Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns all the books and the characters.
A/N: Sorry for the long delay. I've been busy with projects (like painting Elf's room, scouts, etc). My hope is to also post Chapter 18 before this long weekend is over. It's what you've all been clamoring for…
Chapter 16 Summary: Harry collapses at the Halloween Ball and later finds that Voldemort's pleasure stems from an attack and subsequent death of Mundungus Fletcher. Depressed and despondent, Harry's mental state hits rock bottom when the Gryffindor Quidditch team loses to Ravenclaw despite Harry catching the snitch without even realizing it. Tonks eventually finds him hiding out in the owlry and makes it clear, in no uncertain terms, that Harry needs to pull himself together and use that head of his to find - a - way!
Chapter 17: Help From an Unexpected Source
It had been several days and long sleepless nights since Tonks had given her speech to Harry and, as much as he hated to admit it, she was right. He had been a bit of a prat lately. Oh bloody hell, who was he kidding, he'd been a complete pain in the arse since Hermione had been taken. It's a wonder they hadn't hexed him into oblivion.
Through these stormy nights of personal reflection, he had come to realize that it wasn't simply that his best friend had been taken. No, it was something deeper, much closer to the heart, and it scared him. It had scared the bloody hell out of him, and that's why he had lashed out at everyone. But by looking beyond his mental anguish, he found salvation from the pain could be found from within. A voice in his head, not surprisingly one that sounded much like Hermione, had chastised him for driving away those who looked to help him.
'You had better start using that head of yours, Mr. Potter and let those who want to help do so,' the voice had scolded. 'I'm not about to rot away here at the hands of these dolts just because of your pride! You've a brilliant mind Harry, when you bother to use it, and I think now may be one of those times.'
He never could win an argument with Hermione, he decided, not even one in his own mind. But where should he go, what should he do? He had already exhausted every -- "No!" he shouted to the empty common room. He wouldn't allow his mind to go wander that path again. Never! Only misery and despair lay there, and he had experienced quite enough of those.
Then, like a single bolt of lightening arching across a cloudless sky, it hit him. If I can't have her here, then I'll just have to be her, he realized. And what would Hermione do, he asked? The same thing she always did when confronted with a particularly difficult problem: bury herself in the library, of course!
As this newfound sense of empowerment dawned, Harry felt a sudden surge of strength course through him. A feeling of power and purpose, much like the day he first met Mr. Olivander and was told 'to expect great things' as he lifted his wand for the first time.
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Harry's newfound focus carried him through the next day of classes with a determined resolve. He was polite to his fellow students, helpful to the younger ones, and attentive in all his classes, so much so, that he had trouble convincing McGonagall that he wasn't under the influence of some potion.
Immediately following his final class of the day, Harry practically bound up the stairs and into the library. Not that Harry was any stranger to the library, but with Hermione being gone, Madam Pince couldn't hide her surprise on seeing him rush through the door and settle himself in at the table the bushy haired girl called her own.
"Let's see… we've about exhausted the current train of thinking," he muttered to him self, "so perhaps it's time to consult some of the old masters." Searching through the catalogs, Harry eventually came upon the sections of interest and he cast a wide net in hopes his research would uncover something of aid to him. As he lifted the large tomes from off the shelves, he gathered them one-by-one upon the polished desk.
Teachings from the Druid University: Philosophy, Spells, and Potions (2116 BC to 426 AD)
Practical Applications of Haitian Voodoo
Forbidden but not Forgotten Spells of the Chinese First Dynasty
Tibetan Wizards and What they Taught Merlin
The Pythagorean Guide to Arithmancy
Great Sumerian Advances in Astrology and Medicine
Power, Riches, Women - The Aztec Wizard Quetzalcoatl on Getting What You Want!
Harry was a little dubious on that last one, but the bloke had been considered a god by the locals, after all. Maybe he was on to something, maybe he was barking mad; either way, it might pay to check.
He spent the next six hours pouring over the dust-laden volumes, and although he felt he had found several promising leads, he had yet to strike gold. Harry also found the reading rather difficult, as much of the information had been translated millennia ago and many of the concepts of the time were now rather foreign to him. He didn't let this hamper him in his quest, though. On the contrary, it deepened his appreciation of Hermione and her encyclopedic mind as well as incentivized him to hasten his exploration into the past.
Saddened as she was by the reason for Harry's determination, Madam Pince finally had to ask him to leave so she could close. However, before he left, she suggested that perhaps, in this case, her strict rule of re-shelving the books could be waived. There they would stay, she assured him, until he could return tomorrow to continue his studies.
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She could hear the argument going on outside but couldn't understand any of the words. Unfortunately, she didn't have long to wait to find out.
"Because of you and your pathetic Order, you worthless mudblood bitch, I have to find another place to hide you," Bellatrix roared from the cave entrance. "At least I finally killed off that meddlesome Fletcher!" she finished. As she walked towards Hermione, she began her taunt in a voice dripping with venom. "I asked… I pleaded with my lord to let me kill you and be done with it, but no! I am to keep you alive!" She smiled with a dark and evil gaze. "However, it wasn't specified how alive… Crucio!"
Hermione's world instantly exploded into a kaleidoscope of pain. Already gaunt and weakened, her body curled into a fetal position and her stomach heaved. From somewhere in the distance, she heard a scream, the scream of a dying animal, and she contemplated what it might be. As the darkness slowly enveloped her mind, she came to realize the scream, the dying animal, was her.
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She awoke to find herself in a small, dimly lit room that much like her previous imprisonment's, had the appearance of having not being used for decades. Hearing the rust covered door handle turn, she realized the turning of a key had brought her to consciousness and she froze in the hope of misleading whoever it was that entered into believing she was still unconscious.
As the person approached, she noticed something different somehow. The steps were slow and measured, as if they were trying not to disturb her. She listened intently as a plate of food was set on the floor and water was poured into a bowl. Concluding that it was simply her latest guard delivering her spoiled bread and ration of water, she relaxed, only to leap in fright when a damp cloth was brought against her forehead.
"Who… who are you?" Hermione's croaked to the timid looking elf, her unused voice straining to produce anything above a whisper.
"I is Zibby, miss. Please, ask no more of me! I am not to speak to you! I… I only wished to… here miss, here is a cloth which you can clean…"
"WHAT ARE YA' DOING 'ERE!" came a shout from a man standing in the open doorway. "I told ya', " the man started, as he kicked the elf away from Hermione, "you were not to talk to 'er! Food! Water! Who told ya' to bring these to 'er? Speak up now!" he commanded, as he kicked the elf again.
"Leave her alone! How can you get an answer when you keep kicking her!" Hermione attempted to scream at the man who was now whipping the defenseless elf with a strap.
Hermione rose onto her shaking legs and leapt forward in an attempt to drive herself between the man and the elf. "Get away from her, she's done nothing wrong! Hit me if you want to hit someone, but leave her alone!"
"Aye, ya'd like that now wouldn't ya' lass! Get me in'ta trouble with me Lord for leav'n marks on ya'," the large bearded man spat at Hermione, who was shielding the diminutive elf behind her. "Aye, but now I knows better ways now don't I… Crucio!"
Although not as powerful as when cast by Bellatrix, in her condition, any amount of the spell caused bone-jarring pain. After several minutes, he released her as he stepped over her and dragged the cowering elf out by her right leg.
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After their humiliating loss to Ravenclaw, Ron, as the Red Headed Troll, had returned with a vengeance and his never-ending practice and strategy sessions drove them all to the brink. Though, a difficult taskmaster on the field, Ron was learning that a leader wasn't the one with the loudest voice and had grudgingly earned the respect of his fellow teammates. Through Harry's example, he was learning to balance the duties of prefect, Quidditch, and his studies and even he had to admit, the results were noticeable.
But after several weeks of the crushing pace Harry had set; trading his time between research, homework, Quidditch, and the DA, it was fast grinding him down and he was forced to admit that he couldn't do it alone. He needed help, and he knew right where to get it.
"Ron, make sure that you, Ginny, Luna, and Neville are at the DA meeting tonight," Harry said as they headed to class with Hagrid.
"Why, Harry? Something special planned?"
"Yeah, well, I need some help with research but I don't want everyone in the school to know. Can the four of you come a little early?"
"Well Harry, I'd like to help and all, but I was going to meet with Dean to work on some Beater maneuvers and…" but Ron, seeing the light dim in Harry's eyes and a look of defeat creep in, caught himself. "Sure, mate. I'll meet with Dean some other time, but you do remember who you're talking to, right? The library and I aren't always on speaking terms, ya' know."
"Don't worry, Ron. I'll take what I can get and, at the moment, you're it," answered Harry with a smirk.
"I wouldn't have thought it knew how to read, much less utilize a library," came a contemptuous voice from behind them. "I would have thought that more the arena of the astute young lady, who for reasons unknown, seems to be quite fond of you two boorish lumps. Although, I have noticed her to be on what appears to be a quite extended absence. Has she finally realized her mistake and, shall we say, traded up?"
Ron's face had grown a blistering red through THRIBT's unwelcome greeting, "LISTEN, you pompous flea infested mistake of nature, friend of Hagrid's or not, you say one more thing against Hermione and I'll… I'll…feed you piece-by-bloody-piece to Buckbeak!" Turning sharply away, Ron left before THRIBT could give him a retort.
Rising high on his back feet in an attempt to locate Ron's intended destination, "My, my, a bit sensitive today? Was it something I said?" THRIBT asked.
Harry knelt down so that he could look THRIBT directly in the eye, "Yes, in fact it was! This bickering between the two of you does no good, and I for one would appreciate it if you didn't harass either one of us about Hermione. It's difficult enough for all of us without you adding your comments."
THRIBT's facial features softened as tilted his head to the side, scratched behind his ear, and looked back to Harry. "I believe I may have been in error. Am I to understand that the young lady isn't on an extended absence?"
"No, she isn't," said Harry as he sat down on the grass. "She was kidnapped by Death Eaters on our first trip to Hogsmeade. Do you know what Death Eaters are?"
"Yes, I am well aware of Voldemort and the cretin that follow him. My, I do believe I have made a dreadful mistake in my statements to both you and your volatile young friend. Please, accept my apologies to both of you. I meant no real offense," THRIBT said, the most sincere Harry had ever heard him.
"Apology accepted," Harry told the now quite humble animal, "but I believe you should tell Ron yourself."
"Yes, yes, you're quite right. I will endeavor to find him forth-with. If you will excuse me," THRIBT said as he bounded off in the direction that Ron had gone.
Quite some time later, Ron returned without their four-legged antagonist and bearing an air of confusion about him.
"Something wrong? Did THRIBT find you?" asked Harry.
"Er… yeah, well I think it was him. I mean, it sure looked like him, but this one sure didn't act like him," Ron stammered.
"What did you two talk about for so long, Ron? You two were gone quite awhile."
"Well, after he apologized for his remark about Hermione, he… a… well, let's just say we've called a truce," Ron said, shaking his head as he sat down next to Harry. "He's rather sincere about it, actually. And get this Harry, he offered to talk to the other creatures in the Forbidden Forest for us! It seems there's quite a bit of gossip that travels through there and he's offered to inquire as to any information on Hermione. "
Harry, now as mystified as Ron, could only manage, "I'll be…"
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Ron, Ginny, Neville, and Luna stepped through the door into the Room of Requirement to find Harry seated in a large overstuffed chair, along with four others that were obviously intended for them.
"What's up Harry?" asked Ginny as she sat down and curled her feet up underneath her, as it seems all girls like to do.
"You know I've been doing research in the library right?" Harry asked the four, who nodded in return. "Well, between everything else going on, I just can't get everything done and I was hoping that you would be willing to help me. Ginny, Luna, I know it's a lot to ask, what with OWLs and all this year, but other than Hermione, you four are the ones I trust."
"Don't concern yourself, Harry," Luna answered for them all, "whatever we can do, you only need to ask us."
"Yeah, Harry. And, you should know by now you don't even have to ask, get on with it already," Ron chastised his sheepish friend.
Harry pulled the list of topics and current results from his robe and showed it to them. "Pick any you want and feel free to add to it if you think of others," he told them.
"You have a good list here, Harry" commented Luna, "but I might like look into American Indian medicine men and the Ansazi Wizards as well."
"Like I said, Luna, feel free to add to the list. Unless you find something of immediate use, let's get together before each DA meeting to see what we've found," Harry concluded as the first of the DA members started to arrive.
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It had been a few days now, and Harry was feeling much better. Bringing Ron and the others in to help him had been a relief. He still felt a pang of guilt about burdening them with the additional work, but Ginny had threatened him with a particularly gruesome version of her bat bogey hex if he ever mentioned feeling guilty again.
Smiling to himself at the memory, he brought his focus back to the task in front of him, another long and complicated Potions assignment. The increased effort, he had to admit, of working to all hours of the night in order to finish his assignments was paying off. All of his professors, all but one that is, had taken notice and had made a point to complement him on it. Professor McGonagall, on seeing the dark circles and bags under his eyes, had privately expressed her concern to him that he might be over doing things.
"Potter!" Professor Snape snarled as he stood in front of Harry's desk.
Harry had been so focused on properly brewing the potion, he hadn't even noticed Snape had left his desk. "Yes, sir?" he asked, trying his best to remain calm.
Snape glared at Harry and then slowly dropped his eyes to the contents of Harry's cauldron. Speaking loudly enough so that everyone could hear, Snape began, in his slow biting drawl, what Harry believed would be his latest bid at grinding him under his heel.
"Potter, I find it tiring and extremely bothersome that your utter ineptitude forces me to return here, repeatedly, to the back of the room and forsake the attention of those deserving students who have earned the right to be in this class."
Turning to look towards the front and Hermione's empty desk, Snape then looked back to Harry with what could only be categorized as the smallest of grins and tilted his head towards the front. "Move your things, Potter. Perhaps, if I can keep a closer eye on you I won't be bothered cleaning up your dismal attempts at potion making."
Harry, was thunderstruck. Was this Snape's way of acknowledging his added effort? Or, was it was just a new and devious way of tormenting him. He didn't know, and frankly, he didn't care. Harry quickly collected his things and started moving them to "their" desk.
As Snape returned to the head of the classroom and settled into his desk, he had one more contribution for Harry. "Oh, and Potter. Five points from Gryffindor for your interruption of my class."
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Harry slowly left the DA meeting and, after quietly closing the door behind him, stepped across the hallway and slid down the wall to the floor. Still hanging from his shoulder was an enormous bag of scrolls filled with numerous hexes, offensive and defensive spells, and a smattering of locator charms. The group had out done themselves. He could barely breathe, as the gratitude he felt had squeezed his heart to the point that he could do nothing more than stand silently and marvel at the length and number of scrolls.
"I… well we, have a confession to make, Harry," Ron had started, stepping over to him after Harry had come into the Room of Requirement. Since it was their usual time to meet, Harry had entered expecting only the other four. But the entire DA was there, including Tonks, standing there in front of him.
"We… ahh… well ya' see, Harry," Ron stammered, "the rest of the DA, they kind of figured something was up when they saw us in the Library so much. And, well mate, we had a little help." Ron had then picked up and handed him the large bag that he now carried. "These are for you Harry. For you in your fight and for us to find Hermione."
"We all miss her, Harry," Luna added, as she walked over and gave Harry a hug, "and this gives us some way to try and help. Please, we want you to take them and put them to good use."
And, with that, he had staggered out the door.
'The entire DA did this' he thought as he ran his hands through his hair. 'For me and for Hermione! How can I ever… what could ever repay this? Finding you!' he began as his thoughts drifted to Hermione.
"Now, let's put these to good use!" he said aloud to no one but himself. "Let's find Dumbledore and see if these will motivate them to action!"
Harry sped down the hallways until he was in front of the massive spiral stairs. He was about ready to run the gauntlet of the Headmaster's favorite sweets, when the statue gently moved aside. Seeing this as an open invitation, Harry entered and let the stairs gradually carry him to the highest landing. There he stepped off and walked to the door to the Headmaster's office and gave a sharp knock.
"Please, Harry, come in," he heard from somewhere behind the door.
As Harry stepped through and closed the door behind him, he asked, "How did you know it was me, Professor? Did Professor Tonks tell you I was coming?"
"She did mention that you might be stopping by around this time tonight, yes," the wizened old man responded, the twinkle in his eyes quite bright.
"Then you know I have these," Harry said with a frown on his face, holding the bag up in front of him.
"No, Harry. I'm quite unaware of what it is that you are carrying in your satchel. Perhaps you would like to show me?" Dumbledore said as he motioned to the chair next to him.
"I… well the DA really, has been researching ancient texts in the hope of finding something we can use to find Hermione." Harry's said a little too forcefully, his old anger starting to bubble beneath the surface as he looked at the Headmaster. "It's been almost two months now and nothing. No notes, no messages, nothing! I know the Order is trying… but," Harry looked up now, his eyes full of sadness, and looked directly at Dumbledore. "Is that why Mundungus was killed? Were you getting too close?"
"Yes, Harry. We believe it was. Mundungus had gone to the tavern in an effort to find more information about a cave he had heard about." Dumbledore added with a deep sigh, "Alas, we don't know whether he was able to ascertain the cave's location before he was attacked."
"I'm sorry, Professor," Harry said meekly.
"Thank you, Harry. Now, shall we see what the students have found," he said reaching out for the bag.
Handing the bag over to the Headmaster, Harry asked him a question that had been itching in the back of his mind. "Sir? When will I be allowed to leave Hogwarts? Your wards… well, can't I even go to Hogsmeade?"
Dumbledore placed the scroll he had unrolled onto his desk and the joyous look of discovery in his eyes faded as he turned his attention back to the young man in front of him. "Harry, I apologize for having confined you like that. I felt that in the dark emotional state you were in I had no choice. I can't describe to you the number of students who came to me fearing for your… safety. The Weasleys, Mr. Longbottom, and Miss Lovegood especially, were quite beside themselves."
"And what about you, Professor? Was imprisoning me your only option?" Harry asked with a demanding tone.
"No, Harry, it wasn't," Dumbledore answered as he sat back into his chair and steepled his hands together before him. "But I reasoned that in keeping you here, I was protecting you from running into Voldemort's open arms. As for the demons of guilt you carry within, those were something you needed to defeat yourself."
Harry sat a little forward in the chair as he looked across the desk. "You could have at least talked to me, told me what was happening! It's just like before, keeping me in the dark 'for my own good'."
"No, Harry. I'm afraid this isn't like before. This involves Miss Granger and her safety. Allowing you and Mr. Weasley to pursue her captors on your own would have been irresponsible act on my part. I care dearly for each and every student here, and their safety is my primary concern above all others."
Dumbledore leaned forward now and rested his hands on his desk. "Harry, do you honestly believe that had I told you of all our plans it would have made it any easier for you?"
"Yes, I could have…" Harry started, but Dumbledore just looked over the rims of his spectacles at him. "No. You're right, it would have been worse."
A smile crept across the old man's face, "And yet, with help from your friends, a good many friends it seems Harry," he said, raising one of the scrolls up from the desk, "you have been able to conquer a number of your demons. All of your professors have made comment on your, and Mr. Weasley's I might add, new determination."
The headmaster rose from behind his desk and sat in the chair next to Harry. Placing his hand on Harry's forearm he stated in a hushed but clear voice, "Harry, I know we have had our disagreements. That my past decisions, though for what I perceived at the time to be correct reasons, have seriously undermined your trust in me and I hope to one day again re-earn that trust. But, please do try and see things from my perspective." After a pause, Dumbledore continued, his gaze piercing into Harry's, "I'll make an agreement with you. If you swear, on your friendship to Hermione, to not attempt any rescue efforts without my knowledge, then I will lift the wards that keep you bound to the school grounds."
Harry looked up from the floor and turned his gaze out the window to the multicolored trees of early fall. But before he started to speak, Dumbledore had one more thing.
"Let me also add that I am quite proud of you. You have been able to accomplish something that has alluded me for some time. Bear witness to the meaning behind this bag you have brought with you Harry. This bag contains the efforts of students from all houses of Hogwarts. It was not assigned to them, it wasn't even originally asked of them, but yet they did it anyway. That, Harry, says a great deal."
Harry rose and stood before the window. He placed his hand on the cool glass and thought about everything that had happened; the battle, Hermione's abduction, his destructive behavior towards everyone, and his soul crushing spiral to rock bottom. Yet, they had never left him. Ron, Neville, Ginny, Luna, the whole of the DA, even Malfoy in his own odd way, had been supporting him.
Harry turned from the window and looked at Dumbledore's expression of hope. "You have my word, Professor, and sir… I am sorry. About everything."
"No need, Harry," the headmaster smiled, his eye's lighting with a brilliant twinkle, "shall we see what your friends have found for us?"