The Silent Siege

Chapter 13

After the Fact

The sixth-year Gryffindor boys' dormitory was bathed in pink light from the autumn sunrise. Somewhere on the school grounds a rooster crowed, owls squawked in the owlery, and Harry Potter opened his eyes.

And then he remembered what had happened the day before. And it was all he could do not to pull the covers back over his head and try to sleep again.

But Harry forced himself to wake up. Though he had not yet looked at his watch, he knew that at this time of year, the sun rose only a little before breakfast and he still had lessons that morning after all. Harry was starting to agree with Professor Nevins that it was criminal to hold a dance on a school night and expect students to go to classes the next day.

Around Harry, his other roommates were slowly rising. Dean was shaking his head to clear the cobwebs, Seamus couldn't seem to stop yawning, and Neville looked as if he had been struck in the head with a heavy pole. But Ron was still fast asleep. Harry was about to wake him for breakfast but then thought better of it. He doubted whether Ron had gotten to sleep very early the night before. He decided he would wake him if he was still asleep when he returned from breakfast.

Harry got dressed and walked down the steps into the common room which was full of the usual early morning activity on a school day. Students were spilling out of their rooms, walking in and out of bathrooms, avoiding bumping into each other, and finally leaving for breakfast. The only difference on this morning was that things were unusually quiet as the sleep-deprived Gryffindors stumbled about like the living dead.

Which was perhaps how Hermione managed to remain fast asleep, curled up in a ball on the sofa like a hibernating hedgehog, covered in a blanket of scattered S.P.E.W. parchments.

Harry walked over to her and sighed. Gingerly, so as not to wake her, he picked up his best friend's scattered notes and placed them back into a folder which was lying on the table and then walked down to breakfast.

The hall looked much the same as usual. There was little indication it had been recently used for anything different. For the first time, Harry found himself a little curious about what had taken place here the night before. He supposed he could ask Ron and Hermione but he doubted they would be in the mood to answer his questions when they finally woke up.

Harry walked toward the Gryffindor table and was surprised to see Ginny sitting by herself near the middle. He thought of walking toward her but then hesitated. He had enjoyed himself very much with her last night at first. He had forgotten all about the Death Eaters and their plans. He had rarely felt anything take him out of his fears and problems so completely, other than Quidditch.

But then things had very suddenly changed. Very quickly, Harry had not felt relaxed and carefree at all. He felt a horrible anxiety come over him when he remembered how Ginny had asked him to play wizard truth. Why had she wanted to play the game and why had she seemed to egg him on to ask harder and harder questions? The more he thought about it, the more uncomfortable he felt.

But worse than this was the fact that Harry himself had asked her about the Valentine. He wasn't sure what could have possibly made him do that. The truth was, of course, he had been curious about it for years, but that was no excuse. He could only conclude that Ginny had somehow gotten him worked up about the game. Whatever the case, it had been a horrible mistake. Harry suddenly felt very queasy. Seamus and Dean walked in and sat near the head of the table. It would be very natural to go over and sit next to them. But Harry knew he had a duty to be fair to Ginny. He couldn't let this hang and drag on. And he knew he wouldn't get a better chance. Ron was in bed fast asleep. He wouldn't have to know anything.

Harry took a deep breath and put his tray down in front of Ginny.

Ginny, who seemed deep in thought, looked up suddenly, jumpy and startled again.

"Sorry," said Harry.

Harry immediately noticed that Ginny looked very pale and almost frightened. As she looked him up and down for a moment, Harry had the curious feeling she was trying to make sure he was still there. Then Ginny abruptly smiled and a little color returned to her cheeks.

"Hi, Harry," she said.

"Are you all right, Ginny? You look a little pale." asked Harry.

"Oh," said Ginny, looking a little non-plussed. "I - I'm fine. I just didn't sleep all that well last night."

"Oh, I'm sorry," said Harry, a little stiffly. "Where are your roommates?"

Ginny pointed over to the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables where Catherine and Amanda were sitting respectively. Each seemed deep in conversation with their dates from the previous night. Indeed, as Harry looked all around the hall it seemed that inter-house relations were at an unusual peak.

"Oh," said Harry, turning back to Ginny. "Listen, Ginny, about last night."

Ginny was smiling even more broadly now but Harry did not notice as he was looking down at the table.

"I - I really had a good time, I mean, especially the dancing. Thanks for showing me the new song spell."

"Maybe we can do it again some time?"

"Oh, yes. I - I hope so. Ginny, look, I want to apologize about something, though."

Ginny's smile quickly faded. "Apologize? For what, Harry?"

"W - Well." Harry studiously examined his wizard puffs. "I, I, er, shouldn't have really asked you that question about the Valentine. The truth is I - I just got a little carried away with the game but I - I really should have considered your - your privacy."

"You're supposed to ask people private things in wizard truth, Harry. I could always choose not to answer."

Harry suddenly felt like his esophagus was tied in a knot. "Well, OK, but the truth is I don't really need to know and - and perhaps we can just forget about it - not the evening, I mean," he added quickly, "just about that one question."

Harry looked up hopefully and found that Ginny's lips had straightened themselves into a thin line. Quite a bit of color was coming into her cheeks now, but Harry no longer sensed that this was a good thing.

"I see, Harry," she said curtly. "Th - that won't be any problem." She suddenly stood up.

"B - But you haven't finished your breakfast?"

"I don't think I feel very hungry after all." Ginny looked down at the table. "A - actually, I think I still have one or two things to finish before class so, see you around."

"Oh, oh, OK. Well, see - "

But Ginny had taken her tray of food and left even before Harry had finished saying goodbye. He sighed and continued to sit at the table alone. It hadn't been the most comfortable of conversations but at least it was over now. Things might be awkward between them for a while, he realized, but after that, their friendship could develop much more easily. Ginny would have no misunderstanding about his feelings.

***

Ginny flung her half-eaten tray at a startled looking house-elf and then marched up the steps not quite certain where she was going. Most of her indecision rested on the fact that she was in two minds as to whether to find somewhere to cry or find some place where she could safely destroy something. She settled for arriving at her first class of the day early. Since this was Divination, she had a long way to walk and a long time to think about it.

Damn you, Harry Potter, damn you to hell. I'd just managed to decide I could safely like you, that maybe we could really have something and then you turn around and want to take it all back. You're right, you do deserve a Bat-Bogey Hex. You deserve a lot worse in fact. And I hope you receive it.

The same thoughts ran around and around in Ginny's mind, broken only when she reached the small alcove above which was the Divination classroom. She tripped on one of the steps on the steep ladder to the door making herself even more furious in the process. When she finally made it inside the room and sat down on one of the chairs, Ginny decided that she definitely wanted to destroy something and that if she didn't find a substitute soon, she was afraid that it would be Trelawney.

Ginny pulled a piece of parchment roughly out of her bag, took out a quill, and scribbled a rough stick-like figure that looked something like Harry's evil twin: its spiky hair stood up in all directions, its jagged scar reached down to the bridge of its nose. It wore an enormous pair of glasses yet its eyes and nose seemed to have contracted into Voldemort-like slits. A grotesquely large head topped a stick thin body with the letter "H" stenciled in the middle of its chest. Ginny finished the picture by drawing a round circle for its mouth that made the figure look perpetually surprised.

"That's right, Harry," she said to the picture. "You don't get it and you never will. Well, too bad."

Ginny took out her wand and pointed it at the picture.

"Incen - "

"Is that supposed to be Harry?" said a voice just behind her shoulder. "It's not a very good likeness, is it? I can only tell from the 'H' you drew on his front; I remember him wearing that tatty-looking sweater last year. I can't imagine where he got it. Well, I'm not surprised you wanted to burn it but there are easier ways; after all, you might make a mark on the table. Allow me. Evanesco."

The parchment and its portrait of Harry disappeared much too quietly for Ginny's liking.

"Why, Ginny, you're making those horrible breathing noises again. You know, you sound just like the Spiny-footed Kuku bird when it gets a bit upset."

"Tell me, Luna," said Ginny, without turning around. "Does the Spiny-footed Kuku bird ever get cross with the Grubbly-horned Sand Swiper?"

"Oh, sometimes," replied Luna vacantly. "The Grubbly-Horned Sand Swiper takes ever such a long time to lose its horns."

"And what does the Spiny-footed Kuku bird do while it's waiting?"

Luna thought for a moment. "It often sings to it."

"Signs to it?"

"Oh, yes, the Spiny-footed Kuku bird is a very delicate creature."

"Well, this Spiny-footed Kuku bird doesn't want to sing at all. In fact, I think a much better idea would be to pick the Grubbly-Horned Sand Swiper up by its bottom and suffocate it in the sand!"

"We're not in a very good mood today, are we?"

Ginny didn't respond. Instead she sighed and said:

"I don't suppose you can explain to me why we're always in the same room like this, Luna?"

"Well, no, I wondered the same thing myself. I only came in here for a bit of privacy this morning, you know. Usually, no one's in much of a rush to come to Divination early. I just felt a bit upset about something but I suppose I'd better leave before the rest of your classmates come in."

Ginny turned around quickly and looked at Luna for the first time. While her voice had sounded as dreamy as usual, Ginny could now see that her eyes were red and puffy as though she had been crying.

Luna turned to leave and walk out of the classroom.

"Wait, Luna!" called Ginny, feeling all of her anger suddenly leave her.

Luna turned around to look at her.

"I - I'm sorry," said Ginny. "Please sit down again. I don't think anyone will be coming in for a while, anyway. Tell me what's wrong."

Luna hesitated for a moment and then sat down next to Ginny.

"It's Neville," she said, sighing and looking uncharacteristically despondent.

"You haven't broken up with him, have you?" asked Ginny, suddenly feeling alarmed.

Luna shook her head and Ginny was surprised at how relieved she felt.

"No, not yet, though I'm afraid that if things go on like this, he will," she said sadly. "He's just had to go to the hospital wing."

Ginny gasped. "What happened?"

"He was a little upset about the ball last night. Oh, he didn't say anything, the poor dear, but I could tell. He's so sensitive and sometimes I think I frighten him. I tried to cheer him up this morning at breakfast by giving him a gift of my animal spirit, you know, something to remind him of me."

"And he had to go to the hospital wing? What is your animal spirit?"

"A doxie."

"Oh."

"This one was a bit on the poisonous side, I'm afraid. Oh, Madame Pomfrey said he'd be all right. He's sleeping now. But I don't ever seem to be able to do the right thing."

"Well, Luna," said Ginny, putting her arm around the Ravenclaw. "Neville's always been a bit, well, jumpy. I don't think you have to give him a lot of presents. Just do little things for him."

"The doxie was little!"

"Yes, well, little things that aren't quite so poisonous."

Ginny hoped this would help Luna but to her dismay, Luna started to cry again.

"I - I - I'm such a misfit, aren't I? I've n - never known what to say around anyone. No one ever wants to be near L - Loony Lovegood for very long, do they?"

Ginny wanted to tell her that she needn't worry since Neville was the same but she didn't think this would sound very good.

"No, Luna!" she insisted instead, holding her more tightly. "That's not true!"

"It is!" Luna released Ginny's hand from her shoulder and turned back to look at her angrily. "You didn't want to be in here with me this morning, either, did you? I can tell from the way you asked me. Don't try to deny it!"

Ginny's feelings of self-pity had now completely vanished to be replaced by a horrible gnawing guilt.

"No, Luna!" she protested. "I - I was just in a bad mood! You said so yourself! It wasn't you; I didn't want to be around anyone! I - I'm really sorry!"

Luna continued to look inconsolable as Ginny conjured a handkerchief and handed it to her, though she dutifully took it and blew her nose loudly.

"Look, I'll tell you what," Ginny said. "I've known Neville for years. He's my brother's roommate. I can help you."

Luna stopped crying and turned to look at Ginny slightly more hopefully.

"Y - you will?" she asked.

Ginny nodded. "Everything will work out, Luna, I promise."

***

Harry finished his breakfast and started to walk out of the Great Hall. He'd supposed he would feel much better after talking to Ginny but he now found he felt somewhat empty. He made it about halfway up the first flight of stairs back to Gryffindor Tower when he suddenly realized that Ron and Hermione were still asleep back in the common room. For a moment, he thought of leaving them to it but then he remembered his resolve of the summer again: would he, Harry, abandon his two best friends when they really needed him the most? And after all he'd said to them the night before? It had been he who had sent them on their first date: it was only him who could help them now or at least be there if they needed his help.

Harry walked back into the Great Hall, put a few pieces of toast on a plate, poured out a cup of orange juice, and carried them up the stairs, hoping to avoid either Filch or Mrs. Norris.

When he arrived in the common room, Hermione was no longer asleep but was sitting down at one of the tables with her Arithmancy book open. She still had the S.P.E.W. parchments next to her on the other side but this time she hadn't opened the cover. She looked up as Harry approached.

"Uh," he said. "I - I thought you might like some breakfast."

Harry wasn't at all sure how Hermione would react. She looked up at him for a moment, not saying anything and then suddenly burst into tears, walked up from her desk, and drew him into a bone-crushing hug.

Harry put one arm around Hermione and used the other to hold out the plate and the cup at arm's length so as not to upset their contents. Hermione finally pulled out of the embrace.

"Oh, Harry, I'm so confused," she said.

Harry didn't really know how to reply. He wasn't sure he felt any clearer than Hermione.

Hermione looked down at the breakfast. "I - I'm not really very hungry at the moment but thank you."

"Perhaps you'd like to go for a walk then?" suggested Harry.

It was obvious from look on Hermione's face that she felt it was an excellent idea but then she looked down at her watch. "Oh, but, Harry, we can't - we've got Care of Magical Creatures in fifteen minutes."

"Hagrid will understand," Harry replied softly.

"No, Harry!" protested Hermione. "We can't just take advantage of Hagrid like that. And we can't go around missing classes. We'll lose loads of points if we're caught!"

Harry gently took hold of Hermione's shoulders. "We're not taking advantage of him. Look, Hermione, something happened between you and Ron last night. You obviously need some time to deal with it. You're not a machine. We'll go and have tea with Hagrid later. He'll understand."

Hermione reluctantly nodded and left the common room with Harry. They had made it to the portrait hole when Hermione stopped and looked back anxiously at the boys' dormitory.

"Is he - " she began.

"He's still asleep, I think," finished Harry. "I doubt he got to sleep very early last night."

"I didn't get to sleep at all," said Hermione, now walking again and leading the way out of the portrait hole. "I finally came out into the common room to work on some S.P.E.W. things and then I must have dozed off in the chair."

Harry and Hermione walked out onto the grounds. Harry had thought Hermione would start talking to him after they left the Great Hall but she didn't say a word. She led him in a large circle around the lake. It was another cool, clear day. A slight breeze blew off the surface of the water like an echo of the furious winds of the day before. Harry watched as the giant squid poked out its head from the surface of the water but then, having tested the air and found it too cold, retreated back into the murky depths.

Hermione remained silent as they completed the circle and returned to the front entrance of the castle. Harry was about to open his mouth to say something when Hermione made another turn and started a second circle. Finally, when they had nearly reached the far end of the lake again, Harry finally said:

"What happened last night?"

Harry wondered whether Hermione would flinch at the question but if she had felt it was none of Harry's concern, she did not show it. She hesitated for a moment, then launched in an unabridged account of her date with Ron.

"So," said Harry, after she had finished, his brow creased in perplexion. "You, er, you told Ron that you really just wanted to be friends and then a few minutes later you - you were, er, well - "

"Snogging him senseless, yes," finished Hermione.

"Well," said Harry, unable to resist smiling. "It does seem a little strange."

"Oh, Harry, don't you understand? I - I was nervous again. Everything seemed like it was happening so fast. I just felt so - so out of control. Oh." Hermione groaned and flailed her fists in the air. "I was so incredibly mean and horrible to him. All those things I said. I really hurt him, I know. I wonder if he'll forgive me."

"Hermione, you know, I really think he'll just remember how the evening ended."

"Really?" Hermione looked at Harry anxiously.

"Really, Hermione," said Harry with certainty. "Trust me."

They walked in silence for a while longer. The squid had now decided to poke its head a little further above the water. Hermione and Harry were soon approaching the castle again. Harry wondered whether Hermione was going to make yet another turn when she said very quietly:

"I wonder what will happen now."

Harry looked at his friend with continued surprise. "What will happen now?" he repeated. "But Hermione, obviously you and Ron are in love."

"I know," said Hermione, making a fist again, "but, Harry, what's going to happen to us, the three of us. I mean - the three of us were friends together - are friends," she added quickly as Harry looked alarmed.

"Well, you won't stop being friends with me, will you?"

"No, of course not, Harry. It's just - it's bound to be different. If Ron and I start a different kind of relationship, then things are bound to change between the three of us."

"All people change, Hermione."

"No, Harry." Hermione stopped walking and turned around to face him. There were tears in her eyes. "Stop being so noble. Be angry with us!"

Harry smiled a little hollowly. "You miss me being angry with you?"

"No, of course not, Harry, it's just - "

"I'm not angry with you or Ron, Hermione," Harry replied. "I'm happy for you. Maybe you don't want things to change but they already have. You can't pretend that kiss didn't happen. You can't pretend you don't love him. And if you do, it will make things much, much worse for all of us, believe me."

Harry and Hermione saw movement out of the corner of their eyes. Both turned to look back up at the castle and saw that Ron was no longer in his bed asleep. He was walking very tentatively through the grounds toward them.

Hermione turned back to look at Harry, reached up, and gently kissed him on the cheek. "You really are a great wizard, Harry Potter," she said. "And a good friend." She squeezed his hand and then turned away to walk toward Ron.

Ron continued to walk toward them but his steps seemed to grow even slower as he saw Hermione and then Harry move toward him.

But Hermione half-walked, half-trotted toward Ron as if she had made up her mind about something. Harry half-expected Ron to turn on his heels and start running back to the castle but instead he just stood there frozen. Hermione reached Ron with a broad girlish smile on her face. She took his hands in hers and looked up at him slowly. "I'm sorry, Ron," she said, without hesitation. "I said a lot of things I didn't really mean last night. The truth is I love you."

As Harry moved closer to Ron, he could see dull amazement written across his features. He tried to open his mouth to reply but only made a gurgling sound that reminded Harry of a frightened toad.

Hermione did not seem to notice. She put her arms around Ron and snuggled her face in his chest.

Ron stood there like a mummy for a moment. Harry, who was standing behind Hermione, made an anxious grabbing motion with his arms. Slowly, Ron closed his arms around Hermione. He now looked completely stunned.

Harry watched his two friends hold each other for a moment and then, when it seemed like they weren't going to move out from the hug any time soon, he cleared his throat and said awkwardly:

"Well, er, well, I, er, will j - just go on ahead then, shall I?"

Hermione looked across at Harry and smiled, her face still buried in Ron's robes. She didn't seem the least bit embarrassed to be holding Ron in front of him. "OK," she said.

Ron was apparently still incapable of speech so Harry slowly turned and began to walk back to the castle by himself.

But when he had nearly reached the door, he could not help pausing and looking back at his two friends who were now holding hands and talking. He had meant what he'd said to Hermione but as he walked through the castle door alone, he somehow couldn't help but feel a little lost.

***

Harry took it upon himself to go to the owlery and send a note to Hagrid apologizing for their absence in class, imploring him not to take any points from Gryffindor, and promising to explain it all to him over tea. Fortunately, they had no other lessons that morning as Harry doubted whether Ron and Hermione would have turned up for those either.

He went down to the Great Hall and found a seat next to Lavender, Parvati, Dean, Fred, George, and Fred and George's friend Lee Jordan with whom they had stayed in Hogsmeade the night before. Harry was very glad they had not found some way to stay in Gryffindor Tower and witness Ron and Hermione's kiss, but his relief was short-lived. The news about the kiss had traveled fast and Fred and George were eager for information when he walked in.

"Is it true, Harry?" asked Fred.

"Fancy Ickle Ronnikins," said George. "His first kiss."

"Have you seen them this morning?" asked Fred.

"No," Harry lied.

"They weren't in Care of Magical Creatures," said Dean unhelpfully. "Come to think of it - " He looked at Harry quizzically but stopped talking when Harry shot him a venomous glance.

"The one snog wasn't enough, I guess," said Lee.

Lavender and Parvati giggled stupidly.

But Fred wasn't paying much attention to them. He had stood up from his seat. Harry followed his gaze and saw Ron and Hermione walking into the Great Hall, hand in hand. Ron seemed to be bending over so that no one would notice him but Hermione did not look particularly concerned. Not, that was, until Fred, George, Lee, and Dean broke into an enthusiastic round of applause.

Harry immediately stood up, took his wand out of his pocket, and pointed it at the others. They stopped clapping.

"All right, Harry, all right. Just take it easy," said Fred.

"This place definitely needs lightening up again," said George, to which Fred nodded.

Ron and Hermione took seats across from Harry and reluctantly let go of each other's hands so they could eat. Neither said anything at first but after a time Lavender, Parvati, and Dean got involved in an animated discussion about the exact nature of Binns' prior relationship to Henrietta Handsdowne, and Fred and George started talking to Lee about a joint marketing scheme between the twins' joke shop and Lee's new tarantula breeding farm. Hermione quickly swallowed a bite of pork pie and leaned over to talk to Harry.

"Listen, Harry," she said, elbowing Ron in the hip, who quickly sprang to attention. Harry noticed that they had started to hold hands right away again. "We just want you to know that we hope you won't feel, well, awkward or anything because of this."

Ron nodded eagerly. "It'll be just like old times, mate. The three of us will go around and do everything together. Well, maybe not everything - " he added unnecessarily.

"What Ron means," Hermione went on before Harry could interject, "is that we don't want you to feel like we're, well, abandoning you or anything."

"We - " Ron began.

"Look." Harry put his glass down on the table a little harder than he'd intended. He wasn't sure what made him feel more disturbed, the fact that Hermione and Ron seemed obsessed about the effect their relationship might have on him or that two individuals who had spent most of the last five-and-a-half years at loggerheads were now speaking in tandem. "I told you already I don't mind if you're going out. I'm happy," he said slowly as if talking to two small children. "I - don't - want - any - more - rows."

Hermione continued to look uncertain but Ron took his hand away from Hermione's and began eating again as if the matter were closed.

"By the way," he said. "You missed a rotten party last night. The ghost orchestra was awful. 'Xpect you got a lot of work done, didn't you? Wish I had," he added though Harry doubted he wished anything of the sort.

"Oh, I don't think Harry got very much work done last night," said a voice to their left.

Harry turned around to notice that Fred had moved away from the conversation about the size of Lee's new tarantulas and was listening to their every word.

"He wasn't doing much studying at all when we were up there," said George, a horribly evil twinkle in his eye. "He seemed a bit preoccupied."

"With what?" asked Ron.

"With whom, more like," replied George.

Harry felt a horrible sensation in the pit of his stomach as he became aware that Parvati, Lavender, Dean, Fred, George, and Lee had all now abandoned their conversations and were hanging on every word.

"I won't mention any names," said Fred, "but she has red curly hair and we've known her rather a long time."

Hermione let out a sudden quick gasp but managed to cover it before Harry noticed.

"Ginny?" said Ron between bites of roast potatoes. He shook his head dismissively. "Harry doesn't fancy her," he said with conviction. "Of course, she used to have that crush thing on him but apparently she's over that now, according to Hermione, anyway."

Harry looked up at Hermione for confirmation but found she seemed to have become very interested in the texture of her mushy peas. He darted a nervous glance at the others who all pretended to turn and look the other way, all except for Fred and George who continued to sit there grinning. But then Dean, looking strangely uncomfortable, got up very suddenly and quickly excused himself saying something about needing to get back to work. Harry was thinking how much it reminded him of what Ginny had said to him earlier that morning when a very strange thought suddenly occurred to him. He vaguely remembered hearing from Ron that Ginny had broken up with Dean just after the beginning of the term and now that he thought about it, he remembered they had had a fight at lunch one day although he had been trying his best not to pay attention at the time. But surely he wasn't thinking -

Harry's thoughts were interrupted when Hedwig fluttered down to the table in front of him with another official-looking Hogwarts letter in her beak.

"Not Snape again," said Ron.

Harry took the envelope and opened it carefully, not quite sure what was going to come exploding out of it this time. He found a thick parchment containing a short letter composed in elegant handwriting:

Dear Mr. Potter,

The time has come for us to begin our extended lessons in Defense Against the Dark Arts, which I understand Professor Dumbledore discussed with you at the beginning of term. I see from your schedule that you do not have any other obligations this afternoon at 4 o'clock. I would like you to meet me then on the small field adjacent to the Quidditch pitch.

Sincerely,

A. Nevins

The parchment was signed with both the red Hogwarts seal and another imprinted seal under Nevins' name. Harry studied the seal carefully. A wizened-looking wizard who reminded Harry of Dumbledore held up a wand which was emitting sparks. The wizard moved back and forth as if searching carefully for something, causing the very texture of the parchment itself to change as it did so. All around the imprint of the wizard in a circle were written the words:

ORDER OF MERLIN, SECOND CLASS

Harry looked at the seal with interest for a moment. He knew of only three other people who had received the Order of Merlin: Dumbledore, who had received the Order of Merlin, First Class; Wormtail, who had received the Order of Merlin, Second Class for confronting Sirius; and Gilderoy Lockhart, who had never ceased reminding people that he had received the Order of Merlin, Third Class. Harry knew that the Order of Merlin was not given out lightly. Nearly everyone in the wizarding world knew of the awards that Dumbledore, Wormtail, and Lockhart had received. But Harry had never before known that Nevins had received the award, too. Dumbledore hadn't told him, nor had Nevins himself. He wondered why.

"He didn't give you much notice, did he?" said Ron, who was now looking at the letter that Harry had let fall thoughtfully to the table.

"I suppose he wants to keep me on my toes," replied Harry. "I wonder why he didn't start the lessons before now."

Ron shrugged.

Just then, one of the school owls flew down and dropped a letter in front of Hermione. She opened it up and read it as Ron looked over her shoulder.

"It's from Hagrid," she explained to Harry. "He wants to know if we can come for tea at three-thirty. I think I should say yes."

"But my lesson with Nevins is at four," protested Harry. "Can't he make it tomorrow?"

Hermione looked a little anxious. "I don't think so, Harry. I think we'd better go today."

"You don't think he's mad at us, do you?" asked Ron.

"Well," said Hermione hesitantly. "Not exactly but I still think we ought to go. Even if it's just for a short while, Harry," she added to him.

Ron and Harry shrugged their agreement and the three of them picked up their plates and left the Great Hall. Ron and Hermione started holding hands again and hurried a little faster out of the hall as Fred and George broke into another round of applause on their retreat.

***

Hagrid poured out four cups of tea and frowned down at Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

"I didn't say nothin' to no one, o' course," he said. "Sure yeh had a good reason, but all the same." He looked down at them expectantly.

Harry wasn't sure if he should be the one to say something. Then Ron slowly took hold of Hermione's hand.

Hagrid looked down at them curiously.

Ron cleared his throat and a deep red began to suffuse his cheeks. "Er, well, Hagrid, H - H - Hermione and I...." He broke off and looked a little hesitantly at Hermione.

Hermione smiled confidently and drew his hand closer to hers. " - are going out," she finished, smiling.

Harry couldn't help smiling himself as a boyish grin broke over Ron's face. Hagrid gave a triumphant yell which Harry was sure would blow the roof off the top of his cottage and Fang responded with an alarmed bark. Ron's grin did not fade even when Hagrid pulled him and Hermione into a bone-crushing hug and decided to celebrate by offering them some of his infamous treacle fudge.

"Always knew yeh'd end up together," said Hagrid beaming, apparently having forgotten all about the missed class. "Said so to Fang years ago. Mind yeh take good care o' her now." He wagged a finger at Ron.

Ron nodded a little stupidly, the grin not leaving his face.

Hagrid kept smiling as he looked at Ron and Hermione holding hands. His smile faded slightly when he turned to Harry who was studying his treacle fudge warily.

"Never mind now, Harry," he said. "There's plenty o' time left fer yeh."

Harry shrugged.

Hagrid mock-threatened the three of them with a detention if Ron and Hermione didn't tell him the full account of their strange transition from friendship to love. They both contradicted each other with the details but seemed in too good a mood to let this spill over into an argument. The hut shook on several occasions as Hagrid let up occasional shouts.

Finally, Harry said:

"Er, Hagrid, I hope you don't mind if I go. Only, I've got to meet Professor Nevins for extra Defense lessons."

"Sure, sure, off with yeh, then," replied Hagrid, still smiling. "Say, er, Harry?" he said again as Harry was about to walk out of the door. "Yeh've been having extra lessons now?"

"This is the first one, actually."

Hagrid seemed to frown for a moment. "Ever get to talkin' with, er, Professor Nevins?"

Harry regarded Hagrid curiously. "Just in class. Why?"

Harry was certain it was his imagination but for a moment he thought he saw a flash of fear move over Hagrid's features but then he smiled again.

"Oh, it's nothin'," he assured Harry. "Off with yeh then. He won' like it if yeh late."

Somewhat reluctantly, Harry left the cabin and made his way toward the Quidditch pitch.

After he had left, Hagrid smiled at Hermione and Ron again.

"Well, yeh two." He shook his head. "Imagine that." He sighed. "If yeh don' mind now, I suppose I'd better be dealin' with these cabbage patches again; somethin' keeps comin' in the night and eatin' 'em all up. Dunno what it is, yet."

Ron stood up followed by a slightly reluctant Hermione.

"S - so about the class," Ron started nervously.

Hagrid made a sound like a neighing Hippogriff and waved his hand dismissively. "'S not every day yeh fall in love. Mind yeh, don' let it happen again."

"We won't," chorused Ron and Hermione.

"Good, now off with yeh."

Ron made toward the door but Hermione did not move. She suddenly looked a little anxious.

"Hagrid," she said. "I wonder if I could talk to you about something."

Hagrid looked a little surprised and checked his watch again.

"Please," said Hermione before Hagrid could protest that he had something to do. "It's very important. I'm worried about Harry."

***

Harry trotted quickly to the small field next to the Quidditch pitch which he had once used for practice when Slytherin had booked the regular field. He found Nevins sitting calmly on an incongruous swivel chair which Harry suspected he had conjured.

"Hello, Harry," said Nevins quietly as he approached.

"I'm not late, am I?" asked Harry, a little anxiously.

"I don't think so," said Nevins as if the matter did not concern him very much. He drew himself up a little and looked at Harry with a characteristically unreadable expression.

"Do you why you are here, Harry?"

"Yes," replied Harry. "Professor Dumbledore said that I was to receive extra Defense lessons."

"I have known Professor Dumbledore for a long time, Harry. He has told me that you have already developed exceptional defense skills. Of course, I wanted to see this for myself. That is why I have waited so long to begin our extra lessons."

Harry nodded. Professor Nevins seemed much different from the teacher who had kept the class on their toes all semester with a mixture of inscrutability and arrogance. He was speaking to Harry now with an unusual candor. Harry realized for the first time that Nevins had never called him by his first name during class but he was using it now as if they were good friends. He had the sudden impression Nevins realized Harry would not need any encouragement to pay attention in these extra lessons. Harry knew full well the power of the Dark Arts and Harry had no doubt that Nevins knew it, too.

"I am pleased to say," Nevins went on, "that Dumbledore was right. I can see now how the students in your 'Defense Association' last year, or should I say 'Dumbledore's Army?'" he added, seeming to enjoy a private joke with himself, "managed to improve so quickly. You will indeed make an excellent auror, if that is what you choose to do. But I'm afraid," he added, his expression darkening slightly, "that we are not here because of your future career. I'm afraid we are here to make sure you remain alive to have one."

Harry found himself taking a step backwards. He felt a sudden twinge of dislike at Nevins. He had spent a good part of the year trying to forget about the threat that hung over him the moment he left the friendly confines of Hogwarts and the surrounding area. He had convinced himself that he should trust Dumbledore, that he had everything under control, that the threat was, perhaps, not so great after all. And here was Nevins reminding him of the danger he still faced. As if he needed reminding.

But Harry just nodded. He did not want to discuss the matter with Nevins. He certainly did not want to show him that he was afraid.

Nevins took out his wand. "I think we'll start today with a relatively simple spell, learned by most aurors, but usually not taught until after N.E.W.T level. I imagine you will be able to master it, however, not without some difficulty, of course," he added, seeming to regain for a moment some of his usual classroom demeanor, "but master nonetheless."

Harry nodded again.

Nevins looked at Harry gravely. "I have no doubt you know full well, Harry," he said, almost softly, "the danger of ambush. I fear it is unlikely that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named will simply send one or two Death Eaters after you. It is, I'm afraid, much more likely that he will send many of the Death Eaters at his disposal as he did when you and your friends were confronted at the Department of Mysteries."

Harry had not realized Nevins would have known about what had happened at the Ministry of Magic last spring, or at least his involvement in it. Dumbledore must trust him more than I realized, he thought.

"This spell can give you both the element of surprise and effective positioning from which to form a counter-attack," Nevins explained. "Watch closely."

He pointed his wand at himself and cried: "Levitatus."

Harry stepped back in awed surprise as Nevins quickly flew thirty feet into the air, twisted and turned, and then landed about twenty yards away. He performed the spell again and put down gracefully on the ground just in front of Harry, smiling.

"And now your turn, Harry. Enunciate: Lev-i-tat-us."

Harry took a small step away from Nevins who retreated himself. He took out his wand and was ashamed to see his hand trembling slightly. He clenched his fist and forced himself to calm down. He did not want Nevins to see that he was nervous about performing the spell. He took out his wand, pointed it at himself and cried:

"Levitatus!"

Harry swallowed his saliva as his feet left the ground and he rose high above Nevins who looked up at him. At first, he felt the pleasant sensation of weightlessness that sprang up whenever he flew on his Firebolt but after Harry had risen about several meters in the air, he became uncomfortably aware that there was no broomstick under his feet now. He felt his movement gradually begin to slow and knew he had reached the apex of his flight. Then sky and earth seemed to suddenly melt together as he plunged fast to the ground. The world kept spinning around him until he felt something smash very uncomfortably into his right hip and realized that he had landed very awkwardly back on the field.

Harry tried to stand up but winced as his hip throbbed in protest. He looked up to see Nevins standing over him, a half-smile spreading over his lips. The hip throbbed again and Nevins' face started to twist like a mirror at a carnival as tears of pain sprang to Harry's eyes. He forced them back.

"Not bad, Harry," said Nevins. "Not bad at all. You made good height on that one, for a first attempt. Now, try to visualize when you say the spell. Imagine yourself as a bird flying in the sky, or flying on your broomstick," he added, pleased with himself at the idea. "Yes, Harry, imagine yourself flying on your Firebolt. That will help you to get more height."

Harry wasn't sure he wanted to get more height if he did not first learn how to control himself while he was in the air. But that was the last thing he wanted to tell Nevins. He just nodded to him, pointed his wand at himself and then closed his eyes and imagined himself flying high above the Quidditch pitch in a game, searching the ground below him for the golden snitch.

To Harry's horror, this visualization worked even better than he had feared. He flew into the sky like a rocket, flying higher than the trees and almost as high as the stands in the adjacent Quidditch pitch. He experienced again the same sensation of freedom that coursed through his body as he glided around the sky on his broomstick.

But this feeling was very short-lived indeed. He felt himself start to slow down and plunge horribly fast to the earth. He imagined the pain that would seer through his body as he landed hard on the ground. He willed himself to slow down, to stop tumbling, to gain some kind of control over his movement. For a moment, he steadied himself and found he was gliding down like a fly with his legs and arms outstretched. He looked down and saw Nevins looking back up at him. He wondered if the Defense teacher would cast a spell to slow his fall. For a moment, he thought that he must do: Harry would be horribly hurt as soon as he hit the ground. Nevins would not want that, surely? Surely it would defeat the purpose of learning new Defense Against the Dark Arts spells if he was too badly hurt to use them? But Nevins stood on the ground impassively with his arms folded and his wand tucked back into his cloak. Almost immediately after he saw this, Harry felt himself tumbling again. Sky and earth churned together like yolk and white in an egg beater. Harry gritted his teeth and steeled himself against the pain of hitting the ground.

But no, he thought to himself suddenly. He would not resign to the pain. Nevins had landed upright and so could he. Harry realized he was still clutching his wand in his hand. Perhaps he could slow his fall. But no, he realized, remembering with dread his steady fall to the ground when Lucius Malfoy had stolen his Firebolt. He had not known any spells that could save him then and he still did not know any now. More out of desperation than hope, Harry stretched out his wand and pointed it in a steady horizontal direction. He did not use any spell but he suddenly felt his body begin to right itself, even if he was still traveling at a fast speed. He was now looking at the ground again. Keeping his wand steady, he moved his body to a vertical position and succeeded in landing feet first on the earth. Such was the hard impact, however, that Harry immediately fell into a rough heap, this time on his left hip. Both of his hips and ankles throbbed in pain and this time, the best Harry could do was sit up on the ground as Nevins walked over to him.

"I see you've learned how to control yourself in mid-air," he remarked casually. "In time you'll find that if you level yourself when you begin to fall, you'll be able to use your wand to cast defense spells against your attackers below."

Harry could not imagine how he would ever graduate to this level when he hardly felt able to stand on his own two feet.

Nevins stretched out a hand to pull him up. "You've made great progress. We'll spend the rest of the lesson learning something a little more subtle. I wouldn't want you to end up in the hospital wing after your first session."

But Harry did not take hold of Nevins' hand. Instead, he hoisted himself up painfully on his protesting ankles. "No," he said.

Nevins raised an eyebrow.

"I want to learn this spell and get it right - today," Harry said through gritted teeth.

Nevins didn't say anything for a moment, appearing to consider Harry's request. "Very well, Harry," he said finally.

They continued to practice for at least another hour. Each time, Harry flew higher into the sky and eventually further from his original position. And each time, the fear of pain forced him to concentrate hard to steady his fall until, at last, he landed with his own two feet on the ground, stumbled a little then, like a gymnast tumbling off a balance beam, steadied himself and did not fall.

Nevins jogged over to him, clapping. "Very good, Harry," he said. "Very good, indeed. You've exceeded my expectations. And now, I think we'd better end the lesson here. And I'm afraid you will have to go up to the hospital wing."

"I - don't - need - " Harry croaked in pain, unable to finish his sentence. Every bone in his body seemed to have landed on the ground at least once during the exercise and all of them stung.

"You are very brave," said Nevins, almost inaudibly. "Like your friend Ron. And your father."

Harry looked up at Nevins suddenly. "Professor Dumbledore said you knew my father?"

"Yes, Harry. I taught him as I am teaching you. I was Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts when your father was at school here. He, like you, showed exceptional defense skills."

"But I thought - Professor Dumbledore said you were an auror?"

"I was. I left Hogwarts your father's sixth year to go into training as an auror. I thought I could make a much greater contribution in the fight against You-Know-Who as an auror than sitting in front of a classroom at Hogwarts. I completed my training and served as an auror for many years. But as I told your friend Ron, I was sorted into Ravenclaw, not Gryffindor. I always had a quick mind but you need more than a quick mind to be an auror. You need bravery. And you are brave, Harry."

"But Professor Nevins," said Harry. "I'm sure you must have been brave. You received the Order of Merlin, Second Class. It said so on your note."

Nevins lips became very drawn. "I wish it didn't. The Order of Merlin comes with an unbreakable spell. It seals itself onto every letter written by the bearer to guard against," Nevins smiled ironically, "modesty."

"But why wouldn't you want people to know you received the Order of Merlin? Surely it's a great honor. You must have done something - "

Nevins' face grew very dark. "That's enough for today, Harry," he said sharply. "Now, please, get up to the hospital wing."

Harry wanted to open his mouth again but he could see that he had touched a nerve. Whatever it was, Nevins wasn't willing to discuss it, not to him at least. He nodded slowly and made his way stiffly across the lawn. Nevins made it clear he would walk Harry to the hospital wing himself. When they reached the hospital wing, Harry was slightly surprised when Professor Nevins told Madam Pomfrey that he had received some injuries while practicing Quidditch, and that Nevins had found him and helped him to the ward.

Harry did not seem to hear Madam Pomfrey as she fussed about his various wounds, complained that he had a broken right hip (which she mended with great ease), and that Quidditch would be the death of him sooner or later. He was thinking about his talk with Professor Nevins. Why had he seemed almost ashamed to receive the Order of Merlin? Was he a fraud, just like Lockhart and Wormtail? Harry was still not quite sure what to make of his Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, but somehow he felt this didn't ring true.

Finally, Madam Pomfrey told him with typical reluctance that he was free to go but that he must make sure to get plenty of rest. Harry had no intention of disobeying her this time. It was nearly time for dinner but Harry did not feel hungry. He made his way up to Gryffindor Tower. He wondered if Ron and Hermione were about and what they would think of his Dark Arts lesson and Nevins' strange secret.

But when Harry reached the common room he saw right away that he wouldn't be talking to either of them anytime soon. Ron lay curled up on the sofa, fast asleep. Hermione lay on top of him, also asleep, her unruly hair scattered across his chest. Both of his two friends wore smiles of contentment and serenity as if falling asleep in each other's arms was the most natural thing they had ever done. Harry wanted to feel happy for them: he felt as exhausted as they looked yet his face could not seem to curl in the same blissful manner. Sighing, he walked up the stairs to his dormitory, got into bed, and fell quickly asleep. He did not wake again until the following morning.

***

Albus Dumbledore stood by himself in the same clearing that he had stirred the cauldron all night now two weeks prior. A sharp crack through the air announced the arrival of another wizard.

Dumbledore showed no surprise. He had been expecting this visitor. But he was not anxious to stop what he was doing either. This was not a conversation to which he had been looking forward.

Remus Lupin stood in front of him. His face looked as gaunt and thin as ever but his eyes still had the same sparkle Dumbledore remembered from his youthful days as a Hogwarts student. Yet he did not smile and Dumbledore was fairly sure he knew why.

"You have discovered something," said the headmaster simply.

"I followed the Death Eaters as you asked. I was not detected. As you rightly surmised, no one suspects that a hag can come up to much of anything."

Dumbledore nodded patiently, waiting for Lupin to continue.

"The Death Eaters made an attempt to break through into the mental barricades surrounding Hogwarts last night, a second one apparently. Voldemort wanted to make his first attempt hadn't been a fluke. He was trying to get into someone's mind. One of the students at the school. I could not find out who."

A flicker of surprise moved over Dumbledore's face.

"Did they succeed?" he asked tentatively.

"No. Voldemort was very unhappy. He - he - punished a great many of his Death Eaters." Lupin shuddered.

Dumbledore nodded.

"And did Voldemort say why he thought they had failed?"

"I stayed as far away from him as I could, on your instructions and he did not see me, I'm sure. But it seemed that he blamed his Death Eaters for not following his instructions carefully enough. But the Death Eaters themselves couldn't fathom the reason. They all insisted they'd done exactly as he'd told them to."

Dumbledore nodded. "Severus?"

Lupin hesitated for a moment. He hoped he had mistaken it but he could have sworn there was a trace of uncertainty in Dumbledore's voice as he spoke the acting headmaster's name.

"He was not involved, not so far as I could tell at least, but I might be wrong," Lupin added quickly.

There was a moment of silence. Then Dumbledore said:

"Thank you, Remus. Please continue to tread carefully."

But Lupin did not move.

"There is something more you wish to say to me."

"Do you really trust him, Dumbledore? You have shut yourself off to everyone else in the Order. You're relying completely on his eyes and his information."

"Not completely, Remus. That is why I have you."

"But you won't tell me what's going on?"

"The more people I tell, the more dangerous it becomes for all of us, not the least you, my friend."

"We've been over this before." A faint note of impatience crept into Lupin's voice. "But can you rely on Severus Snape? After all the things he did when he was a Death Eater? All those people he killed? Do you really believe he reformed - totally? Why?"

Dumbledore nodded without hesitation. "Severus is a member of the Order. And I trust everyone who is in the Order."

Lupin sighed.

"What else would you have me do, Remus? Voldemort would never trust anyone else in the Order."

Lupin's feeling of anxiousness grew. This was hardly a ringing endorsement of Snape's trustworthiness.

"Just think!" Lupin went on. "Just suppose: what if it wasn't just a personal grudge against Harry and James that led him to stop teaching Harry Occlumency last year? What if that was just an excuse? What if he knew that if he stopped training Harry, Voldemort could enter his mind again and lead him back to the Department of Mysteries? What if that was what he had wanted all along? And we've only his word that he went looking for Harry in the forest that night. No one else saw him. What if he never lifted a finger?"

Dumbledore sighed. "All perfectly reasonable questions. I still choose to trust."

Lupin could see that this conversation was going nowhere. He only hoped that some of the questions he'd raised had sunk into his stubborn interlocutor. And he hadn't run out things to ask yet, either.

"If Voldemort is trying to enter Harry's mind again, why does he need to break through the school's defenses to do it? He didn't need to last year."

Dumbledore considered this question for a moment not, Lupin suspected, because he did not know the answer, but because he wondered whether Lupin could safely be told.

"It is not Harry whom Voldemort is trying to reach this time," he said simply.

"I see," said Lupin, sensing that Dumbledore was not prepared to say anything more. "This is a dangerous game you're playing, Albus," he added softly.

Dumbledore looked Lupin straight in the eye.

"These are dangerous times."

Lupin stared at Dumbledore for a moment longer, then nodded, took a step backward, and tensed himself to disapparate but before he could do so, Dumbledore held up his index finger.

"One more thing, Remus," he said, an odd look of worry on his face. "Do you think that Harry will continue to trust me?"

Remus sighed. "I think he will, when it comes to it. But I must ask you that if Harry knew what it was you are planning, would he still continue to hold that trust?"

Dumbledore did not answer right away. Then a horrible sadness filled his eyes.

"No," he said, shaking his head gravely. "I'm very much afraid he would not."