The War of Shades

Chapter 29 - The Price She Pays

After the Feast, the prefects were to bring the First Years to their various dorms. Professor McGonagall was going up to the Gryffindor dorm with them to make announcements and summoned all the first years and prefects around her. She led them to the stairs, with Ginny at the head of the line of students and the other prefects scattered through the line and Hermione bringing up the rear. The upper years trailed behind.

As they were partway up the stairs, Ginny stumbled on the hem of her robes and her sunglasses came tumbling off. Harry felt a strong urge to jostle around to where he could see her eyes, however briefly, but resisted it. She quickly grabbed the sunglasses back on and got to her feet. Professor McGonagall had stopped and was looking sternly down her nose at Ginny.

"Detention, Miss Weasley," she said. "Sunglasses Violation."

There was a sudden gasp through all the Gryffindors.

"But, Professor," pled Ginny. "I tripped and they were only off a moment."

"How long have you had your sunglasses, Miss Weasley?"

Ginny looked down. "Over two weeks, Professor."

"Then you should know what it takes to keep them on. No excuse will be accepted, and I expect you to enforce the rule this strictly as well," said Professor McGonagall. Then she addressed all the Gryffindors. "Let this be a lesson to all of you. You must find a way to keep the sunglasses on unless you are in a designated Potter-free zone. We are all most grateful for Mr. Potter's ability to give advanced warning of attacks: it has allowed us to save very many lives and apprehend a number of servants of Lord Voldemort - and by the way, I expect Gryffindors to have the courage to say his name. But along with that ability to see into Voldemort's mind comes the burden of Voldemort seeing into Mr. Potter's mind. If he sees you, Voldemort sees you. If he sees your eyes, he may see your mind through legilemency. If you do not understand that field of magic at present, you will soon: it is the first topic in Defense, along with the related topic of occlumency. You won't be learning to do them, but about them and how to protect yourselves. These sunglasses are an excellent defense. I realize that wearing them will grow tedious, and I myself feel ridiculous wearing them. But I accept their necessity. We all will be involved in preparations to defend ourselves, our families and Hogwarts. We must keep such information to ourselves and that means maintaining sunglasses discipline. There will be no exceptions. Miss Weasley, after the first years have been to the common room, the rest of the prefects will assist them to their dorm rooms and you will report to Professor Snape for detention."

"Tonight! First night!? With Snape!!?"

"Miss Weasley, you will refer to teachers here by their proper titles. If you cannot do so, additional detentions can be arranged - with Professor Snape!"

"I'm sorry, Professor. It was a slip. I will be most pleased to report to Professor Snape."

Professor McGonagall tilted her head as she said, "You needn't be sarcastic, Miss Weasley."

Harry was very glad to get back to his dorm and especially his portrait of Sirius - until he discovered Sirius wearing mirrored wrap-around sunglasses.

"Alright now, Sirius, what's that all about!? I happen to know legilemency doesn't work on portraits.

Sirius laughed raucously and took them off. "Dumbledore and I cooked this up as a joke for you. What better way to say you're thinking of someone than to set up a harmless prank."

Harry grinned and shook his head. He told Sirius about the events of the summer. Sirius listened carefully to it all, especially the events around Tonks' learning to do the patronus and Harry's romance with her.

"I bet that got Moony all steamed," he said.

"Well, not exactly steamed - I don't think he gets angry exactly, but he wasn't very happy."

"He's really stuck on her, but he keeps to himself so," said Sirius. "I got pretty peeved with him - here he could go out and do things and enjoy life, while I was cooped up with Kreacher, unable to do anything, and yet all he would do is go on missions."

"Well, he seemed serious about getting out of his shell. The war had him reliving old pains, but I think he's coming around now. He's joining Ron's broom squadrons, so he'll be amongst people."

"Good. It sounds like there's been a lot of action. I've been in Dumbledore's office several times when you were using the mirror to report attacks, and other times the old headmasters told me about other attacks. What I wouldn't give to have been on some of those response teams."

Harry nodded and replied sadly, "That would've been great, Sirius."

"Oh, Harry, you're not still blaming yourself for my death, are you? Don't! I had a chance to get out of the house and have some action and I took it. It's not your fault that you got fooled by that wily old trickster and it's no surprise you didn't get around to opening the mirror. You were brave and generous to try to rescue me."

"Also dead wrong!" replied Harry.

"People make mistakes. You'll make others. It doesn't make you a bad person to make them. Don't beat yourself up over them. You'll just hurt yourself that way."

"Okay, Sirius," said Harry, then he grabbed his scar. He wrote down the information and went for his mirror to call Remus.

"What's up, Harry?" said Remus.

"He's just approved another list of targets. Here are the addresses." Harry then read off all the information.

"We don't have a procedure for getting student auxiliaries yet, but we could sure use them now. Can you see if anyone's available while I call this in?"

"I'll go," said Harry, enthusiastically.

"No!" said Remus and Sirius in unison. "Oh, hi, Padfoot," added Remus, "I didn't know you were there. Harry, we need you right there in communication."

"But they have orders not to harm me. Voldemort would have their heads, literally."

"Forget it, Harry. Just see whom you can get and use the Floo network to send them to the Ministry lobby. Then get back to me."

Harry ran downstairs and found six seventh-years who could respond. They had their wands already so they all got to the Ministry as quickly as possible. Harry ran back up to the dorm room to call Remus back and tell him who had responded.

When he was done, he went back to Sirius' portrait.

"Is that how it's been all summer, Harry?"

"The last couple of months. The attacks vary from 2-4 times a day, rarely more, and anywhere from five to 20 targets per attack."

Sirius nodded, "That's got to stretch the aurors pretty thin. No wonder they're using adult and student auxiliaries."

"Sirius, I can see the glint in your eye. I wish you could go, too. I know that would be grand adventure."

"There's a real sense of purpose there, and a shot of adrenaline. But you should know that. I heard the reports on the rescue you and Ron went on. Good show."

"Thanks. It scares me, though, that he got hold of me enough to kill someone. I hope that only happened because it was someone who I found so offensive."

"Well, that probably tells you how important it is that you learn to deal with everything without anger. I would have been a goner in no time if I was in your situation. I was always far too volatile. But you know you've got to keep those positive emotions going, right?"

"Absolutely, but it's not always easy."

"They save the easy stuff for the other sorcerers. Challenges go to the best."

"Thanks, Sirius. Say, do you mind if I go downstairs now. The students could be returning anytime and I'm worried about them."

"Sure, Harry. It's best to concern yourself with the living. Ah, ah - don't object. I can talk with you, and if it helps you can look at my eyes all you want, but we both have to accept that I am not alive. Remember to always keep your focus on the living - the dead will sort their own matters out. Okay?"

"Okay, Sirius. Can I at least remember the living Sirius fondly?"

"You'd better, or Sir Cadogan and I will cuff you about. Now get going and see to the others. I'm going to make the rounds and see what I can find out."

Down in the common room, there was an air of anxiety among the rest of the students, knowing that their fellow house members were out responding to attacks. Harry was greeted nervously and asked if he knew anything.

"Nope, that's why I'm back down here - to see what the Floo brings in."

It was a nervous half-hour before the first return. Lavender Brown suddenly materialized and stepped out of the fireplace.

"Ah, a welcoming party, I see."

"Of course, Lavender," said Neville. "Tell us about it."

"Not much to tell, really - from the Ministry, I was teamed with an auror and 2 adult auxies, and we apparated to a street in the suburbs. We split into pairs and approached the house from opposite sides. The pair I was in found the wizard - looked to be east European - he saw us, too, and disapparated. Then the other pair rushed the house and chased the dementor out with their patronuses. Easy-peasy!"

The younger students were immensely impressed with Lavender's coolness at the situation. She was given a great round of cheers and back-slapping. Harry noticed Neville's stress at not being able to participate since he couldn't apparate or conjure a patronus: he knew Neville enough to know that it wasn't the congratulations he craved, but the opportunity to fight the kind of people that had hurt his family so much. Harry stepped up beside him as they watched Lavender enjoying the attention.

Quietly Harry said, "Don't let it get to you, Neville. Your friends all know you'd be right in the thick of it."

"Yeah, sure, Harry, but it's not the same, is it?"

"No, I'm feeling pretty cooped up, too. Some people think I might actually like to get myself into scrapes, and I begin to think they may be right."

Neville grinned at him. "You reckon?"

"Just maybe," Harry said, smiling back at him. "But understand, you contribute an awful lot with all the things you do. We'll take these beginners and make them really formidable, right?"

"Sure, Harry, if training's all you can do, then do it as well as you can."

"That's the spirit. And don't worry, I think there's going to be action enough for all before everything is played out."

"Yeah, chances are. And in the meantime, I'll be there in Apparation class and every patronus session you want to lead."

"I know you will, Neville. Your parents'd be right proud of you."

Neville's voice broke as he said, "Thanks, Harry."

In a few minutes, Parvati Patil also returned. She walked out making no effort to hide the hole burned through the jacket she'd been wearing. When asked, she casually tossed off, "Oh, yeah, well, we got into a bit of a firefight before bringing down the Spanish witch there. Lucky I had learned those defensive moves from Harry." Then she cooed, "Hey, Harry, when are you going to teach me those other moves?"

All the Gryffindors said "Ooooh!" and turned to Harry as he blushed radish-red. Neville gave him an elbow in the ribs.

"Oh, Lavender," said Parvati, suddenly noticing her there, "back already? Must not have been much action."

"Yeah!" said Lavender sharply, "At least we didn't have to get our clothes half-burnt off to protect our target!"

Parvati smiled acidly. "At least someone would look if mine truly were coming off."

Lavender started to grab Parvati by the jacket. "Why you jumped -up..." started Lavender, but she was interrupted by Dean Thomas's return.

"Don't let me interrupt," he said, with a wicked smile, "this is looking interesting. I love catfights."

Both Parvati and Lavender glared at Dean with looks that suggested they would tear him apart instead. However all the students pressed Dean for his story. He described going to an old urban London house, where he and an adult auxiliary were able to enter the house and Dean conjured his patronus to get rid of the dementor. The other pair in his team got into a short duel before the witch disapparated away.

"Parvati" he said, "looks like you had your wand turned the wrong way."

"Oh, yeah, at least I was in a real fight, not just chasing the spooks away."

Dean sneered. "You think it's the same conjuring a patronus with one of them gawking at you as when you've got Harry waiting to save your skin if you panic!?

"Big deal," she said, "you knew you could apparate away if you had any trouble. I had to keep facing the witch I fought or my partner'd be cooked!"

"What about you, Lavender, see any action?" asked Dean.

"No, the wizard popped off when he saw us," she grumbled.

"Hah!" responded Dean.

"Dean!! Lavender! Parvati!" scolded Harry and stepping up to them. "Each of you did brilliantly and you protected your targets. You all should be proud and congratulating each other, not fighting!"

They all looked down and said he was probably right, or something like that - it was very hard to hear what they mumbled.

Almost immediately, Ron came out of the fireplace and belched up two giant slugs.

"Why is it always me with the slug spell," he groaned. Some one handed him a trash can for the slugs.

After general "Ewwws" all around, everyone asked, "What happened?"

"Oh, my team was sent to Edinborough. My partner and I encountered a wizard and got into a duel. The other pair went into the house and dispatched the dementor. My partner had taken a stunner and I had to stand by him to keep anything else from hitting him. When the other pair (he belched another couple of slugs) started coming, he decided to run, but just before he disapparated, he got me with the slug spell, just for spite."

"Ron, why didn't you convert it or dodge it?" asked Natalie McDonald.

"It would have hit my partner if I had dodged or disapparated and I didn't know what the combination of spells might do to him." He belched a particularly large and colorful slug. "And we haven't learned a conversion spell for that one."

"Sorry about that, Ron," said Harry with a bemused smile, "I didn't figure anyone would use that in battle."

"Well, maybe you should. I'll (belch) guarantee that a fellow (double belch) isn't at full effectiveness (belch) like this. Och, this is revolting."

"Well, Protego ought to have worked, although without good aim on the bounceback, you might have hit the other team."

Harry thought a few seconds, then told Lavender to use the slug spell on him. When she did, Harry made an odd waggling motion with his wand and the spell turned into standard garden slugs before it got to him.

"I'll teach you that one, if you'd like," he said, adding "Finite Incantatem!" to make the slugs disappear.

"Hey, Harry, can you do that to make these slugs stop?" Ron asked, belching a couple of smaller slugs.

"Erm, yeah, but..."

"No, buts, just do it, mate. This is awful."

Harry smiled. "Well alright then - Finite Incantatem!"

Ron got a round-eyed look and then started contorting as one last belch made its way through his body. He struggled against it once, twice, thrice, four times before he belched an enormous slug as big as his entire arm.

"Harry, what was that?" he whined.

Harry grinned. "I tried to tell you - once the slug spell has hit you, Finite Incantatem ends the spell by making you bring up everything that's coming in one big belch."

Ron felt the sweat on his cheeks and forehead, "Well, I'm glad that amused you. Still, at least it's over."

As he did this, first Hermione and then Seamus returned. Each had their tales to tell of facing sorcerers or dementors and had a grand audience for it all. But as each told their tale, the same sort of squabbling broke out between them and the others who had gone on the rescue. Harry got quite sick of it and finally said he would go to the kitchens for some snacks so they could have a celebration party.

"Oh, dear," said Hermione, "If we have a celebration every time we go on missions, my figure is a goner this year."

"Too late!" said Parvati, with a wicked sneer.

With that, Harry ducked out the portrait hole and left the fighting to the others. At the kitchen, the elves were only too happy to provide all sorts of tasty treats and placed them on charmed salvers that would follow Harry until he directed them where to place themselves. He asked about Dobby and was told that he and Melony had gotten married over the summer ("in a goblins-only ceremony! Fine by us! Good riddance to that freak of an elf!" they snorted) and had been hard at work setting up a home in the southeast tower with several rooms including a goblin healing center. It was right next to the classroom for the new elf and goblin program.

On the way back to the Gryffindor dorm, Harry ran into Ginny, who was totally filthy and none too happy.

"Hi, Ginny, need a treat? I'm taking these up to the dorm to celebrate the defending heroes returning from a mission."

She took a large frosted ladyfinger cake, delicately and deliberately licked a bit of the frosting off the end, savored it, and said, "Thanks, Harry, I needed something."

Harry smiled. "What did he have you doing?"

"Cleaning the classroom - WITHOUT MAGIC!" she groaned.

"That's awful. That explains why you're so filthy, though - especially your knees."

"Yeah, I had to scrub the whole floor with a brush and a bucket of suds. It would be cleaner done with magic, but NO - 'this is detention, Miss Weasley, the lesson is reinforced by doing it the HARD way'," she imitated Snape's oily inflection.

Harry laughed at her impression. "I'm so sorry, Ginny," he said, "I can't help but feel like this is my fault. I mean, if it weren't for me, you wouldn't be trying to keep those awful glasses on."

"And if it wasn't for you and your connection," she said, "we wouldn't be celebrating the saving of those lives. So what's better: saving lives or being able to go without sunglasses?"

"I guess you're right," Harry replied.

"Don't you worry about the rest of us wearing glasses," she said, "the price is well worth it." Then she tweaked him in the side and said, "And don't you be going off by yourself, either. This year you're keeping with your friends."

"You sure you want me around?" Harry said with a weak smile.

She turned to him and said in a low voice, "No excuses."