In Darkness Secrets Lie

Chapter Three - Calm

There was a dining hall with lavish decorations all around; paintings, portraits, and suits of armor could be seen around the edges of the room and hovering overhead was an exquisite diamond chandelier. The table in the center of the hall was covered by a dark red silk cloth, which matched the cushions of the chairs and gave the entire space a somber, chilly feel. Ron shuddered as he crept in - no matter how much he disliked being in the room, he forced himself to stop by once or twice a day, because this was the only place in the entire castle where he could find food or drink.

As quickly as possible, he grabbed a plate laden with bread and vegetables and fled. At least he was eating healthily, even if he wasn't eating very much these days.

He'd lost count of how long he'd been imprisoned at World's End. By now, he'd given up hope of escaping the castle, because on one rare day when the mist outside had subsided, he'd looked out and seen a vast expanse of nothingness. Contrary to what he'd believed before, the castle wasn't floating in midair. In fact, it didn't seem like the castle was situated anywhere; when he had gazed out he hadn't seen any plains, hills, woods, lakes, or mountains - hell, he hadn't even seen the sky! Instead of mist, there had been a dull, grayish light all around.

It was beyond words for him to fully describe what he had seen, and he wasn't smart enough to try and figure out what it could have been, so he simply accepted the fact that this castle really was at the end of the world.

With that idea permeating his thoughts over the last few days (weeks?), Ron had sought out a way to keep himself entertained - stalking around the never-changing halls of the castle was interesting for only so long, after all. In his searches, he'd found a library on one floor, and, surprising even himself, it was now his favorite place at World's End.

He set his plate down at a table in the library and looked down at the books he'd left there the night before. In the pile was The Art of Transfiguration, by Arxes Arcania, Portkeys, by Pilaboro Porter, and 1001 Spells, Charms, and Hexes, by Filbert Drooblesbury. Ron frowned...there was one missing.

'Looking for something?'

The Speaker was back. He didn't bother to look around - he knew that if the Speaker wanted to be seen, he would have appeared directly in front of him.

"Where's my book?" he asked, trying to stay calm.

'Your book? Since when did you become proprietor of World's End, boy?'

"All right, then," he said, sighing. "Keep it. I don't really mind."

'No, no, if you want to read it, then I'll let you have it back.'

"But it's your book," Ron pointed out, beginning to smile.

Suddenly something struck the back of his head and he cried out. Without turning around, he knew that it was the book they'd been arguing about.

'Don't think for even a minute that you are beyond my control. You are in my castle, under my guard. You are my prisoner and I am your captor. Do not presume that you have any sort of power over me...I AM IN CONTROL!'

The Speaker's voice still echoing in his ears, a sudden whirlwind swept into the library, wrenching books off their shelves and tearing pages out of them. Ron ducked under the table to avoid being hit again and he watched in fear and awe as the library was summarily leveled before his eyes. Shelves toppled over and crashed into furniture and Ron desperately hoped that nothing would crush the table he was hiding under.

Then, just as quickly as it had began, the storm stopped.

He crawled out and surveyed the wreckage: thousands of books were lying everywhere amidst shreds and scraps of yellowed parchment. Tables and chairs were strewn about the room in jagged pieces. Ron noticed that some of the inhabitants of the portraits were now peeking over their frames; some were whispering to each other while some of the more evil ones were pointing and laughing.

He tried to replay the conversation in his head, trying to figure out just what had set off the Speaker to do such a thing. The rash tantrum had seemed so...childish. Who, exactly, was he dealing with?

"Hello?" he called out cautiously.

There was no reply.

~*~*~*~

It was quiet at the Burrow. News about Harry's arrival and state of health had darkened the atmosphere around the house considerably. What made matters even worse was that Ginny and Hermione had not been allowed to go see him, and it was only a small consolation that nobody else in the house had seen him either.

Since they'd only received word of Harry the night before, Hermione was still optimistic that they would be allowed to see him. "It'll only be a few days in hospital for him," she said, glancing over at Ginny.

"I hope so," she replied, kicking at a stray rock along the path.

"You really miss him, don't you?"

Ginny kicked at another rock and sighed. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't, Hermione. This...this whole mess is stressing me out."

"It'll all be okay," Hermione assured her, putting an arm around her shoulder.

"I hope you're right."

They continued on without saying anything for a few minutes. As they came nearer to the house, Ginny caught a glimpse of Gérard walking around the yard, tracing senseless lines in the air with his wand. Once they were within a few feet of the wizard, he blinked and focused on the two girls, as if noticing them for the first time.

"Mademoiselles," he said, inclining his head.

"Monsieur Gérard."

Hermione elbowed Ginny in the ribs and she sheepishly smiled and muttered, "Hello."

"What are you doing?" asked Hermione, appearing keenly interested in him.

He raised his eyebrows, slightly surprised at the question. "I'm fortifying ze concealment charms around ze Burrow." Gérard lifted his wand in the air and made some quick, precise motions with it. An instant later, an intricate pattern of fire and light shimmered into existence in front of the three of them. He pointed at a glowing, bold line that stretched and curved from each end of the image. "Zat is your main magical barrier. As you can see, it's very strong. Ze Death Eaters could be standing only meters off of ze property and blasting curses our way yet zey would not scratch us." With a rare smile, he turned to Ginny and said, "You can give my regards to your brother William for that."

Hermione squinted and leaned in closer to study the pattern. "Are all of these different lines the different protections on the house?"

"Oui. Each one is a different spell." He gestured with his finger and added, "Zer are so many protections, as you can see. Yet I noticed zat aside from a single Unplottable Charm, zer were no other concealing protections. What good are strong walls if ze Death Eaters know where you are? It is only a matter of time before zey crumble or someone infiltrates zem...."

"Oi, and just what do you think you're doing?" barked a familiar voice. They all looked over to see Moody stalking over from the house. He glared at the hovering defense pattern, and with a casual wave of his wand, it disappeared. Moody directed a scowl at Gérard and said, "Exposing our secrets now, are you?"

"I was merely telling Mademoiselle Granger about ze importance of proper concealment charms." He fixed a level stare at Moody, not flinching at all. "Perhaps I should tell you, as well? I don't believe you contributed to ze defense."

"Death Eaters couldn't come within ten miles without me knowing about it!"

"And yet, somehow, Harry Potter and Monsieur Weasley were taken away from right under your nose -"

"Excuse us," interrupted Ginny, smiling sweetly at the two men. "I think I heard mum calling."

Without delay, she grabbed Hermione by the arm and walked away, glad to be away from the two stuffy old men.

"I was interested in what Monsieur Gérard was saying!" she complained, giving her friend an irritable glance.

"Well I wasn't interested in watching those two old coots going at it like an old married couple. Come on, Hermione."

Hermione sighed, but allowed herself to be led back into the house. As they entered, they ran right into Remus.

"I was just going to come looking for you two," he said. "We're going to St. Mungo's!"

"To see Harry?" asked Ginny, feeling a surge of hope.

"Exactly." He nodded and led them to the fireplace, taking a pinch of Floo powder from the bowl on the mantle. "Your mother's already left, and I'm pretty sure that a few people will be there...."

"Let's go," she declared, and without a second's hesitation, she threw some powder into the fire and was gone.

~*~*~*~

When Remus had said that a few people would be at St. Mungo's to see Harry, Ginny hadn't anticipated the crowd of dozens of reporters, journalists, and well-wishers that would be there. As she stepped out of the hearth into the main Floo entrance lobby of the hospital, she was taken aback by the teeming mass of people milling about. There were young people, old people and families all camping out in the lobby, much to the dismay of the embattled orderlies who were futilely trying to get them to leave. Above all else, she was surprised by the hopeful, unified feeling in the air - while the atmosphere in the room was hardly electric or lively, it also wasn't unfriendly in the slightest.

Remus and Hermione suddenly appeared by her sides and they paused too, looking at the unexpected assembly.

"Wow," was all Ginny could say.

"Follow me," said Remus, pushing his way kindly but firmly past the crowd.

At last they reached open space and they could all breathe again. Standing in front of them by the elevator was Albus Dumbledore. Absent was his usual smile and cheerful demeanor. He greeted the three of them in a grave voice and then he glanced at Hermione, fixing her with an odd stare.

"Harry wanted to speak with you, Miss Granger."

"Me?" she wondered, her voice sounding a bit higher pitched than usual.

Dumbledore inclined his head and gestured to the elevator. "I'll take you up to see him -"

"What about us?" Ginny questioned.

Remus didn't say anything, but he looked expectantly at the headmaster, silently asking the same question as she.

He frowned and shook his head. "Harry is still feeling quite fragile right now and the Healers will only let him see one visitor."

"Oh, so one visitor means you and Hermione, then?" she shot back, beginning to scowl.

"Miss Weasley, I have not and will not be allowed to see Harry either. He requested Hermione specifically."

Everyone was now trying very hard not to stare at Hermione. In a tiny voice she said, "Let's go see Harry."

"Very well," replied Dumbledore. He spun on his heel and entered the elevator with Hermione.

A moment later, the doors slid shut and Remus and Ginny were left standing side by side, neither of them quite sure about what was going on. They wandered over to a snack area which had become an impromptu waiting area, occupied by everyone else who had shown up to visit Harry but had been turned away. Ginny separated herself from Remus and sat down next to Fred, George, and her mother.

"Where's Hermione?" one of the twins asked her.

"Seeing Harry," she supplied, unable to keep an edge of bitterness out of her words.

"Jealous, are we now?" ribbed George, trying to lighten her mood.

"Don't worry, dear, no one else is allowed to see him either," Mrs. Weasley interrupted, gesturing at the assorted Order members who were present. "The Healers were very adamant about letting anyone near him."

Ginny sighed and grumbled, "I know, but it's still...disappointing."

"Cheer up, Gin." Fred put an arm around her shoulder. "Maybe they'll let us send him a toilet seat."

~*~*~*~

When they reached the fourth floor, Hermione stepped out of the elevator. She turned around and gave Dumbledore a quizzical glance.

"I'm afraid I can go no further, Miss Granger. I believe you will find Mr. Potter with ease."

Before she could think of anything to say, the shiny silver doors had closed and she was left staring at her reflection. She carefully composed herself in front of the faux mirror, wondering what they would be talking about and wondering why he had taken so long to return....

3/23/07:

Score! Exactly 2142 words in this chapter, with the exception of this Author's Note.

I apologize for taking so long to get this published, and I suppose I should let the two people in the universe (one of them is me) who are reading this story that there will be another update soon. I don't imagine IDSL being too much longer and I think I'll be able to wrap everything up in under ten chapters. In with the outro and old with the old, right?

Fun fact: I originally wanted the Speaker to shout "THIS IS SPAAAAARTAAA!!!!!" when he encountered Ron, but I didn't think it would have fit the story properly.