Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Chapter19

A Psychological Strike

The following morning the first real lessons in their OWL courses began. Not to say that they weren't already studying hard for them, but more the fact that the courses had appeared to pick up in earnest.

In French, Evan and Natalia found that picking up where Fleur had left off was no easy task. No doubt, however, that they could ask her for a little private tutoring, and, failing that, Harry and Hermione would be more than willing, and Marie would be especially delighted to lend a helping hand. Having said that, the step from student to teacher could be very interesting. Harry wondered if Fleur had to take a course before she came to teach. Natalia didn't have too much trouble with the pronunciation of the words, some of the sounds were quite similar to those you would find in Bulgarian, however she still had quite a thick accent, and so Fleur sometimes found it quite difficult to understand her. Marie was using these lessons to improve on her English, and also was asked to volunteer to help Fleur. Ever since the students had started to use the translation spells, Professor Dumbledore had cast a cancellation ward on Fleur's classroom, and advised the students that the same thing would happen for their exams. After all, revision and study were all about personal improvement, were they not?

Then, in Care of Magical Creatures, the Gryffin cubs were slowly being weaned. They still looked incredibly cute, not much more than balls of fluff with legs and wings, but then again, the life-span of a Gryffin was in the region of five-hundred years, and so they would continue to look like balls of fluff long after Harry had left Hogwarts. Hagrid was looking at the little creatures all adoring, and, of course, there were some other little creatures he was looking at, all adoring.

Two Males, and Two Females, but otherwise visually inseparable - black fur and dazzling green eyes.

The Potters.

Harry, the runt of the litter (by circumstance), was gazing into the mother's eyes at the moment, a low growl coming from the depths of her throat. It wasn't threatening, but at the same time it was insisting. Harry looked briefly at the Gryffindors' cub, and then over at the Slytherins' cub, and nodded, extending an arm behind Courage's knee, and gently stroked her there. He then wandered over to the Slytherins and picked up Killer, before returning to pick up Bold and carrying them both over to Courage, where they suckled for a few minutes, before curling up in the protection of her stance, and falling into a deeply satisfied sleep. Even the Slytherins had stopped complaining about the fact that it was Harry who came to retrieve Killer. The cubs seemed to hold an affinity for him, and, moreover, the majority were scared rigid of Courage. Even Malfoy was a little twitchy around her. Harry privately thought that, for once, Hagrid might be right. Perhaps all you needed was a little confidence and a lot of respect; something the majority of the Slytherins couldn't manage, quite simply because they didn't respect Hagrid, although most of them had, by now, achieved a grudging acceptance of the loveable, friendly half-giant.

Bold uttered a sleepy roar, which sounded more like a hoarse quack, and snuggled further into his mother's stomach fur. Harry gazed at the little cub wistfully. Ah, well, he thought, one out of two isn't bad. Or more precisely, one and a half!

Hermione looked questioningly at Marie, who nodded, saying, "Aucune question!" They both grinned.

That night, after Quidditch practice, and dinner, all seven convened in the Shrieking Shack, along with Professors Dumbledore, Figg, Black, and McGonagall, and Remus Lupin, who, after delivering a report, had decided to stay to see how they were coming along (not to mention the fact that this would be the first time, in over fourteen years, he had seen the four Potters together). Accompanying them were Fawkes, Tsevi, and the whole menagerie. The only one absent was Grace.

Marie, Evan, and Natalia looked around in unashamed awe. They had visited the Shrieking Shack on Saturday, along with all the other Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students, and they had been told that it was the most severely haunted building in Britain. Of course Harry hadn't told them, he wanted to see their surprise, and Evan, was unsure if the two were the same, somehow not being able to reconcile the one with the other, having only experience the place from Harry's perspective, whilst not his own.

Harry looked calmly around, taking in the still-dusty floors, and the broken furniture dating back from when Professor Lupin used to use the hut for his transformations, in his youth.

Letting his eyes rest on Tsevi, he let his head fall slightly as a gentle wave of sorrow coursed through him as he thought of his father, unable to see his son follow on in his own hoof-prints. He shook himself free of the thought, and walked over to the magnificent white stag.

'Good evening, Harry. Your number is larger than usual.'

'Hi, Tsevi. Yes, from now onwards, we are seven.'

'But these new humans have your face?'

'I found out last week that I was not the only cub in my litter. I have one brother and two sisters.'

'They are very handsome.' Harry blushed crimson.

'Thank you. Would you like me to introduce them?'

'That would be most welcomed.'

Harry turned to get the others' attention.

'Evan? Marie? Natalia?' Three heads turned to face him. 'I'd like you to meet someone.' A few raised eyebrows and the odd cocked head asked the question. 'This is dad's grandson.'

'WHAT?' came three very confused responses.

'Tsevi, here, is the grandson of the stag that dad bonded with for his transformations!'

'Alors!' Marie said, looking very pleased, 'c'est un autre réunion familial!'

'And, of corse what better time would there be for a family reunion, than directly after another one?' Dumbledore laughed jovially. They all joined in for a moment before Natalia and Marie congregated around Fawkes.

'Evan, have you successfully held your form overnight?' McGonagall asked.

'Oh yeah. A buddy of mine and I have been learning since we were eleven. It was actually the first thing we looked up in the library. We'd finished it by the start of the Christmas Holidays in our second year.'

'Really Potter,' she said, turning to Harry in mock disgust, 'the company your father kept has completely corrupted his children!' There was a hearty laugh at this, shared by all of the humans in the room. 'And am I right in thinking that none of you have taken the form-fixing potion yet?' Three heads shook. 'Right then, if there is no further business, would you all transform please?' It was though a small explosion had gone off in the Shrieking Shack. The magical spark of so many people changing their forms simultaneously caused an enormous white flash, and there, where seven children stood previously, now stood a Lion, a Vixen, a Stag, an Ox, an Owl, and Two Phoenix. Professor McGonagall looked delighted. 'Excellent, everyone, excellent! Now if you will all turn back, we can begin administering the potion.' Another small explosion, and there were once again seven Gryffindors standing there, looking excited. 'Professor Dumbledore brewed this himself, last night,' she said, extracting seven small crystal vials, filled with a clear, colourless liquid. 'This potion will not only fix the form of your Animagus into your very being, but it will also open up your being to the other forms the state of Omnimagus requires.' Marie and Nathalia looked at each other, slightly alarmed. 'Don't worry!' she said, turning directly to them, sensing their worry. 'After taking this potion, the other transformations will be perfectly safe. Here you go, then!' she said, handing out the vials of potion. 'Enjoy!'

Harry looked around, saw the others tipping the potions down their throats and, slightly warily, did the same. The effect was unlike any potion he had ever tasted before. It felt to him like liquid Phoenix Song.

As an inexplicable aura of happiness threatened to overwhelm him, he felt a flying, galloping roar fill him from within, and, he felt himself growing. He felt himself growing from within, and from without. Feeling, all at one, lazy, and joyous, he let himself fall forwards onto his forearms, and rested his head on them. However, the roar of joy he felt, this time did overcome him, and he threw back his head, and let out an Earth-Shattering cry of bliss. Except it wasn't a cry which escaped his lips. It sounded as though the very earth itself was expressing its joy through him, and what erupted from him was a healthy, happy, victorious roar.

He looked ahead of him and found himself staring at the rafters above the old fireplace. He looked down, and saw the others looking up at him with looks ranging from joy and amusement, to awe and deep, unabated pride.

Looking down at his giant paws, he started, smiled broadly, and let himself fall once again into his human form, a slight smirk playing across his mouth.

'Sorry about that!' he said, laughing. 'Got a little carried away.' They looked at him, completely unabashed. Marie and Natalia had their jaws dropped to their fullest extents, and Evan simply threw himself at Harry grinning from ear to ear.

'DAMN!' was all he could say. 'DAMN! That was AMAZING!'

'It is rather good, isn't it!' Harry replied lazily, brushing a lock of hair out of his eyes.

'T'es merveilleux, 'Arry!' Marie exclaimed, grinning, having recovered herself, also embracing him warmly.

'Well!' said Professor McGonagall, weakly. 'I think that should hold now, Potter. I mean Harry! I mean... Oh, dear!' She had briefly glanced at Evan, remembering how Harry used to look, envisioning how Harry must have looked without his scar, and was suddenly overcome. She patted at a tear, and recomposed herself. 'Right then, you should all be ready for the Omnimagical Transformations. Now then, Evan, Marie, Natalia, you will find these a little more difficult because you have not, as yet, studied them. However, once you have performed one, the others will soon follow. Just try to relax and enjoy it, alright?'

There came a chorus of 'Yes Professor' before they continued with their transformations for half an hour. They were then asked to turn themselves into pillows. Harry smiled. He had already tried this, and had made some progress. He was still a little hairy, but there was still a marked improvement. His main trouble was the fact that the feathers were on the inside, not on the outside, which confused the matters a lot (especially when you were (relatively) used to sprouting feathers externally).

An hour later, they had moved on to mirrors, and an hour after that, Professor McGonagall asked Harry what creatures he could do so far.

'Well, of course there's the Phoenix, the Sphynx, the Stag, the Centaur,' Lupin gasped. He hadn't been at the Halloween ball, and so had no idea about Harry perfecting another Animagus transformation.

'Harry,' he interrupted. 'May I see it?'

'Certainly.' A moment later, Harry felt his lower spine stretch, and the familiar ache, where an extra hip and legs grew, the tail protruding from the rear hip, the coarse long hairs sprouting off the tail bone, the fine short hairs sprouting off the horse's body. Lupin simply gazed open mouthed.

'Now THERE'S something Prongs never got around to!' Everyone laughed heartily at this, and Harry transformed back.

'What else have you managed, Harry?' McGonagall asked again.

'Um, just one more, I'm afraid.' Harry grinned for a moment, and then, by all accounts vanished. No one could see him anywhere. Even Dumbledore was stumped. That is, until he heard a slight buzzing by his left ear. He chuckled.

'Harry, go and rest on Fawkes' perch, so everyone can see you!' Harry did so, and everyone gasped before bursting out into riotous laughter. Over the noise, Sirius said,

'I might have known!'

There, standing next to Fawkes on his perch, the size of a large walnut, with golden feathers, a tiny beak, and magnificent jewel-like eyes, was a beautiful, diminutive Snidget.

'You know what, Harry?' Ron said, trying to stifle a guffaw, and failing miserably. 'You could make Care Of Magical Creatures REALLY interesting!' Even McGonagall laughed at this.

'Right, then. I want you each to try and take the forms of someone else's Animagus. It can be your choice, but it will be on a first-come-first-served basis. Of course, Harry, Marie and Natalia will not take on each other's forms - not the Phoenix anyway! Otherwise, it is an open field. So go right ahead, now!'

Harry grinned. This is the moment he had been waiting for. There was something deep and intimate about his relationship with her. But now he would be able to increase his level of understanding, beyond gestures and mannerisms, to actual words.

He stopped, looked at her. He then looked at his own arms, and his mind broke open. And then he let out a yell of joy as he leapt.

Two snow-white wings flapped silently beside him, and he soared blissfully around the room, before landing down next to Hedwig, on her perch, and cocked his head questioningly, his own large eyes, two small black dots in a sea of amber, smiling at one of his oldest friends.

'Well Hedwig, old girl, what do you think?'

'Very handsome, Harry. Very handsome indeed. But then again, you have always been at home in the air. Your last Quidditch match was truly remarkable. I wonder if your ancestors weren't avian.'

'You... You've watched me play Quidditch?' Harry felt his heart soar. Why all of a sudden was it so important for him to have earned Hedwig's approval?

'I've never missed a match. I watch from the nearby trees. Your sense of space in the air has improved since the first time you picked up a broom, and now it is almost impeccable. Imagine what you could do without a broom!'

'Sadly, for Quidditch, brooms are a must! Although there have been several occasions when I have wished no more, than to have the means to peck Malfoy's eyes out!' Seeing Hedwig's questioning glance, Harry added, 'He is the Slytherin Seeker. The boy who keeps trying to grab my broom handle, and has never caught the Snitch.'

Recognising the boy in question, Hedwig said,

'I must say, I have had that unflinching desire once or twice myself.'

'Well, I'll tell you what. You come up to Gryffindor Tower tonight, and we can have a proper conversation.'

'I think I would like that, Harry.'

'Harry?' Harry looked around. Dumbledore was addressing him. He turned back, before looking at them all again. He was, by all accounts, the last to change. 'Right, then. I think we must finish here tonight. There is just one more thing left to do. I will now reinforce the spell, which Professor Figg performed on you four, so as to incorporate Marie, Natalia, and Evan.' He looked at the Professors, who turned away, closed their eyes, and cast brief deafening charms on themselves. 'Omnes Conspecti, Omnes Auditi, Amicum Suum Pensi Sapent.'

'What that means,' Hermione explained to Natalia, Evan, and Marie, 'is that we can ALL now communicate without speaking, rather than having to relay messages through one or the other.' They nodded their comprehension. 'However, we can close our minds off to anyone at any time, or direct messages specifically. In other words, you might want to say something to Ron, and not have me or Ginny, hear it, and so you could just simply mentally block us, and we would be none the wiser. Simple!'

'And it's a good idea to be able to do so, whilst also talking to others, so as to appear perfectly normal. The only problem there is none of us have yet found a way to do so whilst holding other silent conversations.' Ginny added, shrugging.

'Oh, Yes!' Dumbledore added, having tapped all the other teachers and Professor Lupin on the shoulder to let them know the spell was completed. 'I almost forgot.' He stepped over to Harry and Hermione and tapped them both twice on each shoulder. 'Hibux Furtivus!' They looked startled for a moment, and then, after the moment of inevitable realisation on her part, she beamed. 'I have just cast the hidden owl charm. Outside of Hogwarts, whilst they are in their transformed state, the only one's able to see Hermione and Harry will be those in this room, right now.'

'But, sir? Won't that mean that Hermione will have to register as something else?'

'An excellent point, Miss Weasely! Miss Granger, do you have any ideas or preferences?'

'Ideas, yes. Preferences? I haven't really decided yet? Did you say that you wanted us to wait until the end of the year to register?'

'That is correct.'

'In that case, I should definitely be decided by Christmas. I wish the spell was adaptable to other creatures, but I don't fancy the Phoenix Transformation,' six large emeralds stared at her in mock horror. 'And I haven't really thought about any other birds.' She gave a little chuckle. 'Maybe a Dragon, for Hagrid!' she added, grinning wickedly.

'He'd like that!'

'No, Hermione,' Harry said, suddenly bright again, 'I'll tell you what Hagrid would love! And you'd have more control this time...!'

'NO WAY!'

'YES WAY!'

'Harry, that's PERFECT!'

'It is, rather, isn't it!'

'Careful, Malfoy, or I'll have to slice open your arm again!'

Watching this brief exchange, the group of onlookers, looked, for the most part, completely bewildered, with just two exceptions; Professor Dumbledore, and Ron. Although Sirius and Remus might have had a slight inkling...

Seeing the looks on their faces, Dumbledore said,

'Would you care to field this one, Mister Weasley?'

'Wouldn't it be better if Hermione showed them?'

'No, Ron. Could you tell them, please? I'm nervous enough about doing it!'

'What for? Professor McGonagall will be here if, on the unfortunate and minuscule off-chance that something goes wrong.' Hermione grinned sheepishly at him, and nodded, indicating for him to tell anyway. 'Oh, all right then!' he groaned, smiling fondly at her. 'Hippogriff.'

'WHAT?' Marie and Natalia looked confused, whilst Evan looked, for want of a better word, searching. He could remember it from somewhere, but couldn't put anything behind it.

'It's okay, Tawny. Go right ahead!' said Harry, encouragement for her ears only. 'What's the worst that could happen? You end up in the Hospital Wing for a month, with feathers and a beak instead of fur and whiskers. You've been in this situation before, and this time you've got people with you who know exactly what they are doing. Go for it!'

'Would you do it with me please?'

'Certainly. Just remember, feet - hooves, hands - talons. Oh yeah, and don't forget to look impervious!'

'I think you mean imperious, Harry!'

'I know! I was just trying to relax you a bit.

'Thanks!' she breathed. 'On three?' Harry nodded. 'Okay, then. One...'

'Two...'

'Three!' The last of the count was uttered together, out loud, and there stood in the centre of the Shrieking Shack, were two of the weirdest creatures Marie and Natalia had ever seen. Two fierce looking giant eagles were gazing haughtily at them. However, they were only eagles from head, to wings, to front legs. The body and back legs were those of giant Horses, each a good thirty hands high. The one that had been Hermione was Chestnut Brown, and the one that had been Harry was Dappled Grey. Suddenly there came an ear-splitting screech from a nearby anti-room, and the door to the anti-room was being scratched incredibly violently.

'Uh, Sirius?' Ron asked, at Harry's request. 'Are Harry and Hermione okay like this?'

'Absolutely. Although Hippogriffs aren't that talkative, they still enjoy company. They are, after all, Herding Creatures. I think you've already guessed who's through there. I'll go and get him.'

A moment later, Harry, Ron, and Hermione found themselves facing another old friend. One whom they'd saved from the axe a year and a half ago and who was always welcomed. He seemed startled to see them.

'Do I know you two?'

'Yes. We rode on your back before you carried Sirius away from Hogwarts.' Hermione said, evenly.

'Harry Potter and Hermione Granger?' Two flashes indicated ascent. 'What sorcery is this?'

'It's not sorcery.' Harry said, placating. 'It is just a simple Animagus transformation.'

'You mean like Sirius and the Dog?' Another two flashes. 'Would you please revert back? Although the form is most becoming, I am not yet accustomed, so it is a little disquieting.'

They obliged. Breaking the ensuing silence, Harry said,

'Evan, Natalia, Marie, meet Buckbeak. It was Buckbeak that saved Sirius from the Dementors.'

'Well, you two helped a little!' Sirius said, stroking Buckbeak's beak fondly.

'And you can now talk with Buckbeak as well?' asked Ginny.

'Yep! We're becoming a right bunch of Doctor Doolittles aren't we!'

'Who?' Harry asked.

'Doctor Dolittle!' Hermione said, shocked. 'Come off it Harry, you were raised by Muggles!'

'I was raised by the Durselys!'

'OH! Sorry!' she said, blushing violently. Harry shook his head.

'It's okay. I know.' Then he added just for her. 'It's a bit lonely, isn't it?'

'I'm sorry.'

'No. Don't be. We tend to forget from time to time. You research so much, you put all your energy into knowing your environment, that we forget that you're Muggle Born. We admire you, Hermione. You know that?' Hermione's face grew, if possible, even redder.

"OY! When you've QUITE finished chatting up my girlfriend!"

'WHAT? REALLY? Since when?'

'Oh, well, not yet.' The tips of Ron's ears went, pink at this. 'But I'm getting round to it.'

'Well hurry it up, will you?'

'Sure!' said Ron, flashing a malicious grin. 'Just as soon as you've asked Cho out!'

'Fair enough.'

'Right then!' came McGonagall's sharp voice. 'It is getting rather late, and, as I remember, we were supposed to be doing another overnight performance. This was to be your first night spent in your Sphynx form, Harry. I assume you still want this to happen?'

'Yes, Professor.'

'Right then, well if we may all repair to your office, Headmaster?'

'Of course, Minerva. Lead on.'

There was a kind of electric silence amongst the party that wended its way out of the Shrieking Shack, through the passage under the Whomping Willow. They walked the grounds in total silence, not daring to breathe, lest they shatter the bubble of a dream in which they felt they must surely be found.

In Dumbledore's office, a nervous chatter broke out, which was relieved when they simultaneously decided to try the Hippogriff transformations. They turned back laughing heartily.

Dumbledore conjured some soft grass and perches for them to sleep on, and took their wands and stored them in a canister on his desk. He was just doing a little paperwork, when a thought appeared to occur to him. He turned to Harry.

'Could you fetch me that red book on the top shelf please, Harry?'

'Certainly, sir. Where's the ladder?'

'There isn't one, Harry.' Dumbledore said, smiling.

'Oh.' He reached for his wand.

'No, I don't think so, Harry!' he said, looking over the top of his half-moon spectacles. 'I think you can manage without, don't you?'

'OH!' Harry glanced at the book, concentrated with all of his mind on it, and said, 'ACCIO!' He watched, grinning broadly as the book soared in a smooth ark right into the palm of his outstretched hand. He read the title and chuckled. '"Naked Magic - Why The Need For A Wand, When You Have Got The Bond?" I take it that this is a little light reading for me, eh Professor?'

'You could say that Harry!' Dumbledore was also grinning broadly, now. 'Now Harry, I would like you to...'

There was an earth-shattering rumble as an urgent-sounding note rang from, what sounded like, an Alpine Horn. Then came a second, and a third.

'No!' Dumbledore said softly; eyes wide and, for the first time that Harry could remember, almost frightened. Then more forcefully, more resolutely, 'NO!' He looked at the assembled crowd. 'Quiet!' and then he turned his wand upon himself. 'Sonorus! Will all students in the Fourth Year and below, who are capable of producing a Corporeal Patronus, please report to the Astronomy Tower immediately! Will all students in the Fifth Year and above who are capable of producing a Corporeal Patronus please report to the Entrance Hall immediately! All other students will remain in their Common Rooms and/or dormitories. Failure to comply will be punished most severely. The School is under hostile approach from an army of Dementors. You are all safe as long as you remain within the bounds of your houses. Will all Professors capable of producing a Corporeal Patronus, please divide yourselves equally amongst the two locations, and will all other teachers split between houses and patrols. That is all.'

'Professor?' Harry just had a thought. 'Hagrid?'

'That was his alarm we all heard. He will be inside with Fang in about half a minute. Mr Filch is already at the door to let him and Fang in. Now, we must go down to the Entrance Hall immediately.'

It was a subdued, but determined crowd, which assembled in the entrance hall. Hagrid met with them at once. He looked incredibly pale, and he was still shaking violently, but he looked irresolute.

'How many are there, Rubeus?' Dumbledore asked calmly.

'I dunno, sir. They was about thirty to a row, an' I couldn' see the back o' them. Had to be nine hun'red easy, mebbe more.'

'Thank you. Now, go to the hospital wing, immediately. Poppy will give you some Chocolate. Then will you send a howler with Fawkes over to Englebert and Edwina Honeyduke, and tell them that we need every drop of chocolate they have immediately, please? Tell them to send it back with Fawkes and they will be reimbursed tomorrow morning.'

'Yes, sir.' He sped off noisily up the corridor.

'Now then,' Dumbledore turned to address the students and teachers congregated in front of him. 'You have all heard what Hagrid has said. There are several hundred Dementors out there. Probably more. I am afraid to say that I cannot afford to lose even one of your Patroni. However, if you do not feel comfortable being outside on the grounds facing the Dementors, please do not feel ashamed, for there is no reason to do so, and go up to the Astronomy Tower, and fight with the students up there. However, I need you all to make up your mind now.' Nobody moved. 'Very well. You are all welcome and very much appreciated. However, again, if anyone feels that they need to go up to the astronomy tower, please do so at any time, but quickly. Now then, the Dementors are about three minutes away. I want you all to file out of the doors now and spread yourselves in two staggered files, like a garden fence if you will, one student then a gap, then another student, but behind the gap is another student. Continue like that up until the first window on either side of the door. That should be enough. And stand about ten yards in front of the doors. Now then, let's go!'

He raised his hand to the doors, which burst open with a loud groan, and the students and teachers filed out.

Harry looked at his watch. It was half past ten. He should be in his Sphynx form by now, preparing to go to sleep. He looked around him. There at his left hand stood - staggered - Ron and Hermione. There at his right hand, stood - staggered - Evan and Natalia. He was here, fighting a battle with his family (Ginny was in the Astronomy Tower with a couple of her fourth year friends). There was no two ways about it. Inside the castle was Marie. She couldn't as yet produce a Patronus, but they would work on it. In the meanwhile, there was nothing that was going to make him let those Dementors get into the castle. A grim determination set itself upon Harry's features, and he noticed that it was there too in his siblings, Hermione, the Weasely Children (Fred and George were a few over, behind him), and everyone who was out there with them. He was NOT going to let anything happen to them!

Dumbledore had explained everything to them. He had gone up to the Astronomy Tower, where they would watch the grounds, and when the Dementors got to within one hundred yards of the Castle, they would fire the first Patroni. When these began to fade, the ground patrol would then cast their Patroni. With any luck, one round should be enough, if it were only a few hundred; however, there was no telling, because it was to dark to see more than that they were thirty to a row. As soon as their Patroni were cast, the House Elves would appear with Chocolate and Disappear to get more as required.

An eerie calm fell over the grounds. Harry felt an all-too familiar cold wave wash over him, like a torrent of ice. And then, the sounds he had come to both love and dread...

'No! Please! Not Harry!'

The Dementors were advancing. A sea of black hoods and black cloaks, in a forest of black. It was as though a giant Octopus had squirted its ink everywhere, obscuring the vision of all.

Did Dementors have feet? Harry wondered, idly. There was no noise of marching through the grounds, and Harry, whenever he had seen a true Dementor, remembered that they glided, like these did now...

Harry was thrown from his thoughts, violently, by a sudden wave of silver, stark against the pitch-black of the grounds.

A whole Cast of Patroni was streaking noiselessly towards the advancing army. Harry couldn't help but feel slightly amused when he thought he saw himself on a broomstick flying towards the Dementors, a look of deepest concentration on his face. He wondered if that wasn't Kat Ackerman. He noticed lots of different animals, a couple of other people, and a teddy bear. He couldn't help but smile slightly at that.

The Dementors had begun to retreat. They were backing away, maybe Harry wouldn't be required after all...

And then with a jolt of reality, and resignation, he saw the first band of Patroni begin to fade, as a second wave of Dementors advanced, and he realised that it would be his turn any second now.

A happy thought? Sitting at the breakfast table tomorrow morning, relaxing and pretending that this never happened!

The first large Silver Forms shot out from around him.

'Expecto Patronum!'

Nothing. Not even the tiniest wisp.

He needed a happier thought.

Flying! It had to be the greatest feeling in the world, flying. Your mind completely free of all stresses and strains. Only the gravity to worry about, and with a broomstick wedged firmly between your calves, you had no problems whatsoever!

'Expecto Patronum!'

A tiny wisp this time. This was not happening! The voices in his head were getting louder.

'Stand aside! Stand aside you silly, foolish girl! Give me the boy! Give me the boy! I have no quarrel with you!'

Had that been a new one? Harry wondered...

NO! He mustn't think about that! He needed a happy thought!

'If I get through this I'm going to ask Cho out after the Ravenclaw Match!' He thought to himself. It had been lovely dancing with her, hadn't it! A slight smile broke across his face.

The Halloween Ball! He remembered it well. He had danced with Fleur. He had danced with Cho! He had danced with Hermione...

And then another thought pushed its way into his head. Something which brought about a very large grin indeed.

Escorting Hermione back to their table. The hand at his shoulder.

'May I cut in?'

Soon, Harry thought. Very soon! This time, a smile filled his face, his heart, his very soul.

'EXPECTO PATRONUM!' he roared.

Harry felt as though his insides had been torn out of himself and thrown into casting the charm. The passion he felt was like no other he had ever known. From his chest, from his very heart, there tore a giant golden globe, which began to project around him, two-hundred-and-fifty feet in all directions, enveloping the students, the grounds, and the castle.

Around the students and teachers, appeared an army of silver stags (herd felt like too much of a diminution of the number), front, back and sides. Harry heard gasps from up in the Astronomy tower, which suggested that Harry's stags had also appeared up there, as well.

And in front of Harry, appeared something Harry had only previously dreamed about very vividly, in dreams stranger and more nervous than could possibly be for a student of his age. From Harry's chest, a giant golden Snake burst forth.

To say that it was big was an understatement. It could have reared up onto its tail and looked in on the hospital wing on the fourth floor.

Once again, an eerie silence had fallen on the castle grounds. Only this time, it had very little to do with the Dementors.

The snake edged forwards, tasting the air. Apparently tasting something, which required more urgency, the snake made a bee-line, straight for the Dementors. The odd thing, Harry noticed, was that as the snake glided forwards, the Golden Sphere increased in size, spreading outwards, rather than having to move with it. The Dementors had retreated now to Hagrid's hut, but the snake was moving forwards rapidly. Soon the Snake had curled around behind the Dementors. They were trapped inside the sphere.

There was an ear-splitting shriek, followed by a deathly silence, as Giant Golden Snake, and Dementors sized each other up.

Then, without warning, the Snake pounced at one. Taller than the others, and slightly broader in the shoulders. It had to be their leader.

It didn't have a prayer.

The head of the Snake went right through what must have been its chest. There were no noises, no hisses, and not even a groan. There was a huge explosion, and the Dementor vanished in a flash of black light, the only remains: a crumpled black cloth cloak.

Other Dementors seeing this, tried to escape. Caught in the golden sphere, they simply bounced off the wall.

The other students, heartened by this, recast their Patroni, and Harry saw wave after wave of Silver come before him. He saw himself a total of four times, once with Evan, which of course was Evan. All four of them, from Natalia, him riding the broom, and another one, him walking side by side with a giant silver Teddy Bear. Under this several pronged assault, the Dementors backed into the centre of the Sphere, but kept still a good two hundred yards away from Harry and the others.

Surrounded on all sides by the Patroni, the tail of the Snake enveloped the Dementors, whilst it kept an eye out for more.

When it could feel no more Dementors, it struck, so hard and fast, that you'd have sworn it didn't move.

Another huge explosion of black light, and all that remained were a pile of black cloak and hoods.

There was now an explosion of noise, as a cheer broke out amongst the students and teachers.

The Snake turned to Harry, shook its head and disappeared.

Ron, Hermione, Natalia, and Evan looked at Harry, open mouthed and just beamed.

Harry smiled back weakly, and then fell to the floor in a dead faint.

***

'So, to say "where was I?" they say "Let's get back to our sheep"?'

'Yep!'

'That's stupid! Why not just say, "anyway, where was I?" It's much simpler, isn't it?'

'True, but when people are being hypocrites, why do we say that it is the pot calling the kettle, or the cauldron, black? They are all simply phrases with meanings behind them.'

Harry's head felt very heavy, and he felt quite weak.

'Good morning!' he said, as brightly as possible. 'Have you just had Fleur?'

'Yeah. But it was the last lesson, and dinner won't be for another couple of hours, so we thought we'd come to see you.'

'Thanks.' Harry tried to sit up, but immediately crashed into his pillows again. He let out a low moan of frustration. His entire body felt like lead. 'Um... I don't suppose one of you could pass me my glasses, could you?'

'Here you go, Harry!' That was Evan's voice.

'Thanks.'

''Ow are you feeling, 'Arry?'

'Tired! And a bit stiff!' he said, groaning a little. 'So, anyone want to tell me what happened?'

'We were hoping you could tell us!' Ginny said, looking somewhat amused. 'It probably looked weird down on the ground, but up on top of the Astronomy Tower, it was really scary! Firstly everywhere goes gold, then hundreds of Stags appear all over the place, and then a dirty great snake springs out of you and... Kills? I don't know, he does SOMETHING to make all the Dementors disappear!'

'How many were there?'

'Well,' Hermione said, thoughtfully. 'There were about 5 teachers, who went out into the grounds to count and collect the Dementors' robes, after you collapsed. They put them in piles of a hundred. It took them two hours to collect them all and put them into piles.'

'Two hours! How many piles were there?'

'I counted eighty.'

'We managed to take out EIGHT THOUSAND Dementors?'

'Haffen't you been listening Harry?' said Natalia. 'VE didn't take out the eight tousand Dementors. YOU did!'

Harry's jaw dropped.

'But... but... I... how...'

At that moment, something he caught out of the corner of his eye chanced to completely distract his attention. Something shiny, white, and bendy floated through the door of the infirmary, and a moment later Madame Pomfrey could be heard screaming and belting out of her office at full tilt.

'FRED AND GEORGE WEASELY, YOU GET THAT THING OUT OF HERE AT ONCE!'

'But we brought it for Harry. We just wanted to come and see if he was awake yet.'

'Boys, I appreciate you are concerned about your captain, but this is a HOSPITAL WING! This is no place for toilet humour!'

Whilst Madame Pomfrey had been raving at the twins, the item they had brought with them had floated, cheekily, a little closer, and Harry, now seeing what it was, could help himself. He burst out laughing. The twins had brought him...

A lavatory seat!

'Ah, you're up Mister Potter, excellent, now...'

'Madame, Pomfrey, can they stay, please? They only came to cheer me up and I am feeling much better now, honest!'

'Very well!' she sighed. 'But you will leave the lavatory seat outside, and return it when you leave!'

'Yes Madame Pomfrey.' Fred and George chorused.

Madame Pomfrey went into her office and came back a moment later with an enormous piece of Chocolate, about the size of Harry's own head.

'Eat that, immediately, Potter.' she said, suddenly looking exceedingly white. 'And If I see you in here again this year, I shall be charging you Room and Board!' She smiled kindly at him, although she still looked extremely concerned.

'Who should I make the cheque payable to?'

'Oh, I think you should make it out to Poppy!' came a voice from the door. Everyone turned to see Dumbledore standing there, smiling at them all, but looking a little harassed. 'The number of times she has had to deal with you alone, Harry, I think I must owe her a pay-rise by now!'

'Sir,' Harry said, just having a thought. 'How is Hagrid?'

'Oh, he is fine. He had a large bit of chocolate - three stones, I believe - and he was right as rain. It just brought back a few unwelcome memories, as I am sure you can appreciate.'

'Yes, sir.' Harry said quietly. He knew very well that that meant He's fine, but leave him alone.

'Are YOU okay, Harry?'

'Yes sir. Just a little tired, and stiff.'

'A LITTLE?'

'Okay, a lot.' Harry smiled.

'I am afraid, Harry, that before anything else is said, I must ask you if you feel anything in your scar?' Harry thought for a moment. He was aching all over, and his head felt really heavy, but apart from that...?

'No, sir, nothing.'

'Very well. Okay then, Harry, Monday night's session will now be held a week Monday night.' Monday night's session?

'Sir, what day is it?'

'Friday, Harry.'

'WHAT? Friday? How long have...'

'About a half of a week, Harry. Nothing too much, especially for what you accomplished out there on Monday night! As I said, it's now Friday.'

'Was anyone hurt?'

'You mean, apart from yourself?' he said severely, admonishing Harry for overlooking his own condition.

'Uh, yes sir.' Harry replied, a little sheepishly.

'Just one other, but I am sure your comrades, here, will be more than willing to fill you in on this one!' Eyes twinkling once again. This, Harry thought, should be really interesting. 'Well then, I shall leave you to your party. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.'

'Harry?' said George, after Dumbledore had left. 'What's a Cheque?'

'Oh, nothing much. It's a bit of paper that Muggles use to stop them having to carry lots of coins around with them all the time. Do you remember the paper money your dad had at the World cup, last year?' A round of nods. 'Well, it's a bit like that, except the amount is unspecified. You can make it out for any amount you like, provided you have enough in your bank account. All you need on it is the date, the amount in numbers and words, the name of the recipient, your name and signature, and your account number. In theory you could write a cheque on anything. Even a sheep!'

'REALLY!'

'Oh, yes.' Hermione put in. 'Although many banks would refuse, it is perfectly legal.'

'And what would it say? I promise to pay the be-e-e-e-rer Sixteen Sickles!' They all groaned at this. Ginny hit her brother lightly, around the back of the head.

'So, come on then,' Harry said, grinning slightly, 'who got injured?'

'Oh, you're going to LOVE this one, Harry!' Ron said with relish.

'Why? Who is... MALFOY?'

'OH yes!'

'You're KIDDING! What happened?'

'Well,' began Fred. 'Do you remember what Dumbledore said about those not being able to produce a Patronus having to stay inside?' Harry nodded. 'And you know how highly Malfoy rates Dumbledore?' Another nod. 'Well, it appeared that Malfoy decided to go walkabout. He came out to watch, the smarmy git! He was probably hoping that one of us would mess up. Anyway, he opened the door, just as we were casting ours.'

'You're joking!'

'And then of course he's surrounded on all sides by those stags of yours, and he's practically wetting himself.'

'He DID wet himself!' George corrected.

'And then when that Snake of yours came out, he was in hysterics! He goes and takes one look at it, gets to gibbering, and then promptly faints dead away. Cracked his head open on the steps of the hall. Gave himself a concussion!'

'Yeah, but so did I!'

'Harry!' Ginny chided. 'Malfoy hadn't just, single-handedly taken out eight thousand Dementors had he?'

'And,' Hermione added, 'You did wait until everything vanished before you collapsed. Madam Pomfrey said that you had almost completely drained yourself, physically as well as magically! You've been on all sorts of restorative potions and the like since you came in on Monday night.'

'Comforting!'

'Harry, everyone thinks you're a hero!'

'That's all I need!'

'That's our Captain!' George sang. 'If everyone isn't two hundred and eighty percent miserable or angry with him, he thinks he's no good!'

'Harry,' Fred added. 'I think you've been hanging round the Durselys too long!'

'I know what you're trying to say, but well, sometimes, I know this sounds stupid, but sometimes I feel like Lockhart!'

Four Weaselys and a Granger looked at each other for a moment and burst into riotous laughter.

'WHAT?'

'YOU?'

'Harry, that's a good one!'

'You and Lockhart? That's like saying Dumbledore's like You-Know-Who!'

'Harry, WHAT has Lockhart got going for him?' Hermione asked, logically.

'Well, he's... He's...' What DID Lockhart have going for him? He'd lost his memory at his own hands three years ago, he was a fraud and a coward. The only real thing that he had going for him was, 'He's good looking.' Harry finished pathetically.

There was a fresh wave of laughter, which Marie, Evan, and Natalia joined in. By the looks on their faces over the last couple of minutes, Evan had been filling them in on his year with Lockhart.

'Harry!' Hermione said, struggling to regain control of her mirthful quaking. 'Don't! Please, just don't! Or at least if you do, could you do it with your wand!'

The others renewed their laughing, and Harry felt rather put out.

'What was that?'

'Well, we know you can do magic wandlessly, but they don't!' Ron said, covertly pointing to Fred and George. 'You shouldn't have done that tickling charm.'

'I didn't!'

'You were SERIOUS?' Ginny said, looking genuinely bewildered. Fred saved them.

'Harry! Even though you are an ugly bugger,' he nudged Harry in the ribs, 'you have at least done all the things you are renowned for, even though you don't ask to be!'

'That's the point. I don't ask to be!'

'Yeah! SO?' George added. 'I've got a twin, even though I didn't ask for one!' Fred hit him lightly, George hit him back, and they had a brief scuffle on the floor, helping each other up and embracing afterwards. 'And look where it's got ME!'

'If the Human Torches will forgive me;' Evan said, diplomatically, glancing at the twins, 'what I think they are trying to say is so what if everyone thinks you're amazing. Just be happy with who you are and what you do, and stuff what everyone else thinks!'

'Just tell me how bad it is, so I can get over it quickly enough and get on with my studies!'

'Well, apart from the fact that Dumbledore is furious, not at you, you understand, but at Voldemort,' Hermione said, ignoring a couple of identical flinches. 'The whole school was a little jumpy at first, but now they are all really pleased. It's become like a great adventure. And of course, you were the Hero of the Night. Don't look at me like that, Harry, its true! But anyway, even some of the Slytherins have been impressed and there is a little less animosity from Slytherin than usual. The other houses are taking it cautiously though. It's all a little new. There are just enough nasty buggers around to make it believable, but there are still too many being friendlier, to avoid suspicion. We will just see how it develops.'

'Oh.' It didn't really mean much to him. All he wanted to do now was to be able to think about things. What in the hell happened out there on Monday night? How did he kill those Dementors, if he did at all? And why was the golden figure a Snake? An army of stags he could understand easily. But a Snake? He had to talk to Dumbledore. 'Has Pomfrey been arguing about how long she wants to keep me in here for?'

'Vell,' Natalia said. 'Dumbledore says that you should really get back to the lessons. That you need to get your strength back by doing things rather than resting on your backside and haffing ewerything spoon-fed to you!' Harry chuckled at this. 'So Madame Pomfrey says that you must stay in bed at least thurty-six hours after you haff voken up, before you leaff. Nobody vos expecting you to be avake before Tuesday.'

'That's me,' said Harry bitterly. 'The medical miracle. I should be dead, how many times, now?'

'Far too many for any of our liking.' Hermione said soothingly.

'So, Hermione, what have you found out, so far?'

'Nothing! It's really frustrating! There's not even anything in the restricted section! I asked Arabella to give me a Free-Reign Pass, so I could look through all the books that look as if they could be relevant, and nothing.' She looked highly affronted.

'Well, if it's not in the books that look as if they could be relevant, first try in the books that look as if they couldn't be! For example, why would you look up a Patronus in a book on Herbs and Fungi? Also, try books that ARE and AREN'T relevant. There is a big difference between looking and being, yes?' Ron was looking at Harry flabbergasted. Hermione, on the other hand, looked really pleased.

'Have you been looking in the library?' Hermione opened her mouth to answer, but Harry was quicker.

'Of COURSE Hermione was looking in the library! How long have you known her for? Hermione can't ask her parents about the Wizarding World, so she asks other Wizards. And, for Hermione, apart from the Wizards around her, who have done whatever it is she is looking for, she would ask a book, written by a Wizard who has done it, yes? Of course we'd prefer to see Hermione doing something WE consider relaxing, rather than stressful, but maybe for Hermione reading IS relaxing! In small amounts, I'm liable to agree with her, especially in front of the fire, in the Winter, although too much really can give me a headache! And, for Hermione, failure to find something within an hour of looking isn't a disappointment, it's a challenge, and one she relishes! Is that a fair comment?' he finished, looking directly at her. Hermione was looking rather flustered.

'Harry, a word of advice about women. A little sensitivity and understanding is VERY much appreciated. Reading her very soul word for word is a little scary!' Three heads bobbed up and down violently in accord. It was Harry's turn to blush.

'Sorry.' He mumbled. Four fists touched his arms lightly, and he smiled.

***

'Sherbet Dabs!'

The Gargoyle shifted and rose, the stairway raising from behind, spiralling upwards into the unseen heights towards Dumbledore's office, and Harry, having been dismissed the Hospital wing, had gone straight to Gryffindor Tower to collect everyone before going to see the Headmaster.

'Come in! Ah! I thought I'd be seeing you today, Harry. And of course The Order.' As if on cue, Fawkes flew down and perched on Harry's shoulder. 'What can I do for you?' As if he didn't know!

'Last Monday.'

'Ah, I presume you have a few questions about your Patronus.'

'Just a few, yes!' Harry said weakly.

'Like?' he prompted, a kindly smile on his face.

'How?'

'Ah! Now that is indeed an interesting one! The most valid, the most poignant, and yet, perhaps, the easiest to explain. I assume, Miss Granger, you have been looking for information in our vast library?' A nod. 'And you have had little success?'

'None!'

'And yet you still endeavour to find it?' Another nod. 'Well, I am afraid, Miss Granger, that this time, it is a lost cause. There ARE no books on the subject. All I can tell you is hearsay. What people, philosophers, thought might be behind them. I am guessing that, whilst waiting to cast, you felt a determined surge of a protective instinct? That no matter what happened, no-one would get hurt?' It was Harry's turn to nod. 'And that you were just as concerned for those inside and up in the Astronomy Tower, as for those on the front line?'

'Of course!' Harry said, almost indignant.

'Well then your question has almost answered itself. The only theory left untested is what you used for your happy thought? Or if my surmise is correct, whom?'

'To call them just a couple of friends would be a gross injustice.' Two faces went exceedingly red and several smiles rained on them.

'Ah! I thought as much! That was the final supposed prerequisite. When you love somebody so much that in times of trouble they are your first real thought and focal point, and when your happiest memory or perhaps one of your happiest memories is based around their happiness that is the key to unlock a Heart of Gold, which is what you must have to produce such a Patronus.'

'In other words, it's what we've been telling you all along, Harry. You just don't care enough about yourself, so you get yourself in all these traps, and still end up saving the world!' Harry hit Ron hard in the chest for that. Dumbledore chuckled.

'That may have been a slight exaggeration Mr Weasely, but you are not, in fact, far off the mark.'

'And the Snake?'

'Now, that is indeed curious. I honestly couldn't even attempt to tell explain that one.'

'But you have your own theories?' Hermione said, looking shrewdly at Dumbledore.

"Naturally, my dear, naturally! It could be a number of things. It could be a manifestation of something Harry despises, and there is nothing more satisfying to the monster within, than the two people you despise the most destroying each other. That doesn't make any sense, because, firstly I don't think that Harry despises the Dementors. Secondly I don't think he despises snakes. It is whom Voldemort he despises - if indeed he is capable of that emotion, which I very much doubt - and I think he would have manifested Voldemort himself, and thirdly, why then did the Snake not die too? It disappeared when the danger was past, like a regular Patronus. Alternatively, it could be something that Harry is subconsciously proud of having as a part of himself.' Harry frowned. 'Don't look like that, Harry. After all you have accomplished, you have a right to be proud once in a while. And being a Parselmouth is quite admirable. No, Harry, I am serious. Parseltongue being a mark of the darkest of Dark Wizard is merely a myth, which you yourself have disproved. The snake itself is, again, quite a noble creature, capable of many wondrous feats, and blessed with many special talents, many of which you will learn of soon, and some of which you will inherit. I have known a number of snakes myself. Although not capable of human speech, they, like Gryffins, fully understand. The snakes I have known have been most charming conversationalists. In these instances, Fawkes has acted as translator for me, and as you must surely know, I trust him beyond all others.'

'And the Dementors?'

'Now, that is a curious matter! And again I'm afraid I can only offer my theories. You see I don't believe what you know about Dementors to be entirely accurate. I in fact, believe them to be, quite literally and word-for-word, "Pure Concentrated Evil". You see, the reason you feel despair around them, is that they project an air of such malice that they cow joy and courage, and it requires a strong will to concentrate that joy and courage into something substantial enough to fight. What I believe you have done, Harry, and I do not know exactly how you have done it, is that you have destroyed their corporeal form. Now I believe it is true when they say that you cannot kill a Dementor. However, by destroying their bodies, you have effectively diluted them. Do you remember when Remus said that Muggles could feel Dementors too, as a prickling in the backs of their necks?' Harry nodded. 'I believe that it is our magic which makes us vulnerable to them in such concentrated forms, however now that you have dissipated them, that is all that these Dementors should be for we Wizards and Witches too.' Everyone turned to look at Harry, who had gone a rather interesting shade of white.

'I did that?'

'It would appear so!' said Dumbledore, smiling broadly.

'Damn, Harry!' Evan was grinning. 'Just... just... DAMN!'

'POUTAIN!' Marie agreed

'Scheesya!'

'I take it we're all somewhat impressed then!' Ginny said casually, smiling equally.

'You never cease to amaze us Harry!'

'Is there anything else I should know?'

'Not for the moment, Harry. Is there anything else you would like to know?'

'I... no, not for the moment.'

'Very good then. Well, whilst you are here, how you grace us with about a further demonstration of your new-found abilities?'

'What would you like me to do, sir?'

'A duel?'

'WHAT?'

'A duel. Class One debilitating and disarming charms, hexes, and curses only. And blocks and counters, of course!' he added, his eyes twinkling kindly.

'And you?'

'I will be presiding. You will be duelling with Miss Granger.' Hermione whirled around at this.

'Please sir, no! I am alright with the theory and the casting of spells when there is no pressure. The last time I was in a duel,'

'You and Miss Bullstrode had a minor physical altercation and wands were only employed for the briefest of seconds, if an old man's memory serves correctly.' Hermione blushed and nodded. 'I am well aware of that Miss Granger. However, I put this to you. If you cannot defend yourself against, and if you are unable to attack a beloved friend with certainty and care, how do you expect to defend against, or attack a deadly enemy? I am well aware of what Mister Potter is capable of with a wand. I am also aware of what he will be capable of without a wand. I want to make you all aware of this too, but most of all, I want to make Harry aware of this. Why then am I using you, Miss Granger? As you have said, your wand work when not under pressure is admirable. You are one of the most powerful Witches of your age this World has ever seen. You must, however, be accustomed to these powers, and know how to train them. The best way to train them is to hold supervised duels like this one. Now then, En Guarde...'

'Uh... sir?'

'Yes Harry?'

'What is the ready position for unarmed combat?'

'Almost identical to that for armed combat. The only difference is that instead of clasping your wand, your wand hand is open and flat, sideways.'

'Thank you, sir.'

'Now then... En Guarde...!'

'Euh, Monsieur le Professeur? When does 'Ermione win?'

'When Harry is unable to reply. That is to say, when he is unconscious or otherwise unable to cast a spell. Any more questions before we begin?' Seven heads shook gently. 'Right then, En Guarde!' Hermione and Harry took up their ready positions. Harry stood sideways-on to Hermione with his wand hand open, palm inwards, bent by his side at the elbow (his normal stance was slightly uncomfortable without a wand in his hand), and his other hand, once again, in the belt of his robes. Hermione stood face on to Harry, both arms raised in a rather unorthodox, and, it had to be said, rather intimidating stance, wand pointed straight at his heart. 'BEGIN!'

'URSA DORMIENS!' they both cried simultaneously. Both were too stunned at what the other had done to dodge in time. One thought lodged firmly in the back of Harry's mind. Get her wand before you fall asleep! There was no counter curse and brewing the potion would take too long. Even if there were some in the hospital wing it would take too long to summon.

Harry raised his hand and cried in quick succession; 'Nunca Vidis! Tarrantallegra! Expelliarmus! Accio Wand!'

Hermione didn't have a prayer. She had barely opened her mouth to begin crying "Protego!" when Harry had said "Wand!" Blinded, she stumbled out of the way of the Dancing Curse, but she stumbled right into the Disarming Curse and the Summoning Charm. She was knocked heavily off her feet and immediately collapsed from the debilitating effects of the first Curse, and then Harry, who had just caught the stray Wand, looked at it, then he looked vaguely in Hermione's direction, and said,

'Ah! I've won!' before he too collapsed onto the cold carpeted stone of the Headmaster's office floor.