Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters and story affiliations mentioned in this fan fiction all belong to JK Rowling and legal associations. I own nothing of it nor am I profiting from it now or planning to in the future in any way. The only exception of profit is to my self for literary improvement.
Author to Reader Note: Thank you once again for your wonderful reviews. This chapter I'm not too worried about as it opens the story to the next phase reminding the readers of things mentioned before and lead to their solution.
If you have questions you just HAVE to ask or would like to give me a more in depth review (of which I encourage) you can send/e-mail them to itmonster@hotmail.com. It's the e-mail I use for my fan fictions, so it's cool.
Revised 4/21/03
Harry Potter and the Turmoil Within
Chapter 15
Bleeding Hearts
Ron raised his wand, surprising Harry having not seen him withdraw it.
Staring at Ron with a wide eyed gaze, her voice humored, Cho asked, "Let me guess… always keep your wand ready?"
"Stupefy," shouted Ron!
A small spark was all Ron's wand released.
Cho giggled loudly…
Ron looked back at Harry, concern evident along with the confusion as he lowered the wand and Harry reached for his own, noticing an alluring smell in the room over the bubbling potion in the cauldron
"Silly boys," said Cho, continuing to giggle and stir the cauldron, "I would have thought one of you would have been astute enough to notice the talismans here… just like the ones in Daken's class… the kind that prevent wand use?"
Harry left his wand in his robes closing his eyes, his body beginning to shake as Ron pocketed his.
"Fine, no magic," stated Ron simply, "We still out number you two to one."
"Are you sure about that," replied Cho, smiling, turning her wide eyed look and nodding to Harry.
Ron turned his head to see Harry shaking, eyes closed tight, breathing hard and rapid.
"This potion has special effects on boys when a girl wears it as a perfume… however on those like Harry's kind, it has much stronger results," continued Cho, "Maybe Rela might want to try some… hmm?"
"How do you know about," began Ron, anger evident?
"Ravenclaw girls talk Ron, just like any other… you've come up once or twice," answered Cho interrupting.
Ron walked quickly forward, his hands flexing to fists and back, straight towards Cho.
Cho gave off a cackling laugh and stepping quickly away from the cauldron to the other side of the room as Ron approached.
"Don't worry, you don't have to take it from me by force, "spoke Cho with her wide eyed look, still giggling, "I'm sure Rela would just love some of it."
"How about if I just toss all out," snapped Ron, viciously.
Cho just stood where she was smiling, glancing at Harry.
Ron was about to grab the boiling cauldron and tip its contents over on to the floor to ruin it when something hit his head. Looking down he saw a black shoe lying on the floor. Ron looked towards Hermione to see her moving her shackled arms around in a circle. She was trying to tell him something but didn't get it.
Cho laughed again and Ron felt him-self become angrier.
-That tramp's laugh is really starting to, - thought Ron with a few other negative things.
"Hermione really is the brains of your little group, isn't she?" giggly sneered Cho, "Otherwise after four years in potion classes you know that some potions have to be continually stirred while their hot until cooled down or… they have… explosive results."
Now Ron understood this was one of the potions that went unstable if not watched and some potions when they exploded could take out a whole room or building and even more. Considering that the cauldron was beginning to shake on the stand, this was definitely one of them but how powerful a blast he didn't know. So Ron grabbed the ladle and began stirring.
Cho smiled triumphantly while Ron was trapped stirring and Harry stood in place shaking more and more.
"You think I didn't expect you," sneered Cho, "I told you Ravenclaw girls talk too… and I found out from Rela how you wouldn't leave Harry's side easily… now that you're… busy… I can finish things with Harry."
Harry was still shaking; skin on fire again only deeper now, the pain in his jaw indescribable. That same scent in the room overwhelming his senses, now his lungs burned at the smell. His mind was blank of most thought but he could still hear things. The exchange between Ron and Cho had let him focus a little but not much.
"Harry!"
Harry heard his name yelled.
"Get one of the Professors!"
Harry heard Ron's shout.
Focusing his mind as best as possible; Harry turned around slowly back to the door.
"Oh… but he'll miss the show," whined Cho in a fake manor.
"What damn show," shouted Ron, still stirring, anger dripping from his words?
The fire under the cauldron flared out, burning more of the metal surface.
Cho smiled wickedly before answering, "I believe muggles call it Adult education… lunch is almost over… and like good Prefects, we can't pass up an opportunity to… educate… so Hermione is going to demonstrate… a little something for the boys in this class... a perfect use for a girl like her."
Hearing Hermione's name Harry found the ability to further focus his thoughts and turned back, facing Cho.
A low growl in his voice again, still shaking, Harry stuttered, "What… kind… of… demonstration?"
As if on cue, Cho slowly reached underneath her blouse making sure that he could see as she withdrew a vial of rusty brown liquid, gave it a quick look over and tossed it towards Hermione. The vial smashed on the stone floor between the feet of Cho's captive. There came a hissing sound as the contents turned to white smoke, floating up and around Hermione. Nothing seemed to happen as Hermione stood there looking at the floor.
"You missed," sneered Ron.
"Did I," asked Cho in return, her head titled, still smiling.
Harry watched Hermione waiting for something but his friend seemed to still be okay.
"I didn't say I was going to hurt her, "explained Cho, an edge of humor to her voice, "It's just a cleaning potion... you know… for getting dried potions off of jars or cleaning tools… Professor Snape has lots of it; we've all used it before."
"What the… hell kind… of joke… is this," growled Harry, his jaw hurting too much to talk normally.
Cho stared her wide eyes at Harry, a devilishly wicked grin in place, replying fiendishly, "It works as a liquid or as vapor… and you should see how it works on clothes... oh that's right… you will."
There was a sound of glass breaking, as Harry looked back to Hermione. Her watch fell, smashing on the stone, as the cloth band on her wrist disintegrated. The sole of her remaining shoe began to vanish away. Holes appeared in Hermione's school robes and skirt, widening with every second. The buttons of her blouse followed the pattern by falling off.
Terror filled in Hermione's eyes as she screamed silently.
"Unless Hermione's wearing metal knickers," chuckled Cho, "In a few minutes, she won't be wearing anything except her own skin."
Harry walked forward as best as he could, not sure what to would do but had to try something.
Cho moved instantly, standing between Harry and his destination. Her close proximity caused Harry's body to react even more. Harry placed his empty hand on his head, gripping his forehead, fighting the urging impulses. His nails dug into the scalp while his body went crazy. His jaw sharp with pain like knives puncturing through his gums while his skin and body so hot with fiery heat like being boiled. His mind would allow only one thought to focus on… to fulfill the hunger… to drink.
"Harry, don't fight it," came a comforting voice from Cho.
A hand touch lightly to his neck….
The light touch caused Harry's muscles to tense tightly and felt a small object in his other hand.
Another hand came to rest on his chest as Cho spoke again, "Let me fulfill your needs as an older girl can."
Harry could still feel the unknown object in hand but couldn't think on it as Cho's implying words cut through his crumbling resistance easily.
Harry opened his eyes and Cho could see the incredible green offset by a small amount of silver. Cho pressed herself against him, her sweet smelling breath filling his face. Cho's lips brush close to his own and her tongue touch the tip of his nose, flirting with him… inviting him.
"Kiss me," whispered Cho," Make me yours as you become mine… my champion… my prize."
Harry began to lean towards her, his body urging itself on.
"Be my trophy," finished Cho.
Harry felt his mind twist, closing his eyes as momentary memories flashed.
Green light…
A woman screaming…
The Dursleys' laughing…
The first time meeting Hagrid…
The Sorting Hat…
The Queen Chess piece…
Quirrel crumbling…
The petrified people…
The Basilisk…
Tom Riddle…
Wormtail…
Cedric…
The dragons…
The Lake…
The maze…
The trophy…
Green light…
The trophy…
Harry stopped shaking… the pain in his jaw diminishing rapidly… the boiling fire in his body… vanished… his mind focused completely… and opened his eyes.
All three could see… the green offset by silver… the quick streaks of red electricity flash across the veins of his eyes like bolts of lightening.
The room went ice cold…
All four talismans cracked and shattered…
The roaring fire vanished and the cauldron itself went cold, the potion no longer bubbling but thickening almost instantly into an oozing sludge.
In a swift motion Harry lowered the hand from his head and gripped Cho's throat, squeezing tightly, stopping her breath. Cho pulled back her hands wrapping them around Harry's arm, pulling at it as small gasps escaped.
In a voice Ron and Hermione had never heard, almost a complete hissing growl, the volume escalating, Harry said, "I am no one's prize… no one's trophy… you are nothing to me… I don't settle for that."
Harry looked past Cho to Hermione and finished with, "I want… greater."
Harry tightened his grip and with amazing strength lifted Cho a few inches from the floor. He smirked slightly and as if Cho weighed nothing, flung her to the side. Cho was powerless to do anything as she slammed into the stone wall with a hard thud, falling to the floor knocked out.
All of Harry's attention was now focused on Hermione…
He walked to her as she was trying to pull the, now ragged, robes closer around herself, barely succeeding. Standing only inches away, Harry could see, her clothes almost gone, a small strap looped over her shoulder. Much of her front and legs exposed. Harry raised his clasped hand to reach to her. As he opened his fingers there was a small object in his palm, pooled in dried blood. He stared, starting to recognize it.
Hermione looked at Harry as his eyes flashing while looking at his hand. The explanation for Ron's behavior came as she looked at Harry's mouth and saw the four fangs that loomed there. Only one creature she realized had fangs like that while in human form.
-Daken is a vampire, - she thought suddenly, - They infused Harry with vampire blood.-
Recognizing the badge, Harry realized why he had it and remembered what was going on. He looked to Hermione, seeing the many horrid emotions including fear in her eyes and found him-self struck hard by that somehow. He lowered the hand bearing the badge and with his other gripped the manacles that held her. A spark flashed, lighting his hand and Hermione's shackles broke off both from her hands and leg.
He slipped his wizard robes off.
"Engorgio "said Harry and the robes enlarged as he wrapped it around Hermione.
Harry backed up a few steps saying, "The office."
Hermione walked by Harry slowly. Ron stood stunned by the whole event. The door to the office shut as the entrance to the class burst open and people entered.
Daken, Snape, McGonagall, Pomfrey and Dumbledore had arrived, yet again too late.
"My class "shouted Snape!
"Office… Hermione," stated Harry his voice still the same.
McGonagall and Pomfrey rushed away, entering Snape's office, announcing them-selves.
"Made a mess of things again… eh Potter," said Daken chuckling.
Daken learned that was a very bad time to imply humor as Harry turned and without saying a word, a blast sounded, leaving Daken to slam hard in to the wall.
Harry walked towards him demanding, "What… did you… do to me?"
Disorientated and unable to answer, Daken sat on the floor, his eyes barely open.
"That's enough Potter," ordered Snape.
"Severus… NO," shouted Dumbledore!
"Petrificus Totalus, "shouted Snape ignoring the Headmaster!
It was done, the spell hit and Harry froze in place.
"Potter will not be any more trouble," said Snape sneering with a smirk turning to the Headmaster.
"Try again," said a voice that shouldn't be able to.
Snape turned back and all those present in the room watched as Harry began to move again, cracking sounds like breaking glass were heard from his joints moving, turning towards Snape. Harry's eyes flashing with more red streaks of lightning.
Ron felt the hair on his neck begin to begin to stand on end, which meant that only one thing would soon happen.
Snape pointed his wand but nothing happened, and Harry took a step forward…
Fortunately for Snape, there was a loud smacking sound and a body hit the floor… Harry's body… as Ron stood by him… having punched his friend, knocking him out cold.
"Thank you Ronald," spoke Dumbledore.
"Don't thank me until he wakes up," replied Ron stunned by his own actions.
Harry awoke to a place where everything was dark except for a bit of light from an unseen source. Harry felt the graveled path as moved beneath his feet in the numbing cold around him, trying to avoid the slimy stoned walls of maze. The putrid fog burned his lungs as it enshrouded a creature in the darkness that Harry had met before as it stared at him with its blood red eyes.
Been a while
"Damn," said Harry as he stood in the cold darkness.
Were you actually trying to avoid me?
"I gave it a go," snapped Harry.
Why?
The creature laughed as it asked.
"Bit obvious," snapped Harry again, "Why do you keep bringing me here?"
Its harsh laugh came again.
Quite the fool or else you would remember that I said that being here is something you do to yourself… I am already trapped… also by you… for now.
"Who are you," yelled Harry?
The creature said nothing but looked at Harry, examining him, thinking.
Harry decided he had taken enough and it was time to see this thing. Though the cold still numbed his body as always and seeing was near impossible, Harry walked towards the creature.
Unfortunately like always, the nightmare held a new element again.
A small object came into view, long and narrow, black as the night that engulfed the moonlight.
A wand pointed at him… just like Harry's… or possibly his very own.
Harry stopped and froze, awaiting a spell.
The answer is yes, this is the wand you seek… I have it, the key to this maze.
Remembering that this is a dream, Harry walked on.
Even here, magic will still deliver pain.
Spoke the creature as a wave of dark red light left the wand, knocking Harry to the ground.
Harry felt is whole body writhe in burning agony as his muscles tensed and contracted tight, scrunching him-self into a ball on the graveled ground.
Did that hurt? I did warn you… well… not really.
The pain surged through his body like being boiled alive. He could barely breathe but fought to hang on with whatever strength he had. If anything the pain stopped the cold and at least felt alive.
As the creature spoke again its voiced sounded strained maybe even pained.
I said before I don't want to fight you… rather join with you.
"Why," whispered Harry, his mouth sting as tried to speak?
I told you before...
With me all will be unleashed, your power and mine. I will help you to be free of all barriers and from you I get freedom.
I will guide you to gain all…
Every desire…
Whether it be of Earth… or otherwise?
Do you have any idea how much power there is waiting to be unleashed within our vessel?
More of the pain had passed and Harry found it possible to move as the creature continued as Harry began to sit up, its own voice easing from some strange strain.
Together we will make all even our enemies cower in loyalty or be obliterated in conquest.
Look at what would await you…
The was a bright red flash and as pain faded, the creature's voice eased more as well, Harry could see a pane of clear glass in front of him.
See what awaits our united power…
Images of Ron appeared writhed in flames. Harry saw scenes of the past appear of times when Ron aided Harry.
The time when Ron convinced Harry to play Quidditch… when surrendered himself to the Queen for entrance to the stone… when he appeared outside the window with a flying car… when he drank the potion to be a Slytherin… when he stood against that he feared the most… when he followed with a useless wand to face a monster… when he stood by Harry among the harsh rumors and accusations… when he was injured severely standing against the traitor of the Potter family… when he lay lifeless in the mer-people village… when even the first day of the term, Ron stood with him through everything always willing to help him.
That boy contains great power and he is as loyal to you as a dog. And like such a pathetic creature, he protects you with all his burning might and will die in such an endeavor for you.
The voice spoke its description of Ron's friendship as a sneered insult of him to Harry.
Even these two…
The glass showed a dance of images.
Water splashed around the scene of a figure moving in the dark shadowed corridors of Hogwarts at night. A boy with a need… a hunger… as his eyes glowed silver in the dark. Opening a vial of strange liquid, a yellow color like old butter, drinking its contents and choking like it was poison.
The water vanished and a whistling took its place like wild winds in a storm as a faded image of a blond girl came next. In the blurred image she was feeding a bird that appeared to be a hawk. She turned and on the blurred face was only one clear spot of two eyes the color of grayed white.
Even they have power to add that can be commanded…
And of course we cannot forget this one…
What came next struck Harry in a cored area of him-self he never knew as vines wrapped around the glass budding with flowers binding them to the glass. Hermione's image appeared… her eyes sadden… as she looked at someone behind her in a classroom. Scenes of the past played again as did with Ron. Moments when she smiled at him… moments when she warned him of dangers… moments when she encourage him not to believe the horrible things said of him… moments when she steered him from fighting… moments when she was there during his pain… moments when she awaited his recoveries.
Harry realized that Hermione really cared for him and he felt surprisingly delighted by thought.
I said before that with us together you can have… her… in many ways.
"What do you mean by that," snapped Harry as Hermione's image faded with the vines and flowers?
She isn't what I would choose but she has power as well that would be beneficial.
You are the one that desires her even though you don't realize it.
I just want her power.
The way the creature was talking was sparking something Harry had felt before, his anger. The numbing cold had begun to set in again but the sparking anger was warming him. Hearing it describe Ron as some dispensable thing and Hermione as something to be used. Harry found the strength suddenly to stand, feeling himself again.
Getting angry are we?
Fighting me is as useless as me fighting you.
Eventually you will join with me,
You're only getting angry because I just simply speak the truth and you may find that I could be the only one who is.
Harry turned, enough was enough for him.
It laughed, unthreatened.
Do yourself a favor, think what hunts human girls for their blood and then you'll know what was done to you… I really did enjoy it.
Harry felt his anger grow but the dark world began to fade.
I'll prove I'm the only one you can truly trust… since you'll awaken and find yourself alone.
"You're nothing," yelled Harry opening his eyes!
Looking around in blurred vision with not having his glasses on, Harry found himself setting up in a bed in the hospital wing. Unfortunately as the creature had said there was no one there. Harry was alone in the hospital wing.
Within a few moments, Harry felt the muscles in his back go sore and let him-self lay down. Letting consciousness make him aware, Harry discovered that his whole body ached badly. So he decided to just lay there… alone.
So he thought as the curtain moved from a bit of smoke that rose up next to it fading.
Elsewhere…
"Welcome," greeted Dumbledore, "Poppy, have you completed your investigations?"
"As best as I can," answered Madam Pomfrey.
Dumbledore sat at his desk as everyone had gathered into his office. Snape stood by the fireplace gazing at the flames. McGonagall sat near Dumbledore's desk her lips pursed tightly, holding her hands together. Daken sat on the window sill, a tall glass in hand filled with yellowish liquid.
"And what did you discover," continued Dumbledore?
"Of the girls, nothing much," replied Pomfrey, "Each has little in common… each from a different house… each different in age… I found none of the potion on two of them."
"They do have something in common, "answered Daken, "Andrea had to see you the day before… poor girl… having something like that start here for the first time ... just as Lavender and Cho were experiencing that day… quite personal I believe."
"Well I never," snapped Pomfrey, quite angrily, glaring at Daken, "How dare you privy yourself to the personal lives of students that entrust me with intimate information. The ministry…"
"Vampires are attracted to the smell of blood, Poppy," interrupted Dumbledore, giving a sharp look to Daken, "He can do little about knowing such things as it is basic instinct… no different an instinct as any of us needing to breathe."
"I do apologize, "spoke Daken, sincerely, "I am well aware of the need for certain things to be kept personally known."
Pomfrey said nothing but gave an accepting nod, still unsettle by Daken's knowledge of her patients.
"And what of Potter," spoke Snape, his voice sharp, changing the subject?
"Harry is in for a rough time," said Pomfrey, "The influence of the infusion effects has faded these past few days… he did have a serious fever, boiling hot almost yesterday but after everything these past few weeks, his body is exhausted… and now I know why."
Pomfrey pulled a vial from her apron, an eerie green glow emanated around it.
"What is it," asked McGonagall?
"Poison," stated Pomfrey.
Daken gave a chuckle.
"What is so funny about poisoning," snapped McGonagall, angrily.
Daken turned, looking to the professor and answered, "Because it answers why there are so many growing pumpkins in the unused greenhouse of the Herbiology class."
McGonagall stood up abruptly, her eyes beginning to glare, "I am tiring of your ridiculous involvements and associations with my students. I nearly lost one student to your dangerous nature and nearly lost another because of it. So help me if I have to."
Dumbledore interrupted with a soothing voice, "Please Minerva… Daken is right… it does explain things… the pumpkins is one thing among others... and Daken do show a little more tact in your responses if you please… the students may only be just that to you but for some of us… it is as if they are our own children."
Daken said nothing and McGonagall sat down.
"Yes Poppy this substance would and should be considered poison as the ministry would deem it only it was never meant as that nor does it have those effects," explained Dumbledore, "It seems that mixing it with pumpkin juice nullifies its bad taste."
"What is it Albus," asked McGonagall, apprehensively?
Dumbledore grinned, and answered, "I believe the name is… a pudding called Bulanu."
Everyone stared at the headmaster.
"Bulanu," spoke Snape, pushing his greasy hair back, "That's a pudding elves feed their young."
Dumbledore nodded his head.
"Why would Malleck want to poison Harry with that," asked McGonagall, confused, "There other things more potent and less noticeable?"
Daken laughed again and quickly changed it to a clearing of the throat noise as the McGonagall glared at him again.
"Sorry… but it is comical in its innocence," replied Daken, explaining, "Our dear little elf friend Dobby has been growing pumpkins in the unused green house for some time now... at first I thought it was just his way of being subservient to Harry… but now… Ron told me that Harry ate very little any more and only seemed to want to drink pumpkin juice."
"I fail to see the humor," spoke McGonagall plainly.
"Well Bulanu has the effect of energizing the body of a human that consumes it… and over time using it a lot develops a habit… Harry feels he only needs to quench his thirst while actually his body is consuming more Bulanu hidden in the juice that Potter gets directly from Dobby made in the green house… its humorous because the elf is once again, inadvertently of course, hurting Harry to help him."
"I see," spoke McGonagall plainly.
"There is another trait to this pudding that puts the grin on my lips," spoke Dumbledore suddenly.
"What is that," asked Pomfrey?
"Bulanu is made for and by elves as said," answered Dumbledore, "Because of that it has reactive effects to the potions we use as humans… basically it cancels them out… hence why your potions weren't healing Harry after his Quidditch match."
"He drank pumpkin juice before Ron gave him the vial to suppress the vampire transition effects," spoke Daken more to himself than the group, "That means that all day, Harry didn't have any aid from the suppressant… he was in full vampire status."
"Yes…and amazingly enough he resisted even when in the same room alone with Lavender," said Dumbledore eyeing Daken.
"You didn't tell me about that… you said she had fallen," snapped Pomfrey.
"Must have slipped my mind," answered Daken keeping his gaze locked with Dumbledore.
"Remember what I have said to you before… as to who is a Professor here and who is not," stated Dumbledore, "I will not tolerate those overstepping their area of freedoms too often."
"Yes Headmaster," replied Daken stiffly.
Their odd exchange did not go unnoticed by those in the room as an awkward silence followed.
"I'm still quite impressed and even somewhat terrified that Potter resisted all the vampire instinctive urges without the suppressant… Draco has a lot of trouble with it all and he is using the suppressant," spoke Daken quietly turning his gaze away from Dumbledore, "And Cho was brewing the same potion as Loralie did."
"Loralie"asked McGonagall suddenly, "The same one as before?"
"Yes… the love potion that caused all the boys in this school to fall under her spell some twenty years ago… the same witch that was defeated by four boys with a resistance... that very potion that magnifies the urges of a vampire ten-fold… I believe that was the day the Marauders went from mere pranksters and rule breakers to secret heroes, "answered Daken," I just wonder how Cho knew of it."
"Malleck is bringing the past to the present, apparently," answered Dumbledore
"If this keeps going on the wrecking of my class will only be a scratch as to what will follow," said Snape sharply, his eyes gazing furiously at the fire.
"Indeed," spoke Dumbledore.
"I must get back to the Hospital wing," said Pomfrey getting up.
"That reminds… how is Hermione?" asked Daken, "Ron has been getting edgy having not seen Harry these few days."
McGonagall gave a weary and sadden sigh, "She worse now… having nearly been used like that has driven her further away… her other professors say she hasn't turned in anything since then and her ability to use magic is suffering... I don't know how long before we can't ignore it… its unfair to the other students as they are noticing… I don't want to do anything that'll compromise her further."
"As you know, she is hurting… she's been wounded by something… leave her other professors to me to speak with… we will give her the time she needs… we are teachers as much as parents… I do nothing… invasive… of our students but believe me… the answer lies in Potter's compassion… and more… for her," responded Dumbledore strongly, surprising McGonagall, "As you well know Minerva… sometimes a good cry is the only way to begin healing or dealing with the pain… and sometimes one must be forced to let themselves break down before that can happen."
"Given Potter's wish to aid his friends regardless of the consequences… just like his arrogant father… he'll do something about it," snapped Snape leaving the office but before stepping out the door he softly added, "And like his mother."
"But things won't be good between him and Ron either. I can do something in that area "spoke Daken solemnly, before asking, "I am curious to know one thing, Headmaster… concerning the girl?'
"And that would be," responded Dumbledore, standing?
"I lied to her about knowing what happened… I knew it had been in Bulgaria given her untimely return and Ron's odd answers about it… but you do know it was something with Victor," answered Daken.
"What are you asking," asked Dumbledore?
"Why did you invite Durmstrang to Hogwarts for a Quidditch match, if Victor Krum will show up as part of the charity benefit of the match… considering Hermione," finished Daken?
To his surprise, McGonagall held the answer, "Because she has to face it… or be crippled by it."
Daken gave a sigh shifting his eyes from McGonagall to Dumbledore and then left as well leaving her and the Headmaster alone in the office.
"It seems we have a lot of them," stated Dumbledore oddly, placing the vial from Pomfrey in one of the many cabinets behind him.
"A lot of what, Albus," asked McGonagall?
Dumbledore turned back with a gentle smile and answered, "Bleeding Hearts."
Next Chapter
The Past Unveils