*** Author's Note-Thanks for all the great reviews-it really keeps me motivated. A lot of people have been wondering about Harry & Hermione, about the next Death Eater attack, and about the Time Turner. I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint. Enjoy!
Ch 19: `Twas the Night Before Christmas
After most of the students had gone home for the holidays, only Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, and Draco remained after classes were over. Dumbledore had informed Harry, Hermione and the Weasleys that they would remain at the school over most of the holidays, but that on the 24th and 25th, they would be able to visit with their families at Harry's mansion. Since there was just the five students, there was only one table set up in the Great Hall. At first, Draco didn't eat at the same time, but after several days, he began eating with them, though he was quiet at first and kept to himself.
On the 23rd during lunch, Harry addressed Draco while the others were eating. "Uhh, Draco. If you would like to go somewhere for Christmas besides just staying here, you would be welcome to come have Christmas with us."
Ron spit his mouthful of soup across the table and Hermione glanced up with amazement in her eyes.
"Well, if you must know, I have several invitations I am considering accepting right now Potter. I'm not here because I have nowhere to go. You know where my father is and my mother is…uhh…visiting old family on the continent this year. I am here merely working on an independent study project with Professor Snape. I certainly don't need any charity from you Potter."
In a controlled voice, Harry replied, "Well, if you change your mind, the offer remains open. We'll be leaving tomorrow morning at nine from Dumbledore's office."
When Draco left, Ron hissed, "Have you gone mad? Why on earth would you invite him to spoil our holidays?"
Harry turned and gazed at Ron, "How many times have you spent Christmas alone, without any family or friends? It's one of the worst feelings in the world Ron. I wouldn't wish it on anyone, not even Draco." Then Harry stood up and left.
The next morning, Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny took their packed bags and walked up to Dumbledore's office. There they saw Draco sitting on a small packed trunk.
"Well, it seems Professor Snape won't be needing any help for the next day or two, so if the offer is still good, Potter, I accept your invitation," said Draco quietly.
"Good, come on then," offered Harry.
Dumbledore's gargoyle began to turn, and down strode Dumbledore himself. "Everyone ready?" his eyes seemed to sparkle as he gazed at the four teens. "Grab your things then and grab hold of this staff."
A moment later, the five found themselves on the street outside of Harry's mansion on Grimmauld Place. Dumbledore gave Draco a piece of paper to read and then they walked to the front door. Harry disappeared briefly for a moment, though only Hermione noticed. Before she could say anything, he reappeared and grinned widely, shaking his head. All six entered the mansion and spent the next hour settling in. Ron and Draco sat down and played several very violent games of Wizard's Chess, while Harry and Hermione read a few books nearby to make sure that it was only the wizard pieces that exchanged physical blows. Hermione didn't ask where he had disappeared to, she was just glad to see him happy and peaceful. Harry was in the best mood she had seen him in for several months. Later, while Ginny busied herself decorating a tree Harry brought from the backyard and making the house seem more festive, Harry and Hermione wandered around the house. In midafternoon, both the Weasleys and the Grangers arrived with Auror escorts. Several professors from the school arrived as did several members of the Order of the Phoenix.
Ron hissed at Hermione, "Who on earth invited Snape?" as he glared at Draco talking quietly with Snape by themselves in a corner. With a glance at Harry, Hermione looked back at Ron. "He's going soft in the head, you know," he whispered to her. Hermione just sighed in exasperation.
Molly was in the kitchen with Ginny cooking an enormous feast, most everybody else was scattered in rooms from the kitchen to the study to the large meeting room where the Christmas tree stood.
When it was time for dinner, Harry stood at the large table in front of the Christmas tree and thanked them all for coming. He then gave a toast to a better year and invited them to all begin eating. After dinner, everyone hung around, chatting in small groups, when several different lights began flashing from the star on top of the tree.
"Nice star, Harry," commented George. "It's not one of ours, is it?"
"Yeah, we wouldn't want it to explode or anything," laughed Fred.
With a serious look on his face, Harry glanced at Hermione. "They're coming," he announced. Looking up at the star, he counted four quick blue blinks, saw a pause, then counted four quick blue blinks again. The talking had subsided as everyone in the room looked curiously at the very serious looking Harry.
"The Death Eaters are here, and they're coming for us." Aurors and professors around the room reached for their wands.
"That's impossible," shouted Lupin. "This place is one of the most powerfully guarded and hidden of any place in Britain."
"Nothing is impossible, no defense is perfect," muttered Harry quietly. "My parents were perfectly hidden as well."
Hagrid boomed, "Bring `em on!"
"No Hagrid! There are too many. There are at least eighty out there. By now they've probably sealed off both the floo network and raised anti-Apparation spells. And there are too many for us to fight."
Chaos broke out as wizards and witches protested. Harry tried to regain control but nobody paid him much attention. Dumbledore raised his hands and called for attention. "I believe Harry has something else he wishes to tell us."
A small boom shook the walls, causing everyone to look around.
"Listen to me. That will be the Death Eaters trying to penetrate the outer shell of defenses. We don't have much time. You need to listen to me." Harry glanced around the room quickly, making sure he had everyone's attention. "Everyone gather around the Christmas tree and grab hold of a branch. It is a portkey that will take us to the front gate of Hogwarts." Harry waited as everyone moved to the tree and grabbed a branch. Then he grabbed a branch as well and said, "Hogwart's Front Gate."
A moment later, everyone opened their eyes to see the clear, star filled sky above Hogwarts glowing down on them. Hermione's shriek made everyone look around.
"I knew he'd do something stupid like this. I just knew it!" she screamed.
"Who? What?" asked Ron.
"Harry of course! He's gone!" Everyone looked around and realized she was right. The tree, the decorations, the presents, and everyone that had been at the party was there by the front gate. Everyone except Harry.
"We have to go back and get him," she urged.
Dumbledore, Moody, and Lupin seemed to flicker for a minute.
"I am afraid that we cannot, Miss Granger. The spells blocking Apparation are working both ways. Nobody can either get in or out of the mansion now."
"What about nearby the mansion? You have to try again. Please."
But the three had already disappeared again. This time they did not come back. There was nothing for the rest to do but wait.
*-*-*
As Harry triggered the portkey, he cloaked himself to make himself invisible. Once he was sure that everyone was safe at Hogwarts, he teleported himself back to the study, then he teleported himself several times around the room, just to make sure that he could still move about the mansion. He had suspected that the anti-Apparition spells would not prevent him from teleporting, since it was a different type of magic that he used from those who Apparated. Concentrating for a moment, he felt the ground tremble and waited for a moment. Sniffing, he sensed the odor he was waiting for and smiled. Feeling the outer shell of spell defenses collapse, he waited. It took them a few more minutes to break through the second ring of defenses. He smiled again. Concentrating his senses, he could discern their anger and frustration.
Moving to the table, he took a candle, created a globe of air around it, and then caused the candle to light within the globe. With a wave of his hand, he sent the lit candle flying across the room to hover in front of the double doors to the meeting room and waited. It wouldn't be long now. He could hear the shouts of triumph from both the front and back doors. He could hear the pounding of several pairs of boots stomping upstairs, but most of the Death Eaters were moving slowly and methodically through the house, looking for him and his friends.
Within a minute, the double doors were thrown open and in burst nearly twenty Death Eaters. Standing on the far side of the room, Harry caused the burning candle to float backwards to the middle of the room. Every eye in the room followed its progress.
"Cheap parlor tricks? Is this how you plan to defy the Dark Lord? You might as well come out of your hiding holes. We will find you!"
"You will only find me. The others have already left and are safe," replied Harry as he uncloaked himself and made his body visible to the Death Eaters. "I only remained behind to offer you the chance to surrender."
The Death Eaters laughed. "You are outnumbered twenty to one in this room alone. You and your friends couldn't handle half that number in the Ministry of Magic," mocked the leader of the Death Eaters in a voice that Harry recognized with a flash of anger and rage.
"Perhaps not, but aren't they all in prison now? And didn't your precious Lord Voldemort abandon them to their fates as he, too, fled in fear from Dumbledore? Tell me, Lestrange, why did Voldemort bother rescuing you from the Ministry when he left everyone else behind?" taunted Harry with a smile.
"Silence!" shrieked Bellatrix Lestrange. "There is no escape for you this time Potter! Your continued interference in the plans of our Master will end tonight. As will the interference of your friends. Now, where are they hiding?" she threatened as she lifted her wand.
"Before you reject my offer to surrender peacefully, let me explain the alternative. Take a deep breath. That odd odor you detect is natural gas. Muggles use it for heating but in large enough quantities, it can be very explosive. By now, the house is flooded with it. The only thing allowing you to continue serving your despicable master from this side of the grave is the fact that the burning candle you see in front of you is enclosed in a bubble. The first spell that disrupts either the bubble or my concentration on the bubble will create a fiery inferno that will end all of your miserable lives in a heartbeat."
"You're bluffing. This is just a trick. Besides, you would be caught in it as well. You can't Apparate away."
"No, I can't Apparate away. But I have a portkey, do you?"
Several of the Death Eaters looked extremely uneasy.
"Make up your minds, I'm not going to wait around all night. I've got presents to unwrap in the morning."
As a dozen of them raised their wands led by Lestrange, Harry muttered, "I was afraid of that." After he heard the first syllables of Avada uttered, he disappeared. The bubble disappeared too. A moment later, the mansion and everyone inside disappeared as well in an explosion of fire.
Harry reappeared fifty feet in front of the mansion as the fireball expanded. Concentrating intently, he remembered some of the basic lessons from his Muggle science class and focused on using the warm air currents to push the gas upward, so that the force of the fireball would be directed upward, and not sideways towards the other homes on the street.
The street quickly filled with shrieking people, gaping at the burning house that had suddenly appeared between the others. Harry could see there were Death Eaters scattered around the back and the front, screaming and in pain-many of them with their robes on fire. A sudden weariness gripped his body and his knees nearly collapsed.
"Nice work Potter," commented Moody, who had just appeared behind him.
As tears filled his eyes, Harry hissed. "There's nothing nice about what I did tonight. I'm probably a murderer fifty times over now after tonight."
Dumbledore's hand clasped his shoulder. "I doubt you killed them without giving them an opportunity to escape or surrender."
Harry merely shrugged and nodded slightly in the affirmative.
"You did not kill anyone in cold blood, Harry. You gave them a chance. It is more than they would have given any one of us. Yes, there are a number of people dead tonight, Harry. But you saved all of your friends tonight by your courageous actions. All of us are deeply in your debt, Harry. Thank you."
Harry still felt sick at the thought of so much death, death that he had brought about, despite what Dumbledore had said. But Dumbledore was right, he had saved his friends. And that was worth it. It had to be. Harry started shaking with exhaustion.
"Can you make it back to Hogwarts?" asked Dumbledore urgently. Seeing Harry nod, he continued, "Lupin and Moody will make sure the Ministry is informed and they will handle the situation here. I will accompany you back to the school."
When Harry and Dumbledore appeared at the gates of Hogwarts, they were mobbed by their remaining friends.
Pushing her way right to the front, Hermione bellowed, "Harry Potter, how dare you try and…"
She paused as Harry muttered sorry and collapsed right into her arms. Ron lent her a hand in supporting the unconscious Harry until Dumbledore muttered "Mobilicorpus," and levitated Harry to the infirmary with the others following close behind.
*-*-*
For perhaps the fiftieth time, Madame Pomfrey insisted Harry was fine and just resting, finally convincing the remaining teachers and friends to leave Harry alone in the infirmary. Only Dumbledore and Hermione remained. Hermione sat rooted in her chair at his side, holding Harry's hand tightly. Dumbledore was seated on the opposite side, deep in thought. Realizing that neither was leaving or going to pay her any attention, Madame Pomfrey left in a huff muttering, "I've never seen the like. It'll be a miracle if the boy lives long enough to graduate…"
Clearing his throat, Dumbledore spoke softly to Hermione. "I am very curious about how Harry knew we were going to be attacked and how the mansion was so well defended."
Hermione looked across and answered. "Harry was nervous since it had been so long since Voldemort had tried something. He suspects that Voldemort has spies everywhere and even though the mansion is supposed be unplottable, it seemed like a good opportunity to attack, with everyone there for the holidays. Harry told me that Sirius had been doing a number of modifications on the house's defenses while he was there last year and Harry and I spent some time today checking on them. The star was a simple alarm that could be activated or tripped by an intruder. The blue light blinked for every twenty enemies it detected. The other defensive spells, well, uhh…they were already there. We just made sure they were still working."
"And the Christmas tree portkey?"
"Oh, Sirius had left that. We just transformed it into a huge Christmas tree."
"Do you know why we could not Apparate back in to the mansion? Normally we never Apparate to a place that's unplottable like the mansion because it sets off all kinds of magical interference that reveals the hidden location. But since the mansion had already been compromised, it did not matter if we Apparated straight there. However, the mansion was completely sealed against Apparition, both in and out. Do you know anything about this at all, Miss Granger?"
"I thought the Death Eaters did that," replied Hermione.
"Well, they could have, but usually it is two different spells. And they usually do not cast them both, but I suppose they could have done so," mused Dumbledore.
"Professor Dumbledore, what happened back at the mansion? Why is Harry so tired?"
"He has not told her about his elemental magic. Ahh, Harry, you try so hard to protect everyone around you. Is that why you blocked us from Apparating back to the house to help you? Were you afraid that we would get caught in the explosion, too? You try to hold far too many things too close to your chest. You need to share some of your secrets, for your own sake." Dumbledore did not notice Hermione's eyes focused in concentration.
"When we returned we were heading towards the mansion when it exploded. I am not sure exactly how-probably some combination of spells cast by the Death Eaters. Harry managed to escape, but most of the Death Eaters perished. There were some that were seriously hurt outside, but I believe most everyone in the house died. The Ministry is cleaning it up. I do not believe any innocent lives were lost in any of the surrounding houses. Harry was probably just exhausted from casting spells."
Hermione watched him silently. "He's hiding something from me. Something about elemental magic and Harry. And he's trying to soften it. Harry laid a trap somehow for those Death Eaters. The mansion didn't blow up on accident. Harry probably did it on purpose and will probably have to deal with the guilt of killing all of those Death Eaters. Great! Just what Harry needs-more burdens to carry. Poor Harry." "I see. So Harry will be OK?"
"He just needs a good night's sleep, Miss Granger. I would suggest that you go to your own room and do the same."
"I believe I am quite comfortable here in my chair, Professor Dumbledore," replied Hermione, with a steely look in her eyes.
"Of course, Miss Granger. It was only a suggestion." Standing, Dumbledore managed to hide his grin. "If Harry is awake and feeling better by morning, bring him to the Great Hall tomorrow, I believe the tree and all of the presents have been relocated there. Good night." Dumbledore turned and left quietly.
A few minutes later, Hermione was asleep in her chair, still holding Harry's hand. Madame Pomfrey checked on them occasionally, but made no further attempts to make Hermione leave.
*-*-*
Harry kept repeating the night's events over and over in his dream. He had passed the bulk of the day happily, confident that the preparations he and Hermione had made would be in place before the Death Eaters attacked. They had spent most of the day consulting books on how to strengthen the defensive wards at Grimmauld Place and making them as strong as possible. They had also made the Christmas tree portkey. Hermione had thoroughly researched the subject, but they had never attempted to do it. They had tested it that afternoon, and it seemed to work fine.
He knew everything would work out fine because when he had disappeared before entering the mansion, he had transformed into his dragonform, cloaked himself in invisibility, and flew to the roof to act as a sentinel. Later that evening, his keen hearing detected the sharp poppings of Death Eaters Apparating into the woods behind the house and across the street. He made a rapid count of the approaching enemies and made the decorative star he was going to use as his alarm begin blinking. Then he teleported to Hogwart's grounds to wait for the arrival of all of his friends. Several minutes later, they appeared, and he breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that he could enjoy a few hours with his friends despite the coming attack because he knew they would all escape safely. Then he flew to the forest where he could transform back to his normal, human form and turned back the Time Turner to go enjoy his day with his friends. He relived the joyful scenes of the day, the party and the dinner, as well as the tense moments of the escape and showdown with the Death Eaters. Then his world exploded in orange flame and screams and he was left alone in darkness. These same scenes unfolded before his eyes again and again and again.
Only suddenly he didn't feel quite so alone. There was something there, something warm just past the darkness, something in his hand. He couldn't make out what it was, but he kept searching for it. As his mind fought back against the explosions and the screams and the smothering loneliness of the darkness, he realized it was a hand. Someone was holding his hand. As his eyes cracked open, he made out the form of the body that belonged to the hand. "Of course. Hermione. You've always been there for me. Always. You have never let me down, ever. How can I ever thank you enough for all you've done for me. Thank you again." He gave her hand a gentle squeeze and drifted back into a deep, dreamless, restful sleep.
*-*-*
With light streaming through the windows, Harry shifted in bed and woke up slowly, stretching his arms as he sat up. He looked over at Hermione, who looked beautiful, sleeping peacefully in her chair. He thought he saw a smudge on the side of her cheek and reached over to brush it off. As he rubbed her cheek with his thumb, Hermione's eyes popped open and she squealed as she jumped backwards, tripping on the chair and tumbling into the next bed.
"Harry Potter! What on earth do you think you're doing?!?!" she screeched.
"Uhh, I was trying to uhhh…clean your face?" he offered, realizing what a stupid answer it was as soon as he had said it.
"While I was asleep?"
Harry was quickly realizing just how foolish he must appear. "Well, you had this smudge on your cheek and uhh.."
"The smudge you are referring to was probably my mascara running because I was crying hysterically last night because like some idiotic knight in shining armor, you were running around last night trying to save the rest of us at the risk of your own life…"
"Did you say crying hysterically?" grinned Harry.
"What I meant to say was that it was raining buckets last night when you portkeyed all of us out of the mansion-but you wouldn't know because you didn't come with us, you were too busy playing hero-boy again trying to protect the rest of us…"
"Oh, yes, well, I'm very sorry I made you uhh…that I made it rain here and that I didn't check the weather here first. But Hermione, I really wanted to thank you for staying here by my side last night. I had some really bad nightmares, and you…uhh…well I slept very…uhh…well, thank you very much for staying. It meant a lot."
Blushing a little bit, Hermione said softly, "You're welcome." More softly, she added "Anytime."
Blushing a bit himself, Harry asked, "What?"
"I said, you're welcome."
"Oh, that's what I thought. Uhh, Happy Christmas."
"That's right, it's Christmas Day! Come on, let's go to the Great Hall. Everyone is probably there by now."
Together, they raced through the halls to the Great Hall. Pushing open the large doors, they received a thunderous greeting. Everyone was overjoyed to see Harry back and in one piece. There was plenty of wonderful food for everyone and lots of presents to be opened by everyone. Despite the events of the previous evening, Harry thought it was probably his best Christmas ever.
Watching from the side, Dumbledore, McGonagall, Moody, and Lupin discussed the various events of the previous evening.
"So are you buying into Potter's load of bull about Sirius strengthening the protection enchantments and making that portkey?" asked Moody.
Lupin shook his head and chuckled as Dumbledore answered. "Of course not. Sirius had many strengths, but he was never particularly adept at defensive wards or creating magical items. Harry is very good at hiding things, but he is not a particularly convincing liar, at least not yet. Unfortunately, he is improving. No, I believe that Harry and Hermione have been working on a number of projects together. The work they did at the Black mansion is probably only the tip of the iceberg."
"Albus, how did the Death Eaters find out about the mansion in the first place? It was supposed to be untrackable, unplottable. I don't understand," asked McGonagall.
"Minerva, that is one of my greatest concerns. They could never have found out about the mansion without someone telling them about it-someone who has been there."
"Probably that filthy little Kreacher," growled Moody.
"Possibly, but I do not believe so. I am afraid it is one of us who have visited the place with Harry, someone who knew we were going to be celebrating Christmas there with the Grangers and the Weasleys. No, I am afraid we have a traitor in our midst."
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