Eye of the Snake

"So... he's dead," Dumbledore said unsurely. Harry and Hermione had gone straight to his office with Ron's body. They told him that they needed a plan to get Voldemort.

"STOP BEATING AROUND THE BUSH!" Harry said, annoyed. "We need a plan to get Voldemort- why can't you admit you don't have one?"

"Harry!" Hermione cried.

"He's right, Ms. Granger," Dumbledore said. He sighed and walked to Harry. "You know that if we do form a plan, it will be very dangerous."

"Yes, sir," Harry said.

Dumbledore sighed again. "Many of us from the Order believe that Voldemort has some kind of hideout, where he meets most of his Death Eaters. You would need to get there."

"Okay," Harry said.

"And we all know how you're going to do that..."

"Lesotho," Harry mumbled.

"Professor," Hermione peeped. "I've been meaning to ask you about that spell. Don't you think it's a little... illegal?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, it must have the same rules as Apparition

and the Floo network- aren't we a little young to know it?"

Dumbledore sighed yet again. "I knew that the spell had legal limits around it. But I also knew, when I taught it to you, that Harry would be able to learn it."

"He can't continue! It's not like the Ministry's on his butt already!"

"Ms. Granger, I-..."

"And the whole school saw me use it! What if the whole school got wise like me and-..."

"Because no one's as wise as you," Harry said.

"Lesotho doesn't matter right now. What matters is our plan," Dumbledore said, and the kids agreed.

"Harry, tonight you will take a potion from Professor Snape that will open your dreaming mind more. I'm sure Voldemort will notice and try to get in there, and it will backfire without him knowing. Let him guide you where he goes, and that will hopefully be his hideout.

"And then you wake up. Using the Portal Spell, you can go into the hideout, and hopefully destroy Voldemort- once and for all."

"Okay," said Harry. "Show me to the potion."

***

After taking his potion and getting in his pajamas, Harry lay down in his bed. After all that went on today, he was glad to finally rest.

"Remember what Dumbledore said," Hermione exclaimed. "'Don't stay asleep too long. Wake right up when you find out where the hideout is.'"

"Right," Harry said.

"Be careful, Harry," Hermione said, kissing him.

"I will," he said, and he fell asleep.

***

Entering the dream world, Harry saw three flashes of light, which meant that Voldemort had failed to get in his head. Harry could now see a dirt road and two feet that were not his own.

Over the clearing, a house that looked like it was about to eat you was what Voldemort walked in.

A Death Eater ran up to him. "I'm so sorry sir," he said. "But we've got Crabbe and Goyle on the phone, and they can't find their way here."

"Tell them 24 Taipan Place!" Voldemort yelled. Harry urged himself to wake up.

***

"Well?" Hermione asked. Harry sat upright in bed, ready for action.

"24 Taipan Place," Harry replied. He walked over to the wall and put his wand over his head.

"Shouldn't we tell Dumbledore?" Hermione asked.

"There's no time," Harry lied. There was time, but he couldn't contain himself to wait any longer.

"Lesotho!"

2/7/05