer. "Harry, it's dinner time... You coming?" There was still no answer. Ron tapped his foot quietly.

"Well, Harry, I'm going to go down to dinner, if you want to come then you can come. See you," he added as he walked out of the room.

"Is he coming?" Hermione asked.

"Not right now. I dunno what he's doing, maybe he's sleeping. Let's go," Ron said. He held out his arm for Hermione. She took it.

Hermione loved time alone with Ron. He was so funny, so comfortable. He was easy to talk to, more so than Harry anyway. Plus he didn't lose his temper so easily. And you could tell when he wasn't listening, because he would turn the other way, or his mouth would sort of hang open. Harry just stared at you, and you had to see if his eyes were glazed over or not to make sure he was paying attention. Ron was... Hermione wasn't sure what he was. He was Ron. He was funny and loud, but only when it was needed.

"So, Hermione, what did you do with yourself while Harry and I were with the hottest teacher Hogwarts has ever seen?"

"Well, let's see... I made out with Seamus Finnigan, and then I agreed to go out with Neville," Hermione said, carrying on the joke.

"Er -- yeah. I'm sure anyone would want to go out with you, Hermione," Ron said. Hermione couldn't tell if he was kidding, so she just laughed and nudged Ron in the ribs.

"Ow."

"Oh, I'm sorry!" She meant it: Hermione hadn't meant to hurt Ron.

"Herm. I was kidding."

"Oh. I knew that!"

"Uh huh. Well, er, can I -- have my arm back? Only it'd be pretty hard to sit across the table from you and have you holding my arm. Unless you want to cut it off, then you could take it everywhere you went," Ron added as an afterthought. Hermione laughed and let go of Ron's arm, blushing. She really liked Ron.

Ron sat down at the table. He reached for the mashed potatoes and scooped some out. "Can you pass the gravy?" he asked to a first year sitting next to him. The kid jumped at being talked to and passed the gravy.

"By the way, what did Willow say? About Sirius?" Hermione asked.

"Oh, er, she said no."

"Oh. That's sad. She say why?"

"Yeah, she said that it's too dangerous and besides death is death." Hermione nodded. "But really, what did you do while we were gone? Oh, let me guess -- homework?"

"No."

Ron dropped his fork in fake surprise. "Hermione, are you feeling all right?"

"Iv khorsh oy im," Hermione said. Ron raised an eyebrow. Hermione swallowed, then said, "Of course I am! I was kidding, I did do homework."

Harry lay in his bed, debating whether to go down to dinner. Finally, his stomach won and he got up to go join Ron and Hermione.

When he got to the door of the Great Hall, he saw Ron and Hermione talking and laughing. He grinned and walked over to them.

"Oh, hey Harry," Hermione said. "So then I'm like, 'Hey, ugly!' And Malfoy turns around, so I said, 'Well gosh Malfoy, we all knew you were ugly but I didn't know you knew you were ugly!'" Ron laughed.

Harry sat down. "Okay, well, I guess you guys can have fun without me, then."

"Yeah, but it took us a while," Hermione said. She winked at Ron, and Harry pretended not to notice.

"Well Harry, we're almost done eating, we were about to go up and do our homework," Ron said, getting up.

"Oh. See you, then," Harry said. He felt suddenly left out. He watched Hermione and Ron walk out of the Great Hall together and wished he wasn't such a jerk. Oh well, more time to think about how to find Bellatrix.

"Hermione, will you do my homework for me?"

"No."

"Aw come on, why not?"

"Well for one thing, I'm only in two of your classes. And for another thing, I don't want to."

"But I thought you were Homework Girl!"

"I was... I dunno, I changed a lot over the summer."

Well, that's for sure, Ron thought. He remembered that outfit she'd worn to Diagon Alley and wondered what was in the water in America.

"Well fine. I'll do my own, then. Let's see..." He pulled his books out of his bag and read the first question for Transfigurations aloud. "What is the Disguising Spell used for?' Um... No."

"No?"

"No. The answer is no." Hermione laughed.

"You idiot. The answer is not no."

"Is it yes?"

"No, it's not yes either. It's 'To make something look like something else to the unwanted eye,' smart one."

"I knew that. I was just being stupid."

"You don't need to act to do that, Ron," Hermione said.

"Well! At least now I know how smart you think I am," Ron said.

"Yeah, I know. We all know how stupid you are, Ickle Ronniekins."

"Hey! The only people who are allowed to call me that are Fred and George. And even they aren't allowed to call me that, I just have to let them cuz Mum'll get pissed at me if I yell at them."

"I see. Well, let's get started on this homework..."

Harry knew how he'd find Bellatrix. He just hoped it didn't take too long.

The next morning, when Ron woke up, he went down to see if Harry and Hermione were up yet.

Hermione was, but Harry wasn't.

"I'll just go and get him, then," Ron said. "Be right back." He jogged upstairs to wake Harry up. "Oy, Harry! Get up, you lazy head." When there was no reply, Ron accidentally-on-purpose tripped and fell on Harry's bed. He knocked down the hangings, but didn't land on Harry.

Ron picked up the hangings and looked at the bed. There was no one there. But there was a piece of parchment. Ron picked it up and read:

Ron-

I'm not here for a good reason, and I'll get straight to the point. I'm running away to find Bellatrix Lestrange. I'm gonna kill her, or at least make her sorry she killed Sirius. I wish there was another way to get him back, but as Willow said she wouldn't help us... I'll be really far away by the time you get this. Don't bother trying to find me. I'll get back eventually, I promise. Take care of Hermione.

››Harry‹‹

PS- Don't tell anyone but Hermione about this. I don't want it to get out. See you soon, hopefully.

Ron dropped the note. He felt weak, like his legs were thin as toothpicks. They'd give out any second... They did.

"Ron?" Hermione ran up the stairs, having heard a loud thump. She opened the door to the boys' dormitory.

"Oh, my God!" Ron was on the floor, and he'd passed out. Hermione ran over to him and uttered a reviving spell. He jolted awake.

"Hermione! It's -- he's -- Harry -- he's gone --"

"What?"

"Here --" Ron handed Hermione the note from Harry.

She read it, and as she did, her heart began to pound in her chest to the point where she felt like she was going to pass out, too.

"Oh no, oh no, oh no, this is not good! We've got to tell someone!"

"No, Hermione! Harry said don't tell anyone."

"Ron, please. Harry could get killed!"

Ron muttered something to himself. "What?" When he shook his head, she went on: "Or if he doesn't get killed and ends up killing Bellatrix... Well, for one thing, if anyone finds out, he could be put to Azkaban. And for another thing, he's sixteen! He'd have the guilt of that hanging over him for the rest of his life."

Ron's eyes widened. "I didn't think about that... Well, let's at least wait a few days, shall we? We wouldn't want him to think we didn't believe in him --"

"Ron, if you don't tell someone today I will."

"Okay, okay, I'll tell Willow. She'll understand the most. I hope," Ron added.

"Fine. Bring the note, and tell her soon. You slept really late, it's lunch time," Hermione added. "Tell Willow after lunch."

Ron was not surprised he's slept so late -- he'd been up until four in the morning with Hermione. "What time did you get to sleep?"

"I didn't."

"You didn't?"

"No, I -- I decided to read. If only I'd been in the Common Room, I could've caught Harry..."

"No, actually, you couldn't. I think I heard a window open. I figured someone was hot and fell asleep right away. Harry must've climbed out the window..."

Hermione started to cry.

"It's okay, Herm, we'll find him. Willow's such a good witch, I'm sure she has some sort of spell to find someone."

Hermione sniffed and then nodded. She wiped her eyes and said, "I look like I've been crying?" Ron shook his head. "Okay. Then let's go down to lunch."

Harry walked for hours. It took him a little while to reach the mountains outside the grounds, and then he started to climb. He had to summon his stuff when he reached a resting point, because he didn't have enough hands to carry it. Now he wished he'd brought his broom, because he could've flown over the mountaintops.

Now he began to get bored and lonely. He wished he had someone with him. Soon enough, he began to get hungry. Not knowing anything about survival, how long it would take him to get to civilization, or how to tell the time, Harry decided not to eat anything until he couldn't stand the hunger.

The only thing that kept Harry from turning around and going back to school was the thought of harming Bellatrix.

Since there was no one around to tell him this, Harry did not remember his humanity. He was a ball of anger; ready to do whatever it took to kill Bellatrix. Had there been anyone with him, Harry would have realized that what he was doing would be the biggest mistake of his life.

Half an hour later, Ron knocked nervously on Willow's office door.

"Come in," she called. Ron pushed the door open slowly.

"Er, Professor, I've got something... Really important to tell you."

"What is it?"

"Er -- do you mind if I sit down?"

"No, go ahead. What do you need?"

"Um... Well, remember how yesterday you said that you wouldn't bring Sirius Black back for Harry?" Willow nodded. "Well, er... Harry decided to take things into his own hands... And he... He... Well, here." He handed Willow Harry's note. She read it.

"Oh my God. Did you have any idea he'd do this?"

"No."

"Oh, this is not good."

"Is there some kind of spell --?"

Willow thought for a moment. "Yes. There is. It's a really simple one, too. But first we'll have to figure out how far Harry could've gotten."

"Probably not far, I mean, he must have a lot of stuff with him, and he hasn't been gone long."

"Right... Well, Ron, I don't think I need your help right now... I'll come and get you if I do, okay?"

"But -- but Professor, I want to help."

"I know. But this spell is really simple, I can do it myself. I'll get you when I have something, okay?"

Ron nodded and got up to leave.

"Well? What'd she say?" Hermione asked a few minutes later when Ron plopped down onto the couch next to her.

"She said she could find him easily and that she didn't need my help, she'll come and get me when she has something."

"Okay. Listen, I think I need to be alone for a while. See you later," Hermione said. She got up and headed for the girls' dormitories. Ron watched her go. He sighed and got up, too. He went to the dormitory and lay down on his bed. He stared at the top of it, not really looking at it and not really concentrating on anything.

A while later, Seamus came in. "Ron? You in here?"

"Yeah." Ron got out of bed. "What is it?"

"The new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher wants to see you. She says she 'found something.' Whatever that means," Seamus shrugged.

Ron ran out of the dormitory. He was about to exit Gryffindor when he remembered Hermione.

"Hey, Lavender, will you go get Hermione for me?"

Lavender looked startled, but she went and got Hermione anyway.

"What is it?"

"Willow's found something."

Ron and Hermione ran out of the Common Room.

"Follow me," was all Willow said. They followed in silence. When they reached Willow's office, she led them in.

"Sit down." They sat. "Okay, I think I found Harry, and I was even able to keep a tracker on him, so we can make sure we don't lose him. Now I think he's somewhere around here --" Willow pointed to a spot in the mountains on a map -- "And he's not really going anywhere. If he keeps going in the direction he's heading now, he'll end up somewhere around here --" Willow followed a line with her finger and ended up somewhere in the city. "There's a Wizarding money exchange unit right there, and there's a hotel he might end up staying at here." She pointed to two places right next to each other. "If he does end up at that hotel, I'll go there and bring him back. But it'll take him at least a few days to -- oh, my God."

"What is it?" Hermione asked.

"Well, look -- he just fell down that cliff..."

"Is he okay?" Ron asked.

"I don't know..." She watched the map. A small, person-shaped figure got up. "I think he's okay... Oh, no..." The small figure was limping heavily.

"Do you think his leg is broken?" Ron was almost afraid to hear the answer.

"It may be... I think I'll go to him now. Uh oh..."

"What now?" Ron was desperate.

"Oh, he just tripped... He's okay... No, I don't think he tripped... Oh my God. He's bleeding."

It was true. Looking closer at the map, Ron saw a small trickle of red ink running off of the left leg. "What are you going to do?"

"I better go after him now. Don't worry, I'm sure he's okay." Willow got up and grabbed her coat.

"Won't you be needing a wand?" Ron asked.

"Wand? No, I don't use one."

Ron's mouth dropped open. "No wand?"

"No. Okay, I'm off. I don't know if I'll be back for class tomorrow, but we'll see."

"Bye, Professor," Ron said. Hermione didn't say anything. She didn't move.

Hermione could hear Willow's voice, but her mouth wasn't moving.

"I need you to come with me. Do you think you can? You don't need to speak, just think your answer."

Hermione didn't know what to think.

"Hermione? You okay?" Ron put his hand on Hermione's shoulder.

"How do you do that?" was all Hermione could say. Or think.

"We don't have time. I'll explain later. Can you come or not?"

"Yes. I think I can. I'll go."

"Hermione? Willow, I think she's dazed or something..."

"Good. Just get up and say that you want to come with me."

"Willow? I want to come with you." Hermione stood up.

"Oh. Do you think you can handle it?"

"Hermione --"

"Yes. I know I can."

"Fine. Do you have your wand with you?"

"Yeah. I'm ready to go."

"But Hermione --"

"Ron, I'll be fine. Don't worry about me."

"She'll be fine, Ron. I don't bite, I promise." Willow smiled. "Don't worry about either of us. We'll be back by tomorrow evening at the latest."

"Bye, Ron." Hermione hugged Ron around the neck.

"Bye..."

"So, why do you need me to come along, Willow?" Hermione asked a few minutes later as they left the castle.

"Well, if Harry is terribly hurt, I'll need someone to help me with him. And I needed someone very powerful, in case we have to do a spell to get back."

"Really powerful? Professor Rosenberg --"

"Please, call me Willow."

"Right. But Willow, there must be some mistake! I'm not powerful... I mean, I'm good with books, and I can remember stuff easily, but I'm not --"

"Yes you are. I can sense it in you. You have the potential, you just haven't used it yet."

"What?"

"It's hard to explain... But when someone is at my level of wikka -- my level of magicks, they can sort of sense power in other people."

"Do you see it, or do you --?"

"Not really... It's hard to explain."

Hermione was lost in thought. Everything was happening so fast! The day had started off so normal, and now all of a sudden she was powerful and walking with the most powerful witch in the world to save her best friend.

Moaning, Harry tried to stand up. His leg hurt. He tried to stand but his leg wouldn't let him. He made himself sit up so he could look at his leg. It wasn't bad; at least, it didn't look too bad. He ripped the bottoms of his robes and tied the scrap to his leg. It hurt at first, but he'd get used to it.

He'd dropped his wand when he fell, and now he had to find it. Limping, he searched the small cliff he was standing on now. He didn't see his wand. Great, he thought. Now I've lost my wand. Without his wand, he was dead; he had no means of heat or light at night, no way to get his things, and no means of defense. He stood there for a while, wondering whether to turn back or not. Then he remembered Bellatrix Lestrange and couldn't have turned back even if he wanted to. So he sighed and continued climbing, supply-less and wand-less.

Ron walked along in silence. Not only was Harry missing, but Hermione was gone now, too. He dug his hands into his pockets and wished that none of this had ever happened. Why did Harry have to be so stupid? Why did Hermione get to go along with Willow? And why was there another set of footsteps behind him?

Ron turned around.

"You know what Malfoy, I'm really not in the mood for you, so if you'd just go sod yourself I'd greatly appreciate it --"

"Well well well, look who's moody today," Malfoy sneered.

Ron sighed heavily. "Malfoy, I'm warning you, if you piss me off today, you will be seriously sorry for it."

Malfoy laughed. "You think you can do anything to me and get away with it? Don't you remember who your best friend is? Remember what Houses we're in? Remember --"

"Remember when Hermione punched you in third year?" Ron cut in. The color fell from Malfoy's face for s split second. He hid his fear.

"Yeah, well if you can call that a punch --"

"Oh shut up Malfoy, you know you cried like a baby. If you ever annoy me or my friends again, you will be in so much pain you won't need to fake it for more than a month."

Malfoy thought for a moment. Unable to think of a good comeback, he said, "Fine. Just don't think you're all high-and-mighty, because you hang out with a Mudblood," and stalked off.

Ron grinned internally. Hopefully his warning would last for at least a week or so. But in the meantime, he wished Harry and Hermione could have been there to share the moment.

"Willow, would you mind telling me again why I'm coming with you?"

Willow smiled. "You don't believe me, do you?"

Hermione grinned back. "No, actually, I don't. I find it hard to believe someone as powerful as you would need someone like me to help them."

"You're right. I actually brought you along because I wanted to be able to talk freely to you. I knew you'd heard about me while you were in America, and I figured you'd have some interesting questions. And yes, actually I might end up needing your help."

"Well, first of all, I was wondering... What it felt like when you were evil."

Willow's face darkened. "At first, I was just crazed with anger and mourning, for Tara. But then... Well, first you need to know... Somewhere here in England there's a group of very very powerful wizards, and they sent Giles to Sunnydale with their powers to try to stop me."

"Who's Giles?"

"Giles was one of our friends. He's English, and he'd moved back here for good. But then when I went evil, those wizards needed him in Sunnydale. So they gave him their powers and sent him to California. He managed to stop me for a while, but after some time it wore off and I was free again. I took the powers from him, and it was... Incredible. I could feel every single, everyone in the world. I could feel their emotions, their being, their mortality."

Hermione was stunned. That must have been extremely amazing.

"And what about... When you did that spell, the one that made you pure?"

Willow thought for a moment. "That's even harder to explain. Actually, I don't know how to explain it. I guess... It was like... Well, there's really no comparison. But it was incredible. The best feeling I've ever had."

They walked along in silence for a moment. Then Hermione thought of another question.

"How do you do magic without a wand?"

"That form of magic is more spiritual, I guess you could say. Spells take a lot linger to do, and they all have rituals and difficult incantations and stuff like that. And they take a lot more supplies. Like, with your kind of magic, you mostly only mix ingredients and make stuff in Potions, right?"

Hermione nodded.

"I thought so. But with this form of magic -- it's usually called 'Wicca' -- almost every spell involves ingredients, like dried plants and crystals and stuff."

This was too much to take in. "Willow, do you really think I'm powerful?"

"Yes. I know you are. You haven't figured it out yet?"

"No."

"Okay. Do you want to find your power?"

"Yes."

"Great. I can probably help you find it. It'll take a lot of practice. Control. And patience. But mostly, control. You have to use control when you do Wicca. If not, things can go terribly wrong... Like with me. Spells go wrong, everything has to be done with magic... With magic, anything can go wrong, will go wrong."

Harry was really starting to sweat. It was so hard to climb mountains. He wished he'd eaten something earlier, when he'd first gotten hungry. And he had to go to the bathroom.

"Mountain survival is hard," Harry said aloud. Great. Now he was talking to himself. He'd better get to town soon, or he'd go crazy.

Willow checked her watch. She sighed.

"Listen, Hermione, I think if we want to get back in time for classes tomorrow we need to use some magic."

"What, you mean Apparate?"

Willow shook her head. "You don't know how yet, and neither do I. Wicca doesn't really use Apparation... At least, that's not what we call it. You don't need to do anything... Just take my hand."

Hermione grabbed Willow's wrist.

"Okay... Hang on." Willow shut her eyes and muttered something.

Hermione blinked. "Er, Willow, I don't think anything happened --"

"No, it did. It just happened so fast you didn't notice. Look up there."

Hermione realized they were standing at the foot of a cliff and walked to the wall of rock. Climbing it was --

"Harry," Hermione breathed. She watched him climb up the mountain, ever so slowly.

"Harry!"

"No, Hermione! Don't --"

But it was too late. At the sound of Hermione's voice, he lost his grip. His left foot slipped and he lost his balance. He fell. Hermione watched, almost in slow motion, as Harry tumbled in the air, falling, falling...

"No!" Willow reached out her hand to do some sort of spell to slow Harry down, but it was too late. He hit the ground, and Hermione heard something crack. He'd landed on his head.