Unofficial Portkey Archive

Chapter 14: Theft of the Time Turner

The fire in the Gryffindor common room blazed warmly, but only a few students were left downstairs to enjoy it, most having either retired for the night, or simply gone to their rooms to have private conversations.

As was usual for them, Harry and Ron were finishing their nightly chess game, a ritual that never failed to bore Hermione, or for that matter, Lavender completely rigid. Both girls had retreated hours ago; Hermione back to she and Harry's common room, and Lavender up to the seventh year girl's dorms. Hermione of course had gone to study on the next day's Potions lesson, even with Ron entreating her the whole way out with, "C'mon 'Mione, have a go! I'll be gentle!" and Lavender had retreated with Parvarti, giggling and gossiping about the kind of kisser her boyfriend was. If Ron had known, he would have burned with embarrassment, but at the moment he was too busy beating Harry to notice.

"Harry, how long've we been playing chess together?" Asked Ron leisurely as he moved his knight in a brilliant defensive gesture.

Harry frowned and looked up, obviously annoyed at the interruption in his concentration. "A fair amount of time…this would be the seventh year you prat; as if you didn't know. Why?"

Ron smiled cheekily as Harry made a bad move with his rook…A decidedly daft choice… "I just wondered," he began, leaning forward to capture Harry's queen, "How in the world after all this time you can still be so bad at it. Aw…Hard lines. Checkmate…mate."

Harry paused, pursing his lips and scanned the board with a frown. Finally he threw himself against the back of his chair with a decidedly frustrated "whump" and a glower.

"I don't know Ron, I guess you're just ruddy better than I am. Smarter too."

Ron nodded, satisfied. "So long as you know…"

Harry opened his mouth to reply, but Hermione slipped her arms around his neck from behind and leaned around to plant a kiss on him, having just returned from studying.

"What…none for me?" Asked Ron with a smirk.

"Quite." Harry favored him with a droll look but Ron chose to ignore it.

"Well a bloke has to get action somewhere."

"Hang on…Ron, I thought I was the only one you wanted 'action' from." Lavender rounded the couch and sat between he and Hermione, giving him a mock scowl. Ron smiled wickedly and threw his arm up behind her on the couch.

"You are. 'Mione's like my sister; there's absolutely no way I mean any of it…I just like to see her blush."

"I don't blush at anything you bang on about, Ron. I've heard it all before. Perhaps you should concentrate on being smart enough to get new material."

Hermione smiled triumphantly and leaned back, satisfied. Harry laughed heartily as his friend's grin steadily faltered.

"Checkmate…mate," he grinned cheshire-like. "You know, it's just as satisfying coming from Hermione. Imagine that…"

Ron scowled as even Lavender had to laugh at that but bit back a reply as the portrait door began to open.

"What in Merlin's name," began Lavender, sitting up a bit, "It's half past ten. Who would be out this late past curfew?"

Professor McGonnagol stepped through the portrait, thanking the Fat Lady for entrance and looking slightly ruffled and sleep deprived. She and the other heads of the houses had been in Dumbledore's office for the better part of three hours discussing the candidates for the Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts class, and had finally come up with their lists. There had been much discussion about who would excel and who would, (with their limited knowledge of the future and of their student's leanings), most benefit from class, and with much discussion and many a revision, the house leaders had finally chosen their candidates. As the class would be starting within the next few days, the teachers needed their students to be prepared, and also to know which subject, or activity, they might be willing to drop, if needed, to accommodate the new class. Since there were few subjects that were optional, McGonnagol knew the choices would be tough for some. Especially for one student in particular who tended to want to take too many classes at once anyway, and for another who might find the class had more to offer than he might have anticipated…

Minerva favored Hermione with a smile as the students sat up a little straighter in acknowledgement of their professor. She found a portion of the couch to perch on and sat rather heavily with a tired sigh.

"Miss Granger, would you and Mr. Weasley please round up the sixth and seventh years and bring them down to the common room? I have an important announcement."

Hermione stiffened and clutched the small hourglass necklace hidden beneath her shirt. She had only just gotten it from Dumbledore earlier that morning, but had forgotten to take it off as of yet, and now suddenly remembered. "Oh professor, this isn't about what we talked about…I know the time turner can be dangerous but I promise I'll be just as careful with it as I was in second year…"

McGonnagol held up a patient hand. "Hermione, set your mind at ease. This has nothing to do with that. Now will you get the girls for me?"

With her posture relaxing once again, Hermione nodded and began to move around Harry's chair until his hand stopped her. Harry's face was set in frustration and disappointment. Why hadn't she told him?

" 'Mione," Harry half whispered to her, "I thought we talked about it. You were under a fair amount of stress before. The time turner…"

"Mr. Potter," began McGonnagol in a stern but tired voice. "It's been a terribly long day. Do you think you could have your discussion at a later date?"

Harry looked sheepish and dropped Hermione's hand. "Of course professor. Sorry."

Hermione widened her eyes in warning at him, at the same time giving him an apologetic glance and headed toward the stairs. After a few minutes of scuffle and shuffling down the stairs, the common room was full again with students, some rumpled and half asleep, others simply in pajamas, and still others had not yet changed for bed. McGonnagol settled back into her seat and brought out the list she and the other professors had made, unfolding her glasses and perching them on the end of her long nose.

"I'm sorry to have bothered you all at such a late time, but the other professors and I have only just gotten our lists made for the Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts Class, and I wanted to make sure you all knew as soon as possible who had been chosen to join. Of course as you know, this class is strictly on a voluntary basis, so if you have been chosen and do not wish to join, you only need to let it be known, and your name will be stricken from the list, no questions asked."

McGonnagol looked up over the rim of her small square glasses and caught not a few faces full of excitement and expectation. Hermione Granger, standing behind Potter, was practically dancing on the balls of her feet.

"As I call your names, please remain for further instructions to be given on the time and date of the class…Lavender Brown," Lavender squealed and threw her arms around her best mate, Parvarti. "Colin Creevey," Colin lowered his head morosely and took a small step back from the crowd as if wishing he were invisible. "Seamus Finnegan, Hermione Granger," Seamus gave Dean and Neville a grin, and Hermione squeezed Harry's shoulder so much it hurt, beaming down at he and Ron. "Neville Longbottom," despite his newer improved self, Neville had not expected in a million years to be chosen and turned an almost transparent shade of white. Dean clapped him soundly on the back. "Parvarti Patil," she squealed much like her counterpart, "Harry Potter," Ron and Hermione beamed at him. "Dean Thomas, and Ronald Weasley." The remaining two received claps on the back, and Hermione turned to look all around her.

"That's all of us! At least all of the sixth years…I wonder why…"

McGonnagol gave her a slight look of reproof, and Hermione stopped suddenly, pressing her lips together sheepishly. The professor continued with the seventh years, most of whom they had met but didn't know very well, and finally sighed and rolled up the parchment, placing it back inside her robes.

"Now then. Your first class will start on Monday, and will begin after your last class ends at three…" Immediately groans of protest began around the group. McGonnagol cleared her throat with meaning and looked up at them above her glasses.

"As I have stated before, this is a strictly voluntary class. I know there are several of you who have extra class loads this year and had already had that time slot filled, so you will have to decide whether or not to drop your current class. Anyone not wishing to join needs simply to let me know. However, I would like to stress the importance of these classes…especially to some."

"No books?" muttered Hermione in disappointment. On the couch in front of her, Harry squelched a smile.

"The class should last no more than an hour, so those of you who have chosen to play Quidditch should have no worries making it to the pitch for practice. That's all I have unless there are any questions."

Of course immediately around her, the professor was deluged with questions ranging from how hard would the class be to what kinds of things would be taught, so the students who seemed to need nothing further began to get up and move away. Harry had begun to get up as well, but McGonnagol's restraining hand stopped him.

"Harry, a moment please. I need to discuss something with you before I leave."

Harry frowned questioningly at her, but dropped back into his seat on the couch.

Many questions and discussions later, the students had finally had their fill of information, and even Hermione had run out of things to ask. They all began to drift back upstairs, and with a small peck on his cheek, Hermione left Harry to talk to McGonnagol and made her way out of the portrait door and down the hallway towards the Head Boy and Girl's dorm.

McGonnagol turned her attention back to Potter, who was sitting slumped a little wearily on the couch a little to the right of her.

"I'm sorry Mr. Potter, I'm sure you're tired, but this won't take long."

Harry sat up a little straighter out of respect and blinked tiredly as she continued.

"Harry, Professor Lupin has asked that he be given extra time with you specifically at the end of each lesson for more intensive training."

Harry sat up even more in surprise and frowned. "Me? Why? Doesn't he think the Advanced DADA class is enough?"

McGonnagol closed her eyes briefly and nodded in deference to his question. "Apparently he thinks you, more than any of the others might benefit from knowing all you can to defend yourself. Of course I, along with Professor Dumbledore am inclined to agree. I would think you would be as well."

"Well of course but what about Ron and Hermione?" asked Harry a bit more forcefully than he had intended to. He bit his top lip and settled back a bit. "I'm sorry professor, but what I mean is, a fair amount of the troubles I get into with Vol…I'm sorry, him, involve them as well. Don't you and Lupin think it would be wise for them to have the extra training as well?"

McGonnagol raised an eyebrow at him. "That's Professor Lupin, Harry and yes, I would be inclined to agree with you. But Remus has had a meeting with the Headmaster and he wishes to meet with you only after each class. Apparently he intends to teach you about something extra that only you are to partake in."

McGonnagol leaned forward as if to make certain that only she and Harry were hearing the conversation. "Harry, if ever you were to take my advice, or the Headmasters for that matter, take it now. Take the extra instruction. Remus Lupin is one of the most powerful wizards in the Order of the Phoenix. If he says he wants extra time with you to show you even more ways to defend yourself, you can be sure that he won't waste your time."

Harry blinked a couple of times at McGonnagol before sighing and nodding his head. He knew it would be stupid of him not to take the extra training in DADA when it was offered him, but his time seemed so limited as it was. What with O.W.L.s and Quidditch, and N.E.W.T.s were next year…all he wished for was a time when he wasn't so busy and stressed. Some time for just a little relaxation and a reprieve from the threat of Voldemort for that matter…

"All right professor, I'll do it."

McGonnagol nodded once, satisfied. "I think you'll find you've made the right decision, Potter…"

A high-pitched terrified scream erupted from outside the common room and down the hall, and brought Harry abruptly back from his thoughts and onto his feet in an instant, his wand drawn and out to his side. An icy chill clutched at his heart and his gaze immediately shot to the one person still sitting near him.

McGonnagol had jumped almost a foot in that instant and had drawn her wand with lightning fast reflexes that almost seemed too agile for a witch her age. "What in Merlin's name…" she puffed.

A voice was heard faintly screaming somewhere out in the corridors. "No, DON'T! Stay away! G..Get back!"

A couple of curses, thrown at the same time and the sounds of a short wand fight ensued, and then there was nothing.

Harry froze in that instant, a look of utter horror coming over his face. Oh my god…

Ron had stumbled down the stairs, harried and in his nightclothes, along with a dozen other Gryffindors, all with wild eyes, and with wands out just as the sounds stopped.

"What the bloody h…Harry, that sounded like…"

"Hermione…" Harry breathed. He reacted with maddening speed, adrenaline powering his legs. It seemed to take him only a fraction of a second to reach the portrait door and fling it open, Ron in close pursuit behind him.

McGonnagol turned swiftly to the students behind her moving curiously closer to the portrait door. "No one is to leave this common room, understood? Mr. Hampton, I'll leave you in charge."

Fillius Hampton, a tall seventh year nodded once and watched as Professor McGonnagol hurried out of the portrait door, letting it slam shut behind her.

Harry's heart pounded like a machine gun as he ran, his eyes searching frantically for Hermione. Thankfully the Head Boy and Girl's rooms weren't far away, having been situated between the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw houses, and his frenzied thoughts were to head there first to look for her. The cry hadn't seemed that far away…

Only a few turns of the corner later, and Harry saw far ahead of him, the nightmarish image of Hermione, lying slumped on the floor of the corridor, just a few feet away from their shared common room. As their common room was between Gryffindors and Ravenclaws, and there were no other rooms between them save theirs, no one had yet come to her aid. No…god no…

Feverishly, he forced his legs to pump even faster and reached her with a frustrated cry, throwing himself to his knees beside her even as Ron came pounding up behind him, puffing and wheezing for air. Harry had already gathered her into his arms and was now swiping tangled hair from her face, fighting to control his breathing as he was dangerously close to hyperventilating. He placed his fingers on her neck quickly and felt his body slump in relief as he felt the steady beat of her pulse. But she still wasn't moving. Her clothes were covered in ash and the back of her head seemed to have taken a nasty knock as Harry felt the distinct stickiness of blood between his fingers. He was abruptly reminded of a situation too similar for comfort only last year only this time it was inside the school…

" 'Mione…'Mione please…" Harry placed a trembling hand on her cheek.

Ron slumped to his knees beside them. "Mate, is she…Mate! Look at me! Is she alive? Is she?"

Harry turned to look at Ron as if he had only just noticed that he had been behind him the entire time and blinked a couple of times before he spoke. "She's alive…but hurt. We need to get her to Madame Pomfrey right now."

McGonnagol, completely out of breath gasped and came to an abrupt halt as she saw Harry and Ron on their knees a few meters ahead of her, Harry cradling Hermione in his lap. She bustled over to them at once and shoved between them, kneeling down and placing her hands on Hermione's head.

"Mr. Potter, let me see…Let me see!"

Harry turned more toward his professor and McGonnagol gasped again as one of her hands came away sticky and wet with blood. It was then, while the professor cradled Hermione's head for him for a moment, that Harry noticed that the time turner that had been around Hermione's neck was gone. He thought for a moment to mention it immediately, but thought better of it in a second. The most important thing first was to get Hermione to the infirmary.

"Harry, Ronald, bring Ms. Granger with you and follow me immediately."

Harry stood with a small grunt, cradling Hermione carefully in his arms and taking care to let her injured head fall gently on his shoulder before he and Ron followed McGonnagol at a brisk pace towards the infirmary.