Author's Note: Hey guys! Thanks so much for the reviews. Since the previous chapter is so short, I decided to upload two today. Hope you enjoy them!
Chapter Three
I stayed in the library well past midnight, a record for anyone other than Hermione. I found only bits and pieces of information about "Defluo Oblivio," and was ready to give up when a line caught my eye.
In the event of the failure of all locating spells, please refer to charms such as appropinquo defluo.
All the thoughts and worries that had been flying through my head suddenly ceased. What's this? I felt all the hair on my body stand on end. Dumbledore didn't mention this…
I practically ripped textbooks to shreds over the next few hours, slowly finding out that appropinquo defluo meant "to approach the lost," that it was a relatively simple spell to cast, and was a wonderful way to counteract the 'lost' part of Defluo oblivio. Cast the spell, and be taken directly to Hermione, no matter where she is.
Gripping the book to my chest as if it were my life, I fled the library and ran full speed to Dumbledore's office. I breathlessly spat out the password, and road the revolving stairway up. When I stepped out of it, I was surprised to see the office packed with people - Tonks, Moody, Arthur, Molly, Remus, Snape, Madame Pomfrey and McGonagalll. They had all been bustling about, talking quickly and pouring over a huge map that now occupied an entire section of a wall, and portrait wizards could be heard complaining from underneath. By the time I had taken this all in, they had all fallen silent and were staring at me expectantly.
"What is it, Potter?" McGonagall asked me. I stared at her stupidly, still trying to catch my breath, before looking down at the book in my arms. I hastily kneeled on the ground and opened the book, thumbing through page after page. How stupid, Harry…didn't even mark the page, I swore at myself. I finally found it and heaved the book back into my arms, and plowed through everyone until I was next to Dumbledore, who was seated at his desk. I threw the book in front of him and pointed to the spell. His eyes perused the page for only a second before he looked up at me slowly. He seemed to be studying my face, and I was suddenly aware of just how frantic I must look.
"Well, Harry, I see you have been doing some researching of your own," he said slowly, not expressing any surprise at what I had just shown him. "There are some small preparations not mentioned here that must be done, but other than that, when would you like to go?" he finished, eyeing me with a small smile.
"Now!" I blurted out without paying attention to what he had said. He'd said okay. I can go to her…
Half an hour later
Dumbledore's small preparations would have been small preparations if the room had not been full of so many people. Remus became immensely protective, making me recite all the information that Dumbledore was telling me three times over. McGonagall suddenly got very motherly, which was quite possibly the most bizarre experience of my Hogwarts career. Madame Pomfrey had loaded my bag with all sorts of potions, explaining that the curse may have physically hurt her as well as the obvious affects, and extra care was needed since it struck her in the face. Her words made my heart pump harder in my chest and I felt lightheaded with worry. And then Dumbledore hushed everyone up all of a sudden, and his voice turned very serious.
"We have placed a locating charm on you, so that as soon as the spell is complete, and it takes you to her, a small mark will show up on the map," he said, motioning to the enormous world map hung on his wall.
"Now Harry, I know as well as you how you're going to feel once you find her. But you must keep in mind that she doesn't remember anything of who she was. Severus has told me that the potion will be ready in four days. You need to make her comfortable with you and convince her to come here with you by that time. And Harry-" he trailed off, motioning for me to lean my ear close to him. I did so, and everyone else suddenly found other objects of the room more fascinating that us.
"Do not under any circumstances…attempt anything." He whispered. I took a step back from him, puzzled and confused by what he had said. 'Attempt anything?' What did that mean?
"Harry, it is time," I heard Remus say quietly as he placed a hand on my shoulder. I nodded, and picked up the large bag that Dobby had packed with food and warm clothing, and slung my broomstick over my shoulder. Everyone muttered a quiet "Good luck" or "See you soon," as I faced Dumbledore.
"I'm ready," I said, and he nodded in reply. I slowly withdrew my wand and pointed it at myself. Everyone in the room drew silent, and I suddenly found myself shaking slightly. I breathed deeply, trying to calm myself down, when I suddenly realized something very important. I lowered my wand, and everyone let out an anti-climactic sigh. I lowered my head, training my eyes on the floor.
"Sir?" I asked.
"Yes, Harry?" he asked, endlessly patient. I was silent a moment, wondering what the consequences of my journey were going to be.
"Please, don't tell Ron," I said quickly, before raising my wand and speaking the words, my voice shaking.
I'm coming, Hermione…
"Appropinquo defluo."
Harry disappeared from in front of them in a small shimmer of light, and everyone eagerly turned towards the map on the wall. After a few seconds, a small twinkle appeared in the southern hemisphere, on the small, northern island of New Zealand.
"Hello again, Harry," Dumbledore whispered quietly, smiling at the map.
Soon afterwards, everyone in Dumbledore's office slowly dispersed until only McGonagall was left.
"Albus?" she said, looking at him inquisitively.
"Yes, Minerva?" he replied.
"Why did you not mention performing appropinquo defluo earlier? We could have put a lot of unnecessary effort into learning her location if Potter had not brought this to our attention," she said, removing her glasses and wiping them with a corner of her cloak. Dumbledore settled back into his chair, and seemed to be pondering her question. Silence fell over the office for a few long moments before he spoke.
"I did not mention it earlier because both of the boys were in the room," he finally said, and Minerva's eyes flew up to meet his.
"Do you really intend to not inform Mr. Weasley of what is going on?" she asked.
"Yes Minerva. For Hermione's own good, he must not know."
"What shall I tell him when he asks about Harry?"
"Inform Mr. Weasley that Harry has gone back to London to inform her parents of what has happened, and to bring them back to Hogwarts," he told her, his eyes darkening.
"But why sir?" she asked.
Dumbledore lifted his head, eyes expressing to her his seriousness. "I do not know why, but I believe this may not go as smoothly as we are planning." He told her, his eyes heavy with worry.
"Is there anything else, sir?" she asked quietly.
"Just one thing, Minerva. On your way to your quarters, could you please stop by the library, and remove all books from the shelves that mention 'appropinquo defluo.' We wouldn't want anyone else to come across them."
"Yes sir," she replied quietly, and turned and quickly left the room.