The Greatest Kind of Magic

22. Pearl Jam

"They're gone," Harry said, watching helplessly as the little dots labeled "Liam Grady" and "Ginevra Weasley" disappeared off the edge of the Marauder's Map. "We're too late."

"No - we're - not!" protested Ron, dragging Harry by the arm. "We can still catch up!"

Hermione jumped in front of the dormitory door, blocking it. "No, Ron, we can't. By the time we get to Hogsmeade, they'll be long gone."

"But we know where they're going!" Ron yelled, waving Fred and George's letter and trying to push past her.

"All we know," said Hermione patiently, taking Ron by the shoulders, "is that they're going to Floo to the Leaky Cauldron from the Hog's Head. We have no idea where they'll go once they're in Muggle London - and they'll be there before we're halfway down that tunnel."

Ron turned away from her abruptly, facing Harry once again. His face was a mask of fear and rage. "When I get my hands on that... that... Muggle!" he snarled, "I'm going to tear him a new..."

"Ron!" Hermione shouted. "That's not..."

He whirled around again. Harry had a moment of fear, real fear that Ron would hit Hermione. Harry lunged forward, grabbing his arm, but Ron pulled away, taking a step to the side, so he could look at both Harry and Hermione.

"You don't understand," he said. "Neither of you. This is Ginny. He's gone and..."

"Ron, we understand!" Harry said, again taking Ron's arm. "She's your sister. She's my sister, too, remember? And she's Hermione's friend."

"Exactly!" Hermione said, taking Ron's other arm and then his hand. "We care about her, Ron, you know we do."

Harry thought that would pacify him. Ron's impulsive, but he's not stupid. Once he realises we care about her as much as he does...

But to Harry's surprise, Ron said with absolute certainty, "No. You don't understand. You can't. She wasn't your sister when she was possessed by Voldemort." Ron shuddered - though Harry was sure it wasn't at the name. "You don't know what it's like to... to think she's dead!"

Ron wrenched his hand out of Hermione's grasp and ran his fingers through his hair, his face screaming terror at the very memory. "And Mum," he continued, his voice softer, "Mum's always been really protective of her - even more than the rest of us - because she's the youngest, and she's the only girl. But after the Chamber..."

He broke off again, shaking his head as he struggled for words. "If anything happens to Ginny, Mum will... she'll die. No, she'll kill me first. And then she'll die."

For a few seconds, the dormitory was silent. Harry looked at Ron, seeing the helpless terror in his eyes. For the first time, Harry saw, really saw how deeply Ron cared for - no, loved - his family. I always thought he was just overprotective... But overprotectiveness, that comes from caring, that comes from... love.

Harry felt guilty for not understanding, for underestimating his best friend. But what would I know? he thought bitterly. What would I know about loving families?

Then he felt bad for feeling sorry for himself when Ron was in such a panic. And then he thought of his mother - who died to save me, whose love saved me - and he felt even worse, this time for forgetting about her.

Hermione's voice broke through his thoughts, distracting him from his downward spiral of guilt. "She won't die, Ron," Hermione said gently, again taking him by the arm. "And nothing will happen to Ginny. We won't let it."

Ron walked over to his bed and flopped down helplessly. "How, Hermione? How won't we let it? She's gone, they're gone. They've gone off to Muggle London!" He slammed his arm down on the bed. "And the Slytherins can hear everything." His voice became truly grim as he said the last words. The fear in his eyes, softened slightly by Hermione's words, now returned, redoubled.

Hermione's face became calculating, determined. "We need to figure out what the Slytherins will do."

"Good luck, Hermione. You want to ask Trelawney to look into her crystal ball?"

Hermione glared at him. "Ron, I'm trying to help."

"Yeah?" Ron snapped. "Well unless you can read minds or predict the future, this isn't helping!"

Sensing a fight on the way, Harry jumped in before it could go further. "Ron. Hermione. We need to think, not fight. Hermione, what do you think the Slytherins will do?"

Hermione looked at him gratefully. "Well, let's think. Malfoy is on detention, so he can't possibly follow Liam and Ginny. Besides, the bug won't really tell them where they are, except in general terms."

"Couldn't some of the other Slytherins follow?" Harry asked.

"I don't think so," Hermione said. "It's too risky. And assuming they had no idea this was going to happen - Ginny seems to have kept it a secret from everyone except Fred and George - they have no time to prepare, like she has. And besides - can you imagine any of them venturing into Muggle London?"

Ron was calmer now, or at least more rational. Harry saw his forehead furrowed in thought. "They wouldn't get anything out of following them, anyway," Ron said. "What'd be the point? But I know they'll try something. I don't see Malfoy letting something like this go by."

"Yeah, but what?" Harry asked, looking at Hermione for an answer. "What can they do?"

Hermione started pacing the dormitory, walking from the door to Ron's bed and back. "Well, the simplest would be to tell Professor Snape. Then Snape could catch them coming back to Hogwarts, and they'd be sure to be expelled."

That didn't sit right with Harry. "They wouldn't be expelled. The Slytherins weren't expelled for what they did to Liam - and that was much worse than sneaking out of school."

Ron sat up abruptly. "No, of course they wouldn't. And Malfoy - Malfoy wouldn't just rat on them. You know what he did to Grady!" He stood up, his eyes wide. "No, I bet anything he does will be..." He paused, looking at Harry and Hermione fearfully. "A lot more deadly," he finished in a quiet voice.

An ambush, Harry thought, and knew that he was right, and that both Ron and Hermione were thinking the same thing. It'd be perfect! No one knows Liam and Ginny have gone - at least that's what the Slytherins think - they can ambush them as they come back... Harry felt queasy as he remembered the rumours after Liam's attack - how he'd been found in the library, burned and broken and barely alive. And now they have more reason to hate him, because of their punishment... and they wouldn't have any problems hurting Ginny, too!

Harry, Ron and Hermione faced each other, all arguments forgotten. Harry could see fear in his friends' faces - terrible fear. But mixed with that was determination, real Gryffindor determination.

We won't let this happen.

"What are we going to do?" Harry asked, again looking to Hermione for an answer. He could see that Ron was looking at her as well. When it came to coming up with plans, and making decisions, there was no one Harry would rather have on his side.

"We need to know exactly what all the Slytherins are doing, and where they are."

Harry waited for her to explain her plan of attack, to explain how she wanted to do this - but it was Ron who answered his silent question.

"We need to alert the DA."

***

Ginny was glad it was Saturday night. The Leaky Cauldron was packed with witches and wizards of all ages. Tobacco smoke obscured the ceiling. A boring and entirely un-talented band could be heard over the drone of conversation. Ginny was sure nobody would notice two young people sitting in a dim corner.

She held out Liam's Pearl Jam ticket. "So, do you trust me with this?" she asked.

Liam still looked somewhat bewildered. It probably didn't help that he was several inches taller than usual - they had taken some Ageing Potion to avoid arousing suspicion on their way to the Muggle world.

"I trust you," Liam said, scratching his newly-acquired beard. "But I still don't see how you're going to get both of us in there with one ticket. We can't do any magic once we're in Muggle London."

Ginny rolled her eyes theatrically. She remembered an expression Hermione had used once. "Oh ye of little faith."

Liam laughed. "All right, all right. Do your magic. Prove me an utter idiot."

Ginny patted his arm sympathetically. "There, there, dear. You're not an idiot. You just don't have my supreme intelligence and imagination."

With a flourish, she pulled out her wand. "Geminus," she said. When she took her wand away, two identical tickets were lying on the table.

Liam gave a very satisfying gasp.

"Geminus charm," Ginny explained. "Again, Fred and George's suggestion. It's the spell used to make Leprechaun gold."

Liam looked at the tickets carefully. "They're identical!" he said in awe. "Which one's the original?"

Ginny smiled wryly. "Neither. The spell..." she paused, trying to remember what Professor Flitwick had once said about the charm. "Well, I don't really understand it," she admitted finally. "Hermione could probably explain. But basically, instead of the original, there are just the two copies, and they'll both disappear in a few hours' time."

Liam looked at his watch, suddenly anxious. "How long do we have?"

"Don't worry, we'll have plenty of time." She looked around the smoky interior of the pub. The bustling witches and wizards didn't seem to be paying them any attention, but Ginny couldn't help noticing that Liam's beard had started thinning out, becoming a sparse, light-brown fluff.

"The Ageing Potion is wearing off, though. We'd better get out of here," she said, getting to her feet. "Do we look Muggle enough?"

Liam looked her up and down. The grin on his face made Ginny think he wasn't thinking so much of her clothes as what was underneath them. She crossed her arms and glared. "Liam Grady, keep your mind on the task at hand!" Inside, Ginny couldn't help feeling a warm glow of satisfaction.

Liam smiled in a most un-gentlemanly manner, but said, "You look fine. It'd be nice if you had some jeans, but it'll do."

Ginny was wearing a pair of Charlie's old trousers, which she normally used for Quidditch. She'd transfigured her cloak to make it look more like a Muggle coat - they'd spent the last twenty minutes making minor adjustments. Ginny felt strange now in the thicker, tighter-fitting coat. She hoped Liam was right, and it would fool the Muggles.

"Well," she said, as Liam's beard disappeared entirely, "I got us this far. Now it's your turn. Once we're in Muggle London, I'm lost."

"And I'd be lost without you," Liam said, kissing her on the cheek. Then he took her by the hand and led her out into the noisy, alien street.

***

The last light of the day was fading from the sky, and only the city lights remained. People in black t-shirts streamed towards Henry Hall, chattering excitedly and clutching their tickets. Over the general noise and bustle, Jessie could hear someone singing Even Flow in a drunk, off-key voice.

"He's not coming," she said, scuffing her toes on the concrete. "I told you he wouldn't." She looked up and down the street, just in case, but of course she couldn't see Liam anywhere. A part of her told her to be patient, to remember that he had a long way to travel. And look at this crowd - you'll have a job spotting him in this...

But another part, a much louder and more insinuating part, told her that he simply wasn't coming. And not because it was hard, but because he didn't want to. Because he doesn't care about Pearl Jam anymore. Because he doesn't care about us.

And then a third part whispered, honestly, You're just worried, because you think he doesn't care about you anymore. Or worse, that he never cared in the first place.

Davey put out his cigarette on the edge of the bin. "Stop being so pissy-mystic."

Sarah giggled. "You're an idiot, Dave. It's pess-si-mis-tic. Not..."

"I knew that! I was being... whatcha-callit. Ironical."

"That's not irony, that's just bad English," Sarah said, smirking.

"Remind me again why I'm going out with you?"

Davey left Sarah to prepare her comeback and turned back to Jessie. "Look, he'll come, I know he will. I've known him since we were little kids - if there's any way for him to get here, he'll find it."

Jessie wanted to believe him, she really did. But she didn't want to get her hopes up. If I get my hopes up, it'll just hurt more when he doesn't come.

Davey hovered beside Jessie for a few seconds. When she remained silent, he turned back to Sarah. The two of them joined in with the voice in the crowd, which had now given up on Even Flow and started on Animal. Neither of them could sing a note, but they didn't care. Jessie tried to join in too, but when she opened her mouth, no sound came out and she just felt stupid.

People jostled her as they went past. Occasionally, she even stumbled. She supposed they were jostling Davey and Sarah as well, but those two were having so much fun, they didn't notice. They never notice, Jessie thought. They never notice anything.

She felt a pang of real longing for Liam. Without him, she never felt quite real. Like I'm see-through, or something. Like no one ever really knows I'm there. Like no one notices. Liam was the only one who ever noticed.

Jessie had never really figured out how she felt about Liam. When she told herself she just wanted him as a friend, she knew she was lying. But when she gave in to fantasy, when she let herself imagine Liam asking her out, Liam as her boyfriend, Liam kissing her - that never seemed right, either. She knew it'd never happen, and it'd be awkward if it did.

But she missed him terribly. If only he was around... all the time, like he used to be. Not just letters. The letters aren't enough.

Davey spotted him first, breaking off half-way through the chorus and suddenly yelling, "Ha! I knew it! I knew he'd make it!"

Jessie whirled to see where Davey was pointing. For a moment, she couldn't see anyone, and she thought she'd been tricked. But then she spotted Liam, walking hand- in-hand with a slim, red-haired girl, whom Jessie had never seen before. That was why I didn't spot him straight away. I thought he'd be alone.

Jessie frowned. Who the hell is that?

She had already started feeling hurt, and telling herself that she had no reason to feel hurt, when Liam drew near. He let go the girl's hand and rushed up to Jessie, pulling her into a bone-crunching hug. "Jess! It's so good to see you! How are you?"

Jessie forgot about the other girl, she forgot about being hurt and she forgot about being invisible. She just felt Liam's warmth, Liam's caring, Liam's missing her. The moment he touched her, Jessie felt more solid and real.

"I missed you," she said.

Liam pulled away, and succumbed to the onslaught of hugs and backslaps from Davey and Sarah. "I missed you too," he said, smiling. "All of you."

Then Jessie remembered the girl again. She looked over - the redhead was hanging back, smiling nervously as Liam greeted his friends.

I have to be nice, Jessie told herself. I have no reason to dislike her. If Liam chose her, she must be a lovely girl.

Jessie's stomach twisted in protest.

Liam finally managed to disentangle himself from Davey and Sarah, and he beckoned to the girl. When she saw the way he looked at her, Jessie knew it was hopeless. He's completely and utterly smitten. I don't know how I know, but I do.

"Um, Davey, Sarah, Jess, this is Ginny," Liam said, breaking into a gooey smile. "She's, uh, my... well, girlfriend."

The next few seconds were completely predictable. Davey cheered and made a lewd comment. Sarah cheered and told Davey to get his mind out of the gutter. Liam blushed and took Ginny by the hand.

Jessie remained silent and tried not to be jealous.

"We'd better get in line," Davey said to Liam once the introductions were over. "And you're going to have to tell us just how you're planning on getting your girlfriend in there, when there's only one ticket between you."

"Trust me Dave, it's better not to ask," Liam said, glancing at Ginny. "Let's just say Ginny is a very resourceful woman.

Davey nudged Liam and muttered something under his breath, which made Liam blush and Sarah punch Davey. They moved off to join the line of black-t-shirted people waiting to get into the hall. Jessie trailed behind them, feeling left out and hollow.

"Liam told me a lot about you," Ginny said quietly. Jessie hadn't realized she was walking beside her. "He's always trying to find more time to write you letters."

Jessie wasn't sure how to feel about this. She felt a warm glow at the thought of Liam caring so much about her. But she wasn't sure if she could take Ginny's words at face value.

Then Jessie remembered something. "You wrote that letter," she said. "The fake one, the first time Liam wrote to me."

Ginny turned her head sharply. She looked half-amused, half-worried. "Uh, yeah. Sorry about that. But that magic ink, it wouldn't have worked unless you tore the letter, so..."

Jessie cut her off. "Don't worry about it."

No, that's not good enough.

"Thanks," she added. "I mean it."

Do I?

Jessie sighed. "It was so... well, amazing. I'd never seen proper magic before."

Ginny smiled. "Well, I've never seen a rock concert before, so I guess we're even."

Jessie realised she was liking Ginny, in spite of herself.

They stopped at the end of the concert line, and Liam turned around. For a moment, everyone was silent, and Jessie studied her friend. He looked different from the way she remembered him. He seemed taller, for one thing - he'd obviously grown over the past few months. But there was something else, something about his face...

"You look older," Jessie said quietly.

Liam waved his hand. "No, no, that's just the Ageing Potion. We used it to get through the village, so no one would realise we were from the school. It should wear off soon."

"Actually," said Ginny, "it has worn off."

"Oh," Liam said, suddenly looking even older. Then he smiled. "Well, I guess it was bound to happen sometime."

But Jessie knew, somehow, that it wasn't that simple. Liam looked tired, worn out. As the line moved forward and the conversation turned to the latest Stonewall gossip, she thought about his letters, and his little hints that his world - that world, which Jessie wanted so desperately to be a part of - was not all magic and beauty.

Liam's changed, she thought. But he doesn't even realise it. I can see it because he changed without me. For some reason, when she thought of Liam changing, of things happening in his life - good things or bad things - that she didn't know about and couldn't understand, Jessie felt more alone than ever.

***

Gasping for breath, Harry turned to Ron and Hermione. "Where now?" he asked. "We've searched all the obvious places."

"So we'll search the non-obvious ones," Ron snapped. "I'm not giving up."

"I wasn't saying we should!" Harry said quickly. "Just... where do we start?"

"First floor," said Hermione. "And work our way up."

"What about the dungeons?"

"Seamus, Dean and Neville are in the dungeons, remember?" Hermione held up another of Fred and George's Extendable Ears. "If they find Leighton, they'll tell us."

Ron didn't wait for more explanations. He was already off, turning sharply into a narrow stairwell leading down to the lower floors.

DA members were now patrolling the third-floor corridor and the tunnel into Honeydukes. But it wasn't enough. Harry had no idea what the Slytherins were planning, and all the measures taken by the DA were based on guesswork. The uncertainty was driving Harry mad. But that's nothing to how Ron must feel.

Harry glanced at his friend as they jogged down the stairs. Ron was wearing a fixed, hard expression, as if he was struggling to keep all his feelings at bay. Fear, frustration, anger... Actually, he's holding up really well, Harry thought. I know he's terrified for Ginny. He wants to find her now, to chase after her now, to tell Dumbledore now. But he actually listened to Hermione, he agreed that we need to know more first, if we can. He's forcing himself to be patient.

Following him into the dim first-floor corridor, puffing for breath as he ran, Harry suddenly felt real admiration for Ron. Not just love for his friend - his brother - but admiration.

"We'll find him, Ron," Harry gasped between breaths. "And we'll protect Ginny."

Ron merely nodded and put on a fresh burst of speed. Harry struggled to keep up. Hermione pounded along behind.

They slowed down outside every door they passed, peering into cupboards, storerooms and empty classrooms. Once, they stumbled on a Slytherin, working away alongside a house-elf. Harry was sorely tempted to ask the house-elf where Jeremy Leighton might be found, but he knew he couldn't do it in front of the Slytherin. The trio crept away quietly, hoping the Slytherin hadn't noticed them. This secrecy is the most frustrating thing of all.

Now Ron skidded to a halt again, outside a thick wooden door, which was slightly ajar. Faint candlelight flickered through the opening, throwing a warm band across the otherwise uninviting hallway. Ron, who was several metres ahead of Harry, took one look through the doorway and whirled around, looking at Harry with excitement on his face.

"He's here!" Ron exclaimed. "Come on!"

He didn't wait for Harry and Hermione to catch up.

***

Music pounded in Ginny's ears. The crowd bounced and surged, and it was hard to breathe. She clung onto Liam's arm, feeling lost and helpless. She was terrified that if she let go, the crowd would swallow him up and she'd never be able to find him.

She'd never seen so many people squeezed together into such a small space. Well, there was the Qudditch World Cup - but they weren't all in one room like this. Packed in so tight, I can hardly breathe. How can they stand it?

Liam and the others, however, seemed completely unfazed. Their faces shone with sweat, but their eyes shone with excitement. Ginny could see their mouths opening and closing as they sang along to the songs. But I can't hear their voices. Ginny knew that to say something, she'd have to shout it right into Liam's ear.

As the song ended, Ginny enjoyed a brief reprieve. Liam turned to her. Even without the music, he had to shout to be heard. "What do you think?"

Ginny knew she'd never be able to shout everything she thought before the next song began, so she just shook her head, smiled and shrugged. Liam turned back to the stage - then he turned back to her, and leaned over to speak in her ear. "Are you okay?"

Ginny shook her head again. Then, not wanting to upset Liam, she nodded. Then she smiled sheepishly and shrugged.

"We can..." Liam began, but the rest of his words were drowned out by the opening chords of the next song. He was still looking at Ginny, however, concern clear in his face. Ginny forced a smile, and gestured towards the stage. Enjoy the concert, Liam. I got you here, didn't I? I want you to enjoy it. Liam put his arm around her. Briefly, she rested her head on his shoulder. Soon, Liam was bouncing again with the others.

Ginny tried to listen to the band - most of the time, it was impossible to make out the words. She caught snatches of the chorus, but it didn't make any sense.

"Please...
Don't go on me
Don't go on me
Don't go on me..."

In the stifling, sweaty heat of the "moshpit", Ginny suddenly felt a shiver down her spine.

Perhaps because she wasn't having a good time like the others, Ginny was the first to feel it. The shiver spread, and became a penetrating coldness. Her stomach lurched sickeningly, and she was no longer just "not having a good time". Ginny was feeling truly awful.

Then, over the roar of drums, guitars, and the frenzied crowd, she heard a voice she thought she'd forgotten - that smooth, charming, slightly-dangerous voice. And she saw his eyes: clear grey eyes, cold grey eyes. "Why thank you, Ginny. You've been most useful."

Tom!

But she knew it wasn't Tom, it couldn't be Tom, he couldn't be here. That was Liam's arm she was gripping. That was Liam, still jumping up and down beside her, the stage lights flashing colours onto his face. Pink, blue, orange, yellow, then a bright, bright white as the chorus began.

"Please please please
don't go on me
don't go on me
don't you want me..."

"Liam!" Ginny shouted, pulling him towards her, trying to shout in his ear. "Dementors! There are Dementors here!"

***

"Dumbledore. Go. Now!"

The three Gryffindors didn't need telling twice. Weasley especially paled as Jeremy told him about everything Malfoy was capable of, and about the danger Grady - and presumably, anyone who was with him - was in.

You-Know-Who wants him. Jeremy remembered Bauer's off-hand comment, and shuddered. And Malfoy, Malfoy knows he's out of the school. Malfoy knows he's gone, and nobody else does. How long's it been? Maybe Grady's already taken. And they thought Malfoy was just going to ambush them...

The Gryffindor trio pounded out of the dusty classroom, their running footsteps echoing down the empty hallway outside. They were off to alert the teachers. Like they should've done two hours ago! But Jeremy knew he had no right to think that - how many times had he kept secrets that endangered lives? I should've told Grady about the ambush. I should've told Dumbledore about Grady. Hell, I should've told everyone about the Hogsmeade attack.

There are so many things I should've done.

Though he knew it wasn't really his fault, Jeremy couldn't escape a sense of guilt, of responsibility for whatever would happen to Grady now. I promised myself I'd do the right thing.

But what was the right thing? What could he, Jeremy, do now? Grady's beyond my help.

And suddenly, Jeremy was angry. With himself, more than anyone or anything else. Beyond my help, beyond my control, I HAD NO CHOICE. That's what I keep telling myself, and it's crap! Bollocks! Dragon dung! None of this would've happened if I hadn't said that. Beyond my control? Fuck that! I'm going to do whatever I possibly can.

He turned to the house-elf, which had waited politely while Jeremy spoke to Potter, Weasley and Granger. He knew it was waiting for him to resume work, and that if he didn't do so soon, it would force him with its weird house-elf magic.

Gripping his broom tightly, though he knew it wouldn't help him one tiny bit, Jeremy took a deep breath.

"I have to leave," he said. "I know it's not curfew yet, but I absolutely have to go now. I'll work more tomorrow to make up for it, I promise."

The house-elf shook its head, its ears flopping. "Emmy is sorry, Master Leighton, but Dumbledore is giving strict orders not to release Master Leighton until nine o'clock."

Jeremy stepped forward, frustration spilling out. "It's a quarter to nine now! What difference does fifteen minutes make? Please! You heard what we were talking about - there are lives at stake! Please!"

He realised he was begging - begging a house-elf! What would Father say if he saw this? But there was no going back for Jeremy. He'd changed too much, he'd been through too much. I have to do this, whatever it takes.

He knelt on the stone floor, so his eyes were more level with the house-elf's. Emmy, he thought. That's its name. No, her name. It's a she. And she has to help me.

"Emmy," he said, "Please, please let me go. If I go now, I might be able to help someone whose life is in danger. I promise, if I'm lying about this, you can make me scrub toilets for the rest of the year with my toothbrush. Please."

For a moment, the house-elf just stared at him with her massive green eyes. Jeremy squirmed under her scrutiny - he sensed power behind those eyes that he'd never considered when dealing with house-elves in the past.

"Please," he said again, struggling not to draw back.

The house-elf gave a slow, solemn nod. "Emmy is letting Master Leighton go to help his friend. But Emmy places charm on Master Leighton, so that Master Leighton cannot do anything other than what he says he's going to do."

Jeremy nodded hastily. "Thank you," he said, already running for the door. "And I promise, I'm only going to try and help Grady."

Then he sprinted away, his mind racing through all possible means of delivering the Extendable Ear to Dumbledore after stealing it from under Malfoy's nose.

***

"...So basically, Liam dragged Ginny to Muggle London, and You-Know-Who is after him, and the Slytherins can hear everything. Leighton said he'll try to steal the Extendable Ear, but it's not like he has much of a chance..."

Ron paused for breath when Dumbledore held up his hand. He was leaning over the Headmaster's desk, his sweaty hands pressed down on the polished wood. Harry and Hermione were hovering beside him, letting him do the talking.

Dumbledore stood up and walked around his desk. His calm demeanour infuriated Ron, who wanted the Headmaster to jump to his feet and leap into action right now. Or at least to show he was worried.

As he bloody well should be! We've wasted too much time already...

"We have to go, we have to find them!" Ron urged. "Before it's too late!"

What if it's already too late? Ron felt his breath quicken. He tried desperately to fight his rising panic.

"Yes, Ron, we have to," said Dumbledore, putting a hand on his shoulder. Ron shrugged it off furiously.

"Now!" he shouted, not caring that he was giving orders to the Headmaster. He's just standing there, when Ginny's life's in danger... When Voldemort is after her! Thinking the name sent a shudder through Ron's spine. Thinking that name, when it's Ginny he's after...

No, not Ginny! he reminded himself. Liam. It's Liam he's after.

But Ron knew his sister well enough for that thought to have little comfort. She'll go where Liam goes. She won't back down in a fight. She's a Weasley, after all... He remembered Tom Riddle and the Chamber of Secrets, and shuddered again. Her skeleton will lie in the Chamber forever...

He realised Dumbledore was speaking. "...anything you know about where they could be? We need to narrow down the search as much as we can."

Hermione held out the letter from Fred and George. "They gave Ginny instructions for getting to the Leaky Cauldron. So it might be near there."

Harry added, "The band they're seeing is called Pearl Jam. If that helps." He sounded as if he didn't think it would help at all, and was embarrassed to have brought it up.

"Everything helps, Harry," said Dubledore gently. "If I could have that letter, Hermione?"

She handed it over. Dumbledore turned to Ron, looking at him steadily through his glasses. "We will do everything we can, and more, to find Ginny and Liam. Please, stay here in my office. Professor McGonagall will contact your parents - and Liam's." After giving Ron's shoulder a squeeze, he went to the fireplace.

"Severus, Minerva, Filius, Tonks," he said, throwing a handful of Floo Powder into the flames. "It is a matter of utmost urgency."

Ron thought the four teachers would come through the fireplace into the Headmaster's office, but a second after calling their names, Dumbledore himself stepped into the flames. "Emergency," he said, and was gone.

Ron sank down into a chair. His knees wouldn't hold him up any longer. Harry and Hermione sat beside him.

Ron waited in anxious silence, his mind spewing forth image after image of Ginny being hurt, Ginny being tortured, Ginny being killed. No matter how hard he tried to block them out, they kept on coming, each more horrifying than the last. He could almost hear her screams, right there in the room.

Hermione took his hand. After a moment of hesitation, Harry put his hand on Ron's shoulder, and kept it there. For some reason, it was much more comforting than Dumbledore's. It distracted Ron somewhat from the terrors of his imagination. But it didn't lessen his fear.

No one said a word. There was nothing to say.

***

Liam could feel it now, the hush falling over the crowd, the cold as the Dementors drew near. The moshpit faltered, their jumps falling out of sync with the music. People looked around, shivering, the lyrics of their favourite song freezing on their lips.

"Even flow
thoughts arrive like butterflies..."

He felt his own memories coming on - his arms stiff and leaden as the body-bind set in, his yells pouring silently as he floated over the heads of his attackers...

Oh my God, I'm remembering the ambush! The stuff I'd forgotten. The black hole...

He felt his knees buckle as the pain and terror set in. He tried to fight the memories, but a part of him fought against that - because he'd wanted so desperately to remember...

No! Now's not the time!

Ginny was hauling on his arm, screaming, "Get up, Liam, you have to get up! You have to help me! Expecto patronum!"

She had her wand in her hand, but all that came out was a faint silver mist - she was unprepared to fight. Her own terror was making her weak. Liam struggled to dig up a happy memory, something to give Ginny a boost - but all he could think was my memories are coming back.

Then Davey was grabbing him under the armpits, hauling him to his feet. "What the fuck is going on, Liam?" Sarah was looking at him in fear. Jessie was hugging herself, staring at her feet and shaking. And Ginny was still trying to cast the Patronus, though the mist was getting thinner and thinner with every spell.

"He don't know
so he chases them away..."

"We have to get out of here," Liam yelled. "Me and Ginny. They're after us - they must be."

Happy thoughts, happy memories, think of happy things, not the pain, not the ambush, the fear, no, burning, stinging, can't scream, don't think about the pain...

"Liam!"

Ginny's voice in his ear - Ginny! Liam's vision cleared, the echoes of his silent screams faded into the background. He gripped Ginny's hand and pushed forward through the crowd, shoving people aside as he went.

Davey, Sarah and Jessie came along behind, Sarah supporting Jessie. Liam didn't have much room in his mind to notice the other people in the crowd. He knew the mood of the concert had changed, that many were feeling the Dementors' power. But they couldn't see them: Muggles were blind to these creatures. Eddie Vedder ripped out the chorus of Even Flow, unaware of the forces invading his concert.

"We can't go this way!" Ginny screamed. "We'll never get through!"

Yes, the crowd was thickening as they got closer to the stage. Liam hadn't thought of that: his one impulse had been to get away from the Dementors. But he knew they were still coming along behind. He knew there was nowhere to run.

Frantically, Liam turned to Davey and made an upward movement with his hands, placing them together, palms up. Davey nodded: he understood. He leaned over, making a cup with his hands for Liam to step on.

Liam shook his head. "Not me!" he yelled. "Ginny first!" he nodded in her direction, just to make himself clear. Ginny looked at him, mouthing questions Liam couldn't hear over the noise. There was no time to explain.

He grabbed Ginny under her bottom, while Davey took hold of her ankles. Then, in one swift movement, they lifted her up. Immediately, several other people around them grabbed her arms and pulled her up over their heads. Liam had one last glimpse of her terrified face before the crowd carried her away.

Davey was already picking Liam up to send him on. By now, even Jessie had caught on to what was happening, and was trying to help. But in that instant, the cold and the terror intensified. Liam didn't need to see himself back in the dark library, screaming as his robes burned, to know that it was too late.

"Whispering hands
lead him away... him away..."

The final lines of Even Flow were sung to the most subdued audience Pearl Jam had seen in years.