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Path Diverged II | ||||||
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Category: Alternate Universe, Post-HBP Characters:Albus Dumbledore, Harry/Ginny, Hermione Granger, Nymphadora Tonks, Remus Lupin, Ron Weasley, Sirius Black Genres: Action/Adventure, Angst, Romance Warnings: Disturbing Imagery, Mental Abuse, Mild Language, Mild Sexual Situations Rating: PG-13 Reviews: 220 Summary: The Wizarding world finally knows that Lord Voldemort has returned, and the Second War has begun. As Harry prepares to enter his sixth year at Hogwarts, he is forced to deal with the trauma from his last encounter with Voldemort, the upcoming trial of Dolores Umbridge, Sirius's uncomfortable questions about his childhood, his budding relationship with Ginny Weasley, and the unknown shadow of what lies ahead as the "Chosen One" who must defeat Voldemort once and for all. This is an AU take of Half-Blood Prince following my previous story, Path Diverged. Hitcount: Story Total: 92604; Chapter Total: 2330 Awards: View Trophy Room Author's Notes: First trip to Hogsmeade time! I did use a bit of HBP chapter 12 "Silver and Opals" for this one, but it doesn't exactly go the way it did in the book. Plus, Ron and Hermione's first date!!! I know you've all been waiting for this to happen. Enjoy! |
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He must not have heard things right. Had he? “Wait,” said Harry, staring at his best friend. “You asked Hermione on a date to Hogsmeade on her birthday and you’re only just now telling me?” “I – sorry,” said Ron, blushing darkly as he grabbed his coat from his trunk. “I just…” There had been some uncertainty regarding whether or not visits to Hogsmeade would even be allowed this year, but the first date in mid-October had been approved. Harry was looking forward to getting out of the castle for a few hours with Ginny, but this new bit of news from Ron had completely blindsided him. He thought he could understand why Ron hadn’t said anything, though. This was something new for Ron, and Harry couldn’t help but think that Ron had half-expected to be turned down by Hermione when he’d asked her. “Well,” said Harry slowly, “I’d avoid Madam Puddifoot’s. Bit dodgy, that place.” Ron snorted before sobering again. “But what do I do, Harry?” he said. “I’ve never gone on a date before.” Harry shot Ron a look. “Padma doesn’t count,” he added quickly. “Seeing as how things with Cho were nothing short of a disaster,” said Harry, deciding to let that last comment pass, “I don’t know that I’m the best person to ask. Have you asked her if there’s a certain place she wants to visit?” Ron shook his head, looking paler and sicker with every passing moment. Harry wasn’t sure what to say that could help at this point. He viewed Hermione very much like a sister and didn’t fancy the idea of thinking about her involving herself romantically with his best friend, no matter that he’d noticed the tension between the two for so long now. “What’s this I’m hearing about a date for Ron?” It was Seamus. Harry thought everyone else in their dormitory had already headed down to the Great Hall for breakfast, but he’d clearly been mistaken. “Who’s the lucky bird?” Ron went red in the ears and mumbled something Harry couldn’t make out. Seamus shot him a quizzical look, but Harry shrugged, uncertain what to say. Frowning, Seamus grabbed his coat and left. “Thanks for not saying anything,” said Ron quietly as Seamus’s footsteps faded away. “Wasn’t sure I should,” Harry admitted. “Look, you’ve known Hermione for years now, right? And you’ve read that book that tells you how to charm girls, haven’t you?” “Actually doing it is something else entirely,” mumbled Ron, hands clenching around his jacket convulsively. Harry sighed. “I know you care about her, and I get the feeling she cares about you.” “You think so?” “Would she have said ‘yes’ if she didn’t?” returned Harry with raised eyebrows. “Good point,” said Ron, blushing again. “Maybe, I dunno, don’t think so much about the charming her part,” said Harry. “Just be open with her. She likes honesty.” “Yeah,” said Ron, “yeah, you’re right. I er… let’s go, then, shall we?” They left their dormitory and headed downstairs to the common room. Harry immediately spotted Ginny sitting with Hermione in two armchairs by the fire, and she looked up, shooting him a brilliant smile that never failed to make him feel a bit weak in the knees. Harry grinned back at her as she rose and threw her arms around his neck, kissing him firmly. “Morning,” she said when she pulled away. “Took you two long enough.” “My fault,” said Harry quickly. “I slept in on accident.” Ron shot Harry a grateful look. “Are we ready to go?” he asked. “I think so,” said Hermione, giving Ron a nervous, but pleased smile. Ginny stared at the two, then shot Harry a confused look. “Later,” he mouthed to her, taking her hand and heading for the portrait hole. Life had passed in a strange kind of haze since Sirius had insisted on Harry becoming Secret Keeper for the location of the Order of the Phoenix. Snape ignored Harry in their classes, and he hadn’t brought up the meetings of the Defense Association, either. Harry wasn’t quite sure what to make of the man anymore. Being around him was still a source of great discomfort for Harry, but the way Snape all but ignored him in class was almost relieving in a way. Harry had enough worries of his own to deal with, after all. Ginny was chatting away about a potions essay she was struggling with. “I don’t suppose the Prince’s book has anything to say about doxy eggs, does it?” she sighed as they entered the Great Hall. “Actually, it does,” said Harry, recalling the passage he had been looking at in his last lesson with Slughorn. “You’ve got to add a bit of fluxwings, a one to eight ratio, to counteract the acidity of the eggs.” Hermione, as per usual, went stiff at the mention of Harry’s potions book. “I don’t see why you keep using that book,” she sniffed angrily. “I know that spell you used on Ginny back at the first D.A. meeting came from that book, not from Sirius.” “He told me what it did, though,” said Harry. “And you heard McGonagall that night, she’d probably seen him and my dad use it before!” He tried not to think about Snape’s memory, knowing that must have been the same spell used that awful day. “You’re lucky Sirius recognized that spell,” replied Hermione tensely. “I know there’s other spells written in there, and I sincerely hope you don’t just go using them whenever you feel like it!” “Your point being?” asked Harry as they sat down at the Gryffindor table. “You don’t know what the others spells in there could do, and the fact that they’re handwritten… Harry, it could mean that they aren’t Ministry approved!” “I’m not about to just try them on others without testing them somewhere safe first,” said Harry, taken aback by Hermione’s ire. “What about that jinx you used on Filch three times last week?” said Hermione sharply. “You’re telling me you tested it out somewhere safe, first?” “A practice dummy in the Room of Requirement,” snapped Ginny, clearly annoyed with Hermione’s persistence about the book. “Same with the toenails hex he used on Goyle two weeks ago. The Prince came up with some clever spells, Hermione, and we’re trying what he wrote in safe conditions first.” “I wish you’d both stop talking about ‘the Prince’ as if it’s his title,” said Hermione waspishly right over what Ginny had said, “I bet it’s just a stupid nickname, and it doesn’t seem as though he was a very nice person to me!” “I don’t see where you get that from,” said Harry heatedly. “If he’d been a budding Death Eater he wouldn’t have been boasting about being ‘half-blood,’ would he?” “The Death Eaters can’t all be pure-blood, there aren’t enough pure-blood wizards left,” said Hermione stubbornly. “I expect most of them are half-bloods pretending to be pure. It’s only Muggle-borns they hate, they’d be quite happy to let you, Ron and Ginny join up!” “There is no way they’d let me or Ginny be Death Eaters!” said Ron indignantly, a bit of sausage flying off the fork he was now brandishing at Hermione and hitting Ernie Macmillan on the head. “Our whole family are blood traitors!” “That’s pretty much just as bad as being Muggle-born to Death Eaters,” agreed Ginny before reaching for her cup to take a sip of pumpkin juice. “And they’d love to have me,” said Harry sarcastically. “We’d be best pals if they didn’t keep trying to do me in!” Ginny sprayed pumpkin juice all over Colin Creevy as she burst out laughing, Ron joining in merrily a moment later. Even Hermione sighed around a grudging smile. “Sorry!” Ginny choked to Colin, handing him a spare napkin. “It’s fine,” sighed Colin as he wiped pumpkin juice off his camera. “I always knew Harry’s sarcasm was dangerous to be around.” Harry grinned sheepishly at Colin as Ron and Ginny started laughing again. “Hey, Harry!” It was Emily McGann. “I was asked to give you this,” she said, holding out a scroll of parchment with Harry’s name written upon it in familiar thin, slanted writing. “Thanks, Emily… It’s Dumbledore’s next lesson!” he told Ron, Hermione, and Ginny, pulling open the parchment and quickly reading its contents. “Monday evening!” “It’s about time,” said Ginny as Emily took pity on Colin and helped him clean up. “It’s been over a month since that first one.” After suffering through Filch’s latest round with the Secrecy Sensor (Ron got a couple extra jabs for being cheeky with the caretaker), they were able to make the trek to Hogsmeade, though it wasn’t particularly pleasant; the wind and sleet left any exposed skin feeling both raw and numb. Ginny stayed pressed close to Harry’s side, the pair of them drawing warmth from the other’s body. Ron and Hermione kept looking at each other in turn, each seeming as though they were wanting to do the same, but weren’t comfortable asking. When they reached the small village, it was to see the road filled with students bent double against the bitter wind. “Zonko’s is closed!” Ginny shouted over the wind. “Honeyduke’s isn’t!” called out Ron, pointing at the sweet shop. It was clearly crowded, but it was better than the wind and sleet, so they all staggered their way over and forced their way inside. “This is not how I pictured our first date,” Harry heard Ron said quietly to Hermione as they were all enveloped by warm, toffee-scented air. Ginny had clearly heard this, too, because she turned to Harry with a surprised expression on her face. “It’s all right,” said Hermione. “Can’t control the weather, after all.” “Harry, m’boy!” said a booming voice from behind the four of them. “And Miss Weasley!” “Oh no,” Harry moaned to Ginny. She winced at him before they turned to see Professor Slughorn, who was wearing and enormous furry hat and an overcoat with matching fur collar, clutching a large bag of crystalized pineapple, and occupying at least a quarter of the shop. “That’s three of my little suppers you two have missed now!” said Slughorn, eyeing Harry and Ginny in a rather genial way. “It won’t do, it simply will not do! I’m determined to have the pair of you. Miss Granger loves them, don’t you?” “Yes,” said Hermione helplessly, “they’re really –” “So why don’t you two come along?” demanded Slughorn. “Quidditch practice,” said Ginny promptly. “We’ve got our first match against Slytherin in three weeks, you know, and Harry’s a devoted captain.” “Well, I certainly expect you to win your first match after all this hard work!” said Slughorn. “But a little recreation never hurt anybody. Now, how about Monday night, you can’t possibly want to practice in this weather…” “I can’t, Professor,” said Harry quickly, “I’ve got – er – an appointment with Professor Dumbledore that evening.” “Unlucky again!” cried Slughorn dramatically. “But you’ll be there, Miss Weasley? I’ve invited Gwenog Jones, she’s quite interested to meet a fellow female Quidditch player, you see…” Harry didn’t have to look at Ginny’s face to know that Slughorn had her. Jones was pracitally her role model as far as Quidditch players were concerned. “Really?” she asked, unable to keep the excitement from her voice. “She – she wants to meet me?” “Indeed she does!” boomed Slughorn. “I was hoping she’d also offer Harry here some tips about playing professionally, but if you’re there, she’ll be plenty satisified, I’m certain!” Slughorn smiled at Harry. “I hope the meeting after next, yes? You can’t evade me forever, Harry!” “You have already evaded me three times, boy, but your luck won’t hold out forever…” Harry blinked away the flashback as Slughorn waddled out of the shop. Technically, you’ve evaded him four times now, he reminded himself. You’re still here. “It’s getting exhausting, covering for you like this, Harry,” sighed Hermione, catching his attention. “McLaggen and Zabini and are simply awful to put up with alone.” “Has Neville not been going?” asked Harry. Hermione shook her head. “Just that first one Ginny and I went to. After that, he didn’t make the cut,” she said. “The way he just judges people,” said Ron darkly. “It’s a bit disgusting, isn’t it?” “You know I don’t want anything to do with him, Ron,” sighed Harry. “I know,” said Ron stiffly. “Still doesn’t mean I like the way he treats anyone he thinks isn’t worth his time.” “I don’t like it, either,” said Hermione carefully, reaching out to take Ron’s hand. “I hope you know that.” Ron nodded stiffly, and Hermione directed him towards a display of Deluxe Sugar Quills. She didn’t get go of his hand, either. “Date?” Ginny breathed in Harry’s ear. “When did this happen?” “Hermione’s birthday, apparently,” Harry whispered back. “Before they came down for breakfast.” Ginny frowned, eyeing the two. “I never thought I’d live to see this,” she remarked quietly. “Did you?” “I thought Ron would crash his way into this sooner, honestly,” returned Harry. “Let’s leave them to it, yeah?” He met Ron’s eye and mouthed “see you later?” to him. Ron smiled a bit and nodded before turning back to listen to Hermione. Bundling up, Harry and Ginny headed back out into the cold, leaving the other two behind to have a bit of privacy. Ron stared at the Deluxe Sugar Quills as Hermione chatted idly about them, still holding his hand. He knew what she was doing. “It’s okay, you know,” he cut her off abruptly. “That Slughorn ignores me.” “It most certainly is not!” Hermione said sharply. She turned to face Ron with an earnest expression on her face, made more endearing by the persistant pink of her cheeks and nose from the bitter wind and sleet outside. “People say that Slughorn’s got an eye for people who will go far in life, but it’s obvious to me that he’s got a rather narrow definition of ‘far.’” Ron shrugged. “I’m not good at much of anything, though,” he said. “I’m barely scraping by in his class, let alone the others subjects I’m taking –” Hermione released Ron’s hand put her hand over his lips to stop him saying anything else. “Mrs. Weasley told me he didn’t think much of your father, but look at him! He’s got a steady job, he has a loving wife and kids, and he’s a part of the Order.” She lowered her hand from his mouth. “He takes a stand because it’s right, and I think that matters more in the long run than what a person scores on their O.W.L.s or N.E.W.T.s.” Ron blinked. “You don’t always act that way,” he pointed out. A moment later, he worried he’d gone too far. Hermione, however, sighed and turned away. “Do you remember what my mum said back during your visit in the summer?” Ron frowned, thinking back to that day. He mostly recalled Ginny telling him that Hermione had snogged Krum their fourth year, but he was pretty certain that wasn’t what Hermione was referring to if it involved her mother. Then he remembered. “She said she tried helping you fix up your hair so you wouldn’t be bullied at school,” he said. Hermione nodded. “I was bullied every single day,” she said quietly enough that Ron had to bend closer to hear her over the chattering students surrounding them. “I wasn’t pretty, I didn’t like a lot of the things other girls did, so I just… I focused on my studies, instead.” She looked around at Ron now, and he saw her eyes shining with unshed tears. “I couldn’t please other students, but I could please my teachers, and it had to be enough.” Ron had no idea what to say to this. For all that Hermione had fretted over Harry’s childhood, she’d never really spoken much about her own. It seemed Hermione didn’t need him to say anything, however, because she went on. “When Professor McGonagall gave me my letter and explained how I was a witch, I thought for sure Hogwarts would be different, that I would be around others who cared more about learning than looks. That I could just be… myself, and it would be all right.” Ron raised his eyebrows. “That’s not how you came off that first train ride,” he said. “Learnt all our set books off by heart, remember that?” Hermione huffed out a quiet laugh. “I was a bit… overager, I suppose,” she admitted to him. Ron laughed. “Intimidating, more like,” he told her. “Honestly, you reminded me a lot of Percy, and the way he turned out…” He trailed off as Hermione’s face shuttered. “You’re nothing like him!” he quickly reassured her. “Never could be, especially with me and Harry for friends. We bring out the best in you, admit it!” Hermione laughed, and it was genuine. Ron couldn’t help but be entranced by the way her eyes sparkled above her flushed cheeks. “I never would have broken rules before you two!” Hermione told him, still smiling. “The pair of you corrupted me.” “Nah,” said Ron, grinning back at her. “We just helped you realize it’s worth breaking rules to do the right thing.” Hermione chuckled at this and shook her head. “I am a happier person than I was before Hogwarts,” she said, “and I have you to thank for that.” She poked him in the chest as she said this. “Really?” Hermione nodded. “I spend a lot of time worrying about my studies,” she told him, “and a lot of time worrying about Harry. But when it’s just you…” She shrugged. “I feel a bit… calmer, I suppose.” “Bit hard to tell,” said Ron without thinking. Hermione only rolled her eyes. “You’re going to have to pay closer attention next time.” Ron swallowed. “I already am,” he said. Hermione sucked in a sharp breath, eyes wide and mouth slightly open in surprise. They stared at each other, and Ron started to feel so strongly that maybe he ought to – “Oi, don’t hog those Deluxe Sugar Quills, Ron!” Seamus cut in, practically elbowing Ron aside to get to the display of Deluxe Sugar Quills he and Hermione were still standing in front of. “Some of us have got money to spend, you know!” Clearing his throat uncomfortably, Ron shifted out of the way when Seamus’s eyes darted between him and Hermione. “Hang on,” he said, and Ron felt his face start to flush at once. “Hermione’s the girl you asked on a date?” Ron cleared his throat. “Yeah, she is,” he said. “And?” Seamus immediately backed off. “Nothing, just curious. Well er, enjoy your…” He smiled sheepishly and vanished into the crowd of students without another word. “You haven’t been bragging about going on a date with me in your dormitory, I take it?” said Hermione quietly, an unreadable expression on her face. Ron swallowed harder this time. “It’s not that I didn’t want to,” he tried to reassure her, “but I – Merlin’s beard, Hermione, I’ve never gone on a proper date before! I completely bungled things with Padma at the Yule Ball because I couldn’t stop staring at you, and I was so mixed up for a long time after that.” He felt his ears positively burning at this point. Hermione continued to gaze evenly at him. “I didn’t even expect that you’d say yes when I asked you to Hogsmeade because – well, I mean –” “I was wrong, before,” said Hermione abruptly. “Sorry?” “When I said you had the emotional range of a teaspoon.” Ron felt a grin on his face despite himself. “I told Harry our first night back I was pretty sure I’d managed to grow to at least a tablespoon’s worth.” Hermione’s face split into a smile so beautiful Ron forgot how to breathe for a few moments. “At least that much, yes,” she agreed. “And – I’m really happy you asked me to Hogsmeade, Ron.” Joy filled Ron so that he was fit to burst. “Fancy a butterbeer?” he asked. “I’m not particularly interested in anything here, today.” “All right,” said Hermione, and they bundled up to head over to the Three Broomsticks. As they stepped out into the frigid wind and sleet, Ron thought he caught a glimpse of Harry and Ginny heading back towards Hogwarts, but ignored their departure in favor of just being with Hermione the way he’d wanted to for far too long. It was pleasant inside the pub, and Ron quickly fetched two bottles of butterbeer from Madam Rosmerta. He couldn’t help but notice that her barman was shooting her dirty looks, and that her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes, but put it from his mind in favor of being where he wanted. “Here we go,” he said, handing Hermione her bottle and settling down next to her. “Thanks,” said Hermione quietly. They both drank from their bottles in silence for a few minutes. “Why didn’t you think I’d say yes?” ventured Hermione at length. Ron sucked in a breath, uncertain if he could answer this next difficult question in a way that made sense. “I just – I didn’t think you had ever really seen me like – like that,” he managed. “Ron,” said Hermione softly, and he looked up at her. The look on her face was incredibly tender. “I started to fancy you back in third year, but I thought you’d never seen me as more than your know-it-all friend.” “That’s why I was so upset at the Yule Ball,” said Ron quickly. “I realized I did see you differently, but I’d obviously lost my chance, especially compared to Krum.” “Krum was a perfect gentleman,” said Hermione. “And – well, I liked him, and I liked the way he made me feel like I was actually pretty for the first time in my life, but… I wouldn’t be here with you if this wasn’t where I’d wanted to be for the last three years.” “Really?” “Really,” said Hermione firmly. She reached out hesitantly and took his hand in hers again. They drank their butterbeers in comfortable silence, watching students pass by with scarves wrapped around their heads to protect them from the bitter wind outside. It was several minutes later when their peaceful silence was broken by the arrival of Tonks, who came bursting into the pub and looked around with an intent expression on her face, her hair its usual bubblegum pink. “Tonks!” called out Hermione. “Are you all right?” Tonks stalked over to her and Ron, still looking around in a suspicious way. “Has anything in here seemed strange or out of the ordinary?” she asked without warning. Ron blinked and looked over at Hermione, who looked as bewildered as he felt. “No,” he said. “Nothing unusual here.” “Why?” asked Hermione. “Has something happened?” Tonks nodded. “Received word from the school that a student was placed under the Imperius Curse here in this pub,” she told Ron and Hermione quietly. “What?” gasped Hermione. “Who was Imperiused?” asked Ron. “Girl named Katie Bell,” answered Tonks. Katie was one of Gryffindor’s Chasers. “Is she all right?” asked Ron. “Yes, but she had a package,” said Tonks. “Something dangerous, don’t know what just yet.” She stared around the pub again. “You’re sure nothing is out of the ordinary in here?” “Positive,” said Ron. “It’s been the same old pub, I swear.” Tonks nodded and headed for the bathrooms, still looking every inch an Auror on duty rather than the clumsy young woman Ron had come to know over the past year. Ron and Hermione sat at their table, waiting for Tonks to return in worried silence. “She was Imperiused when she went to the bathroom,” said Tonks when she returned a few minutes later. “I can’t find any signs of who it could’ve been, no traces left behind, and I can’t just demand everyone in here hands over their wand without good reason.” “Katie doesn’t know who it was?” asked Hermione. “Don’t think so, no,” said Tonks. “Fat lot of good we Aurors are, missing something huge like this.” She grimaced. “I’ll have to get Dawlish in here, the useless git.” She sighed. “Did either of you see Katie Bell when you came in here?” “No,” said Hermione quickly. “Whoever did it could be long gone by now, we’ve been in here at least fifteen minutes.” Tonks nodded. “Who figured out she’d been cursed?” asked Ron curiously. Tonks snorted unexpectedly. “Who else? Harry and Ginny.” She thanked them for their help and left the pub. “I saw them when we came this way,” said Hermione. “Do you think they were behind Katie and noticed something was wrong with her?” “Probably,” said Ron. “Harry’s been under the Imperius Curse more than either of us thanks to the fake Moody fourth year, so he’d probably know best what to look for.” They mutually decided to head back to the castle to see what had happened. Ron chanced a last quick look around the Three Broomsticks before they left, wondering if the person responsible was still there or not. Unfortunately, there was no way to know for sure. Stepping out into the wind, they passed Tonks with another two Aurors Ron didn’t know and headed back for the castle. “I hope Katie’s all right,” said Hermione before the wind became too fierce to hear her. Ron hoped so, too. Harry and Ginny, after standing outside Honeydukes for a moment, made their way to the Three Broomsticks, grateful to slip inside to warm pub and find a private corner to sit in. Harry fetched them both butterbeers from the bar tender, who seemed irritated that the barmaid, Madam Rosmerta, had been gone for a few minutes too long. Shrugging away the barman’s irritation, Hary returned to his table and handed Ginny her drink. “You realize,” said Ginny after a moment of drinking in silence, “that we’ve not had a proper date before?” Harry frowned, lowering his butterbeer. Now that he thought about it, Ginny was right. “Is that was this is, then?” he asked. “A proper date?” Ginny grinned. “I suppose so,” she said. “And probably a better one than your last, I’m sure.” Harry grimaced at the thought of Cho and Valentine’s Day. “I’d rather forget that entire day ever existed,” he admitted to Ginny, squeezing her free hand. “I wasted a whole minute wondering if I could even hold her hand at that stupid little tea shop.” “Madam Puddifoots?” grinned Ginny. “Dreadful place. Too many frills for my tastes.” Harry laughed. “I think it was the confetti in my tea that put me off it more than anything else,” he said. Ginny made a disgusted sound and took another sip of her butterbeer. “What did you mean when you said you thought Ron would’ve rushed into things sooner with Hermione?” she asked abruptly. “Oh,” said Harry. “Well, er, Bill gave him this book back in July – he’s been studying it since then.” “What’s it called?” Harry shrugged. “Don’t remember,” he lied quickly, uncertain that Ginny or Hermione by extension would be pleased with the book’s title. “I only saw him with it the one time. I think he mostly read it when everyone else was sleeping so he wouldn’t get teased or anything like that.” “I wouldn’t have teased him!” said Ginny indignantly. Harry raised his eyebrows. “Oh all right, maybe I would have a bit, but since I’ve been trying to prove to Hermione for months that he fancies her, the knowledge could’ve only pushed him to act sooner, wouldn’t it?” “Maybe,” Harry allowed, glancing around the pub and watching as Katie Bell emerged from the bathroom, carrying a package. She went to the table she was sharing with a friend and set the package down only long enough to pull on her things. It looked like she was arguing a bit with the other girl. Harry frowned. “Harry? What is it?” The friend was pulling on her own cloak and scarf, and was still arguing with Katie. “Something’s off,” he muttered to Ginny before draining the last bit of his drink. “C’mon.” He and Ginny quickly pulled their scarves and gloves back on and hurried out behind Katie and the friend as they trudged up the High Street, the two girls still arguing with one another. “That’s Leanne,” Ginny told Harry. “She and Katie never argue like this.” Harry nodded, unable to shake the feeling that something wasn’t quite right. He grabbed Ginny’s hand and moved closer. “Katie!” he called out. Katie turned to face him on the outskirts of the village, her expression vaguely confused and irritated. “Harry!” shouted Leanne, sounding relieved. “Katie keeps saying she’s got to take this package up the castle, but she’s refusing to tell me who she’s taking it to!” “It’s nothing to do with any of you!” snapped Katie angrily. “I’ve got to get this to the castle!” “Who gave it to you, Katie?” Harry asked her urgently. That feeling that something was off was growing stronger with every moment. “It doesn’t matter!” shouted Katie. “It’s nothing to do with you, Harry!” She turned to continue the trek back to the castle, and Leanne gazed helplessly at Harry and Ginny. “Then let’s help you get it where it needs to go,” said Ginny as she approached Katie. “It’s obviously very important, isn’t it?” Katie nodded, suddenly appearing relieved that someone understood. Shooting a worried look at Harry, Ginny started walking with Katie, trying to chat with her about Quidditch plays. Leanne hung back with Harry as they headed for the castle. “What if she’s got something Dark?” Leanne asked him in a worried voice that he could just hear over the howling wind. “It’s possible,” Harry said to her. “I’m worried she’s been Imperiused, she never acts like this.” Had Malfoy gotten to her, somehow? What did this have to do with his plan to assassinate Dumbledore? “So what do we do?” asked Leanne. “We get expert help,” said Harry firmly. “Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape… one of them has got to be up at the castle to sort this out.” They passed Hagrid on their way and Harry waved, but said nothing, continuing to follow Ginny and Katie as they approached the castle gates. Would they be able to manage this situation without someone getting hurt by whatever Katie was carrying? Thankfully, when they stepped into the Entrance Hall, Professor McGonagall was walking by. “Professor!” Harry called out at once as Filch spotted them and started to approach with his Secrecy Sensor, an awfully eager expression on his face. “I think Katie’s been Imperiused!” Katie reacted instantly, whirling to face Harry. “I haven’t!” she shouted. “I just need to get this package delivered, it’s important!” “Out of my way, Mr. Filch,” snapped McGonagall, quickly making her way over. Harry had never been more grateful to the professor than he was at that moment for taking him seriously. “Who are you delivering the package to, Miss Bell?” “It’s none of your concern,” Katie insisted, clutching the package to her chest. “Let me be, Professor, I know what I’m doing.” “If it’s as important as you say, then I need to know who the recipient is,” said McGonagall firmly. Katie’s eyes darted wildly around the hall at Harry, Ginny, Leanne, Filch, then back to McGonagall. “Katie,” Harry tried, keeping his voice as level as possible. “This isn’t like you. Whatever you’re carrying, whoever it’s meant for, this is not something that you do. I need to you think, Katie, remember your own voice, your own thoughts, not the thoughts in your head.” Katie looked at Harry for a long moment, and her dark eyes flickered. A moment later, she dropped the package and backed away, eyes wide and scared as she gasped for breath. “I don’t – I didn’t mean to – Harry, I don’t know who did it or why, but it’s meant for Dumbledore!” Filch was not to be held at bay a moment longer. He swung the Secrecy Sensor over the package, and it emitted a high-pitched squealing sound that had everyone clapping their hands over their ears. “Fetch Professor Snape at once, Mr. Filch,” demanded McGonagall, and Filch hurried off. “You four, remain here. Miss Bell, explain.” “I went to use the bathroom,” said Katie, chest heaving as though she had just run miles without a break. “At the Three Broomsticks. I remember opening the door, but then everything went hazy. I just knew I needed to give the headmaster the package and nothing was supposed to stop me.” She turned her anguished face to Harry. “You knew exactly what to say to get me out of it,” she said. “Thank you, Harry.” Having been under the Imperius Curse before, Harry had intimate knowledge of what Katie had been experiencing. “If you can question the voice that isn’t yours,” he said, “then you can get yourself to stop listening and break free.” He shook his head, then added, “I’m just glad it worked, Katie.” Professor Snape arrived shortly after, Filch following behind and wheezing as he tried to keep pace with the younger adult. They watched as Snape waved his wand at the package, causing the wrapping to come apart. Harry gaped as he saw what was inside. “It’s a cursed necklace,” he said immediately. “I saw that a few years ago in Borgin and Burke’s.” Snape raised his eyebrows. “Your unfortunate first trip through the Floo Network, Potter?” Harry nodded. He met Ginny’s eyes. Malfoy had been there that same day, had read the card just as Harry had done. “You say it was meant for the headmaster?” Snape questioned Katie. She nodded. “That’s the one thing I can remember,” she said in a quavering voice. “I don’t know who cursed me, Professor, but I remember it was important to make sure Professor Dumbledore received it.” Snape looked at Harry and Ginny. “I think Miss Bell and her friend could do with a visit to the hospital wing, Professor McGonagall,” he said at length. “Potter, Weasley, with me.” He waved his wand again, and the necklace rose into the air. “Careful not to touch,” he cautioned them as they followed him to his office, Ginny catching Harry’s hand in her own and holding it tightly. Once inside the office, Snape directed Ginny to a cabinet where a box just large enough to store the necklace in was sitting on a shelf. She placed it on his desk and Snape lowered the necklace into it before she placed the lid on top. “Sit,” Snape said, and Harry and Ginny both sat down before Snape’s desk. “Tell me what happened today.” Harry quickly launched into the tale, aided by Ginny, and described Katie’s strange behavior in the Three Broomsticks and the walk back to the castle. “Keeping her moving was a wise move,” said Snape almost grudgingly when they finished, “especially given the contents of the parcel she carried. Had she touched it at all, death could easily have been the instant consequence.” “Thank you, sir,” murmured Ginny. She glanced at Harry, an unasked question in her eyes, and he nodded to her, already knowing what she wanted to ask. “Sir, is it possible that Malfoy was behind this, especially given that the necklace was supposed to be delivered to Professor Dumbledore?” Snape seemed to consider this question for several moments before answering. “Mr. Malfoy was in detention with Professor McGonagall until approximately five minutes before you entered the castle with Miss Bell.” “There wouldn’t have been time to do anything, she stepped out of the bathroom with the package over twenty minutes ago,” said Harry quietly. “Could he be working with someone else, then? He doesn’t always have Crabbe or Goyle with him when he –” He broke off, not sure if he was actually willing to discuss the map in front of Snape. Snape eyed him and Ginny speculatively now. “Black asked you to track his movements, I believe?” Harry glanced at Ginny before nodding. “Just to watch – figure out what his plan is.” “Which – if this was his doing somehow, well…” Ginny bit her lip for a moment. “It’s not the most well-thought plan, is it?” Snape considered her for a moment. “No,” he finally answered, “that it is not.” “That could mean whatever he’s actually planning isn’t going so well,” suggested Harry. “Tell me, how exactly are you able to track Mr. Malfoy’s movements without his notice?” Harry hesitated and looked at Ginny again. She sent him a hopeless sort of look in return. Sighing, Harry pulled out the Marauder’s Map from his bag. Snape said nothing for several moments. “I take it this is more than just a parchment that insults the user, Mr. Potter?” Harry nodded, pulled out his wand, and touched it to the worn parchment. “I solemnly swear that I am up to no good,” he said quietly. The map quickly spread into existence over the parchment, and Harry waited for Snape’s reaction. “This is the source of your rule-breaking ways, Potter?” “Since third year,” answered Harry uncomfortably. “Fred and George nicked it from Filch’s office their first year and gave it to me because I couldn’t go to Hogsmeade. They… well, they claimed they didn’t need it, anymore.” Ginny snorted. “The twins definitely could’ve kept using it,” she said. “It’s too useful for them to just give it up like that. I think they liked you enough to want to cheer you up in the only way they knew how. If that isn’t a sign of respect from them, I don’t know what is.” “Indeed,” said Snape levelly. Harry grinned despite himself. “The thing is,” he told Snape, “Malfoy disappears off the map, and we can’t figure out if it’s because he’s managing to actually leave the castle, or if he’s found somewhere to work on his plan that the creaters of the map didn’t know about.” “The former is impossible,” said Snape easily. “Aurors spent the summer carefully combing the castle to uncover every possible passageway out of the school. I have no doubts they were as thorough as the… creators of your map, Mr. Potter.” “So the latter, then,” said Ginny as Harry shifted uncomfortably at the reminder that the map had been created by his father and his best friends. “The problem is having the map activated at the right time to see where he is when he disappears. If we could manage that, then we could try and figure out what the creators missed.” “They obviously missed the Chamber of Secrets,” said Harry, pointing to the girl’s toilets on the first floor where Moaning Myrtle’s dot was currently located. “We haven’t had time to try and figure out what else might have been missed.” “See to it that you make time,” said Snape firmly before dismissing them. “We’ve got to put more effort into figuring it out,” said Ginny quietly as they headed for the Gryffindor common room. Harry agreed quietly. “It would help if Dobby had anything to share yet.” “He said he wanted a solid three weeks to track him before reporting back to us,” Ginny reminded him. “It’s only been two weeks.” “Still, the Veritaserum Sirius has been making should be ready any day now,” said Harry. “Once Kreacher figures out the best time to dose Borgin, we could have all the answers we need.” “I hope so,” said Ginny softly. “If anyone else gets hurt by Malfoy before we figure things out, though… I don’t know that I could forgive myself.” “Me neither,” Harry agreed, and they continued away from Snape’s office in pensive silence. Harry could only hope that they would soon have the answers they needed. |
| Reviews 220 |
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