Ch 25: Slytherin Treachery
He hadn't heard the voice for some time, but that didn't worry him. For some reason he knew it would be back. So he focused on the names again. Harry and Hermione. Hermione and Harry. Slowly, the darkness lightened, and he begin to catch glimpses of other memories. Many of them were dark and dangerous, some were light and humorous. In almost all of them was the image of a brown haired witch by the side of a dark-haired young wizard with glasses. There were occasionally other figures of course, but the most constant one was the witch with curly brown hair.
"Hermione! That's who the witch was! Hermione! Then I must be Harry! I'm Harry! But Harry who?" Then it came to him. "Harry Potter." In an instant, he was flooded with all of his memories, from the earliest ones he could remember to the last grueling months of training. How long he watched his life unfold before him again, he did not know. But he saw it all with a different perspective.
In particular, he viewed his latest year of schooling much differently. Where before, he felt as if he had been living a life fractured in a thousand different pieces, he looked back on his recent training as a whole. He could see now how all the different aspects of his study and training had contributed and complemented one another in a way he had missed before. Everything seemed much clearer now.
But there was something else that felt different as well. He paused, wondering what it was. Then he watched as a parade of memories passed before him again, this time focusing on Hermione. As he viewed the many ways she had helped him, how she had always been there for him and supported him, he realized what it was that was different. It was his feelings for her. "How could I have been so blind before? How could I have been so thick?" He finally recognized that the strongest force he had felt in the past year was his growing feelings toward Hermione. They had always been there for each other. They knew each other better than anyone else. He hadn't realized until now how much of his motivation for training and studying came from her support, from a desire to protect her, from the hope of making a world safe where they might have a future together. When he had given it any thought at all, he imagined it was a desire for revenge, or a sense of duty that compelled him to prepare for a confrontation with Voldemort. But now he realized that it was his growing love for Hermione that kept driving him forward and had sustained him through the grueling training he had undertaken. It was her love and constant support that had really enabled him to accomplish all that he had done so far. She had helped him prepare and survive every one of his dangerous adventures. She had helped him through the nightmares of the previous summer. She had helped him become an Animagus. She had supported him through all of his training and studying this year. And if he managed to defeat Voldemort, Harry suddenly realized, Hermione would be the deciding factor. "I can't do it without you Hermione. I need you. I've always needed you. I…I love you Hermione."
Shocked at his own admission, Harry was unprepared for the warm feeling that seemed to be burning inside his chest. He had never felt so good or so happy in his entire life. "Wow?!?! Is this what love feels like?" he wondered. "Is this what it feels like to be in love?"
Suddenly he heard the voice again, and realized it was Hermione. "I'm coming! I have so much to tell you! I'm coming!" he tried to tell her. Harry pushed steadily again through the returning mists. It was very tiring. Then her voice was gone. He realized she was still nearby, just sleeping. Feeling very tired himself, Harry paused. "I'll get some rest while she's sleeping. No need to wake her right now. We'll have plenty of time to talk later. Rest well, Hermione. I love you."
*-*-*
In quiet anger, the thin Slytherin stalked across the nearly deserted Great Hall. Stopping by a bedside where a young man talked quietly with a young woman, he started to speak but was immediately cut off.
"Don't you have some first years to go scare, Ferret?" taunted Ron, as he looked away from Katie.
"I didn't come to swap pathetic insults with the likes of you, Weasel. Do you have your wand with you?"
Surprised at the turn of conversation, Ron replied. "I never go anywhere without it. Why? Am I going to need it?" he said as he drew his wand from under his pillow.
"Unless you can cast spells without it bring it and come with me now," commanded Draco.
"Hey! I'm not one of your Slytherin sidekicks you can just boss around…" protested Ron.
"If you want your friends to live to see another day, you'll come with me right now," hissed Draco.
"What?!?! If you've done anything to Harry or Hermione, I'll…" growled Ron as Katie laid a restraining arm on his shoulder.
"I don't think he would come here warning us about Harry or Hermione if he was going to do something to them," whispered Katie.
"Listen to your girlfriend, Weasley. She's got twice the brains you have," sneered Draco.
"Malfoy," growled Ron and rose from his bed. Katie stepped forward between the two.
"Bring the girl if you want, but I don't have time to waste standing here trying to explain the situation to you," Draco spoke sharply and turned on his heel. After a quick glance at each other, Ron and Katie hurried to catch up with him.
"What's this all about, Malfoy?" asked Ron.
"I think someone means to finish the job the Death Eaters and Dementors couldn't at the Battle of Hogwarts," explained Draco in a low voice as he strode quickly through the halls.
"What do you mean?" burst Ron.
"How thick are you? Who would the Dark Lord like to see dead more than anyone else? And how tough would it be right now to kill a wizard who's flat on his back and been out cold for at least a week?"
"Harry," muttered Ron. "But they've redone the defenses. They can't come back again so soon."
"They don't have to break through the defenses if there are people already inside who would be willing to do the job for them."
"Like Snape," suggested Ron.
"Honestly, Weasley, you are such a thick headed idiot. How on earth Granger and Potter continue to put up with you never ceases to amaze me. Snape's not the enemy. But there are plenty of other Slytherins who would love to get even with Potter. A lot of them lost parents and relatives in the last two attacks on him."
"Like Crabbe and Goyle."
"Ahhh. So you do have a few brain cells after all. Crabbe and Goyle would love nothing better than to get even with Potter. But neither one of them is bright enough to do anything to him and get away with it."
"What do you mean? Like you said, it's not too tough to get even with someone who's out cold."
"But what's the point of getting even if you're immediately caught? They can't just attack him openly. I'm sure they're helping-I heard them talking about something earlier this morning-but someone else is doing the thinking. I think it's my wonderful cousin Deminique."
"Is that the transfer student from Durmstrang? The one who had her wand turned into a pink teddy bear for a couple of days by Harry?" asked Katie.
"It's good to see someone pays attention to things besides Granger."
"Ohh, her." Ron's eyes widened. "Well, she's certainly got a reason to be angry with Harry, but to want to kill him? I don't get it."
"You weren't listening when she was introduced, were you? Her last name is Lestrange. Her mother, my lovely aunt, was one of the Death Eaters at the Ministry of Magic chasing all of you last year. I doubt the Dark Lord was very happy about their failure. What better way for Deminique to redeem her family name, and make a name for herself, than by eliminating Potter for the Dark Lord?"
They had been talking quietly as they marched quickly through the halls heading to the dormitory. They were a few steps away from the door when they heard a blood curdling scream. Racing to the door, Ron threw his shoulder against the door and burst into the room, Draco and Katie right behind him. They heard the echoes of "Stupefy!" and saw Madame Pomfrey fall to the ground. Curses exploded from their lips as they aimed their own wands at the three Slytherins. Crabbe and Goyle were hit immediately and fell to the floor, one was stunned and the other had a full body lock curse cast on him. Deminique had managed to dodge the initial flurry of curses and cast a stunning spell that Draco managed to dodge. However, it hit Katie in the chest and knocked her to the floor. Deminique then quickly cast Serpensortia again, hoping that the two snakes would distract one or both of her opponents.
"Ah, sweet, tormented cousin Draco. I see you've picked the wrong side to support. Just like your favorite teacher Snape. Your family would be so ashamed. But then your dad was foolish enough to get himself caught and your mum-well, mother said she barely lasted five minutes under her Cruciatus curse."
"That was her under the mask?!?! She did that to her own sister?!?!"
"Well, obviously she disguised her voice. She didn't need her own sister and nephew knowing who it was administering the Dark Lord's punishments. You wouldn't have been much use to her in the future. Not that your mother is of any use in St. Mungo's now anyways. But you Draco, will be of great use to me now. Thank you so much for showing up. I was going to frame the brainless trolls over there, but this will be so much sweeter. Once I dispatch you and the red headed freak, I'll use your wand to finish off Potter. A few memory charms and everybody will think you planned the whole thing. Everybody knows of your hatred and rivalry with Potter. And I'll get off scot free. Don't worry, I'm sure they'll send your sidekicks to keep you company when they pack you off to Azkaban-that is if they don't simply tear you limb from limb for killing their precious hero Potter."
Draco's face was white with fury. Ron was slowly backing to the door, his wand out watching the two black snakes advance towards him.
"Don't run too far," sneered Deminique. "Shall we?" she mockingly asked Draco.
They prepared to duel. Both their wands had barely assumed the ready position when they both launched their first curses. Spells bounced around the room as Ron finally stepped out of sight behind the door, the two black snakes slithering towards him. There was a terrible roar from outside the room that startled the two Slytherins and then Ron reentered the room, blood dripping from his hands as he raised his wand slowly at Deminique.
"How?" she started, astonished to see Ron still alive. While she was momentarily distracted, Draco shouted "CRUCIO!" and the spell knocked her to the ground, causing her muscles to contort painfully as waves of intense pain shot through her body.
Without an expression on his face, Draco stepped closer. "This is for me," he hissed as he spun his wand slightly clockwise to increase the strength of the spell. Draco's expression did not change as Deminique's eyes filled with pain. She made no sound, though her body continued to twitch with painful spasms.
Ron stepped closer. "Malfoy, stop it. That's enough."
"Stay out of this Weasley. This is between family."
Ron grabbed Draco's arm and broke his concentration.
"I warned you to stay out of this Weasley!" and he pushed Ron backwards on the floor. As both Ron and Deminique watched in horror, Draco raised his wand again. "And this is for my mother. Avada…"
"DRACO MALFOY!" boomed the voice of Dumbledore in anger. Draco and Ron whirled to see him stride quickly into the room, his eyes blazing. "You are a Malfoy, but you do not need to end up like your father. The Malfoys are an ancient wizarding family, and you have many noble ancestors. You can help restore honor to your family name. But not if you use that curse on a defenseless witch. Use that curse and you will end up like your father."
Draco stood there, a series of emotions playing across his face. Finally he nodded stiffly and lowered his wand.
A sudden thrashing on one of the beds suddenly attracted everyone's attention. Harry's body was jerking violently on his bed. Harry began mumbling, his voice slowly growing louder. "Danger…must help her…awful pain…betrayal…snake…bit her…noooo…too late…too late…must fight, must find her…must remember…can't lose her now…must keep going…must return…needs me…too late…NOOOO!" With a start, Harry sat up and tried to stand, wobbling on his legs. Seeing Hermione lying on the floor at his feet, Harry screamed again. He fell to his knees and put a hand to her neck, trying to stop the bleeding. He remained oblivious to everyone else in the room. He tried to cradle her body and began rocking back and forth, moaning softly as the tears streamed down his face.
When Ron saw that Hermione was injured, he cried out in alarm and ran to her side.
Dumbledore was the first to notice that the room was quickly becoming very chilly. "Harry! You must calm down."
Harry looked up and seemed to finally realize that he and Hermione were not alone. "We've got to help her. We have to save her."
"I am truly sorry, Harry," said Dumbledore softly as he kneeled by Hermione and examined the bite marks. "I will revive Madame Pomfrey and see if she has any antidotes. Judging from the remains I found lying outside the room, I suspect the snake was conjured by the Serpensortia spell, and their venom is very difficult to counteract. I am afraid we may be too late…"
With a look of desparation, Harry asked, "What about Fawkes? He could help, couldn't he? He healed me from the bite of the basilisk."
"Ordinarily, he could. But he just died and returned to life last night. It will be a few days before his powers develop to the point where he might be of assistance. I am afraid we do not have that much time, Harry."
In a calm, quiet voice, Harry stated, "Then I will make the time." He reached for the Time Turner under his shirt. With a look of amazement, he realized it wasn't there and turned to Dumbledore. "Where is it?"
"What?"
"You know what I'm talking about, Professor."
"I wish I could help you, Harry. But I cannot."
Desperately, his emotions surging, Harry focused on Dumbledore "Where is the Time Turner? I need it to save Hermione. I can go back, bring Fawkes forward in time to help her, and then return him. Is that too much to ask?"
"Harry?" Startled, Dumbledore continued. "No, it is not too much to ask. But it is too risky for you to do any more time traveling. Your body and mind barely survived this past year. No one has ever attempted, let alone survived, what you have done these past months. I admit I do not fully understand how you survived at all. Or how you came back to us. But to risk going back in time again may very well put you back in your coma again, or leave you in some alternate time. You cannot take that risk, Harry."
"I cannot take that risk? Do not lecture me on what risks I can take! Don't you think I know what the risks are? Every minute of every day I am reminded that I'm the only person who can oppose Voldemort. Every year, I'm told I can't do this or that, it might be too dangerous. I must be protected at all costs. I must survive to confront Voldemort while those around me suffer and die. I know! I know! The whole fate of the magical world depends upon me confronting and defeating Voldemort. Well, you know what? If I lose Hermione, we all lose. She has helped me face and overcome every obstacle and danger I have encountered since I came to Hogwarts. She is the only reason I made it through this awful year so far. And I know if I ever defeat Voldemort, it will be because of her. She is just as important to defeating Voldemort as I am. You have to let me go back in time once more to get Fawkes to try and save her. If you don't want me using it for anymore training, fine. But let me use it just once more to save Hermione. Please."
Dumbledore looked steadily at Harry for a full minute, considering everything that Harry had told him. Then he reached into his pocket and gave Harry the necklace. "Very well. Take Hermione with you to the northeast tower and take her back in time with you to yesterday morning. Come visit me in my office, give this note to my past self, and we will see if Fawkes can help her recover. Then come back here to this time."
"You have a note? So you knew all along? Why didn't you come earlier? You could have stopped Hermione from being…"
"And you may never have woken up from your coma or realized how much Miss Granger means to you. I am sorry Harry, but when we time travel we can never change the past. We can only try to shape the future. And this horrible experience may have been necessary for you to discover your feelings for Miss Granger and discover the power he knows not. Believe me Harry, if I could have spared you and her from this pain, I would have, but this may have been the only way to save you both. Can you get Hermione to the northeast tower?"
"Yes, I'm feeling much better."
"Go quickly then. I will take care of everything here. Good luck."
Taking the note and putting it in a pocket, Harry stooped and picked up the very pale and still bleeding Hermione. Ron moved to help, but he shook his head and whispered, "Help Dumbledore. I'll be back in a little bit. Trust me."
Stepping outside the room, he saw pieces of black snake everywhere in the hall. There seemed to be huge claw marks everywhere. "Good for you, Ron." Harry smiled. Then he and Hermione disappeared, only to reappear in the northeast tower. As he put the chain first around his neck and then around Hermione's, he whispered, "Hang in there Hermione. Hang on. You're going to be OK. I promise." He spun the hourglass back to take them to the previous morning. Once his stomach settled, he pulled the chain off of their necks. He then teleported both of them to Dumbledore's office, only to discover that it was empty. He called out for Dumbledore, and surprised a number of the painted portraits.
Dumbledore came out of one of the back rooms looking around the room curiously and moved forward quickly when he saw the blood covered teens.
"Harry! You're awake but what happened to you and Hermione? Are you hurt? How did you get in here?"
"It's a long story Professor. Here's a note I am supposed to give you from your future self. Is Fawkes OK?" Harry passed him the note and turned to gaze at the normally beautiful bird. At the moment he looked rather sickly.
Dumbledore quickly scanned through the note as Harry approached Fawkes. Harry looked at Fawkes as he flew to his shoulder and pleaded, "Please help her Fawkes. You're her only hope. Please." Fawkes leaned over Hermione and several tears fell on Hermione's neck. Instantly, the holes in her neck closed and Harry could see the color return to her face. As Fawkes flew back to his perch, Harry hugged her tight and ignored the tears that started to stream down his face.
"Harry? Harry? You're OK?" She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tight.
"I thought I had lost you, Hermione. I nearly did."
"I thought we had lost you, Harry. I couldn't bear the thought of that. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Smiling through his tears, Harry replied, "Oh, you'd probably be much safer far away from me curled up in a very comfy chair by a warm fire reading the latest edition of Hogwarts, A History."
"Well, if that's your idea of a thank you, you can put me down right now."
"Actually, I thought this might be a better way to thank you for everything you've done for me." He set her down and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead. "Is that better?" he asked, smiling at her shocked expression.
"Actually, I was thinking of something more like this," as she leaned up closer to Harry's face. Looking deeply into her eyes, Harry smiled and bent down to…
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