Harry Potter and the Alucinor Dicio

Chapter 3 – Oh what a night

Once they arrived Harry was immediately surrounded by people. Ron slapping him on the back, asking how he'd been, Ginny greeting him quietly, Mrs. Weasly fussing around him, and Remus and Dumbledore in the corner of the kitchen , watching. As soon as they could escape, the trio , plus Ginny, went to take Hermione's belongings upstairs. Once they had deposited her stuff they all piled into Harry and Ron's room to talk.

“ So where are Fred and George?” questioned Harry.

“ They couldn't leave the shop at such a peak time, you know, too close to start of term.” Ron stated as Ginny rolled her eyes. “ They have both joined the order, though, Mum's going insane! And she threatened hexing them until they could no longer walk or talk if the said anything to us about the meetings.” Ron stated glumly. He brightened up a bit, “ They have however left us a parting gift of the new improved Invisible Extendable Ears, though. So that's something!”

Hermione huffed at this information, no doubt thinking how wrong it was to eavesdrop on their unknowing elders. Harry however was shown how they work, they were completely visible so you could attach it to your ear, then you tapped it and said ' Evanesco' and it became instantly invisible. Harry thought that this was a definite improvement over last years.

“ And we should here something interesting tomorrow night!” exclaimed Ginny, “ they have all been going on the last few days about someone coming tonight. Mum and Professor Lupin don't think she should be here, but Dumbledore insists. They've been having loads of arguments about it!” Harry wondered who Dumbledore could possibly invite that would cause such strife with Molly and Remus.

“ I think the person has something to do with you, mate.” Ron said. “ They keep talking about how she'll effect Harry. And how you've had enough to deal with, but Dumbledore insists that it is time you knew everything. That he had kept far too much from you. Harry... what didn't you know? I mean, it's a bit weird to be saying that.” Here it was, the moment Harry had tried his best to avoid. The Prophecy. He took a deep breath trying desperately to think of some excuse when Hermione stepped in and saved him.

“ Honestly Ron! Tomorrow is Harry's birthday, and what with what's happened to him this year, can't you just allow him one peaceful day? He'll tell us when he's ready and not before !” Harry shot Hermione a look of gratitude at this pronouncement. Ron , however , took exception to it.

“ Bloody hell, Hermione, not everyone has been spending everyday speaking to him this summer! Of course maybe we'd know as much as you if you'd bother to write us at all this summer! But clearly you were too busy with HARRY to bother!” At the end of this tirade, Ron got up and stormed out the door. Ginny rolled her eyes and looked at Harry, who seemed shocked, and Hermione who looked annoyed.

“ Honestly, as if Harry and I have just been living it up over the past three weeks, it's not my fault he can't use a telephone to save his life!” Hermione muttered as she stalked into her room to begin unpacking. Ginny shrugged apologetically at Harry and followed her to help. Harry flopped down on his bed, alone for the first time since arriving. Hermione and Ron at each others throats again. Welcome back, Harry. Harry lay there and sudden thoughts of Sirius crept in. How happy Sirius had been last Christmas when they had all been there. His face as he taunted Bellatrix Lestrange in the Dept of Mysteries, him falling through the veil....

Harry sat up suddenly, he hated these thoughts, he had managed not to think of it for the whole summer. Suddenly he was on his feet, walking out into the hall with purpose, he headed towards Sirius' old room, where Buckbeak was housed. Apparently he had been moved however, for all that was in the room was the bed. Even Sirius' possessions, few that they had been, had been removed. It finally hit Harry as he stared at the empty room. He's never coming back. All of a sudden Harry fell on the bed, finally letting out the grief and anguish that he had not been able to express at the Dursley's.

Harry didn't know how long he lay there, evening had approached as shadows crept into the room. Suddenly Harry was aware of a comforting presence, stroking his back and murmuring. Hermione, he thought. She was the only one who would dare come in here, anyone else would have let him be. He wiped his eyes and looked up into her concerned face. Harry just stared mutely, he didn't know what to say, where to begin, so he just watched her.

“ We all miss him Harry. I know none of us can truly understand, but I think about him too.” Hermione stated simply. “ He wouldn't have wanted you to stop living, he would have wanted you to go on for him. He'll always be with you, you know.” Somehow, even though these words from anyone else would have incensed Harry, from Hermione they calmed him. Why is it only with her that I can calm down? He wondered. Hermione was , had always been like a soothing balm to him. Harry shrugged these uncomfortable thoughts off, however and looked at her.

“ I know Hermione, I just needed to... I needed to...” Harry choked on these words. He looked intently into Hermione's eyes, her deep brown eyes so filled with concern and caring. “ Thank you.” he whispered. “ I don't know where I would be without you, without any of my friends I suppose.” Hermione blushed at this and brushed it off. Harry took a deep breath, “ Hermione.... you know that I have been keeping certain things from you, but I want, no I need to talk to you about it.” Harry started, he proceeded to tell her of what had really happened when he got back to Dumbledore's office, about the anger he had displayed towards the Headmaster, and about the prophecy. Through it all, Hermione listened and didn't interrupt his entire telling of the tale.

When he had finally finished, looking at her fearfully, expecting her censure, she sighed. “ Harry James Potter, I know that you think this is supposed to be some great, life-altering news, but honestly! It was to be expected, wasn't it? I mean you and V- Voldemort have always been connected so, it seems only right that you be the one to defeat him. As to this power he knows not, well, we'll just have to spend our time this year, improving on your spells and trying to figure out what this power is!” Hermione was really hitting her stride now, as she was getting excited over the possibilities of what the power could be.

“ Hermione, you do realize I am going to have to murder Voldemort, right?” Harry asked. “ I mean, you .. and Ron are going to be in danger if he ever learns of this prophecy. Voldemort wouldn't hesitate to use either one of you against me. And I have to kill him, and I don't know if I can. I mean, you didn't see Hermione, when Bellatrix ki..killed Sirius, I wanted to kill her, but I couldn't even manage a decent Crucio!” Hermione blinked at the vehemence of Harry's voice.

“ Harry,” she stated , just as strongly, “ first off, it's not like Ron or I haven't been in danger before, and before you even start, it was NOT your fault. I would have followed you to Voldemort's headquarters last year if I had to! And nothing you said would have convinced me otherwise! I will never let you stand alone, and neither would Ron. And personally, i think it reflects very well on you that you couldn't perform an Unforgivable! It just shows what type of person you are! There is more than one way to skin a cat, and nowhere in that prophecy does it say you have to kill V- Voldemort with the killing curse, in fact it would be extremely difficult given the situation with your wands! We will figure something else out, Harry. Just give me time. As for you being a murderer, I don't even think of it like that. Dumbledore killed Grindelwald, didn't he? You don't think he's a murderer do you? Harry, in times of war, extremes are called for, so don't you ever think of yourself that way again, do you hear me?”

Harry, at some point during this speech, began to smile. Somehow, when Hermione laid it all out like that, it just seemed, right, and logical, you know? He looked at his friend, who had surprised him, once again, and reached out and gave her a huge hug. Hermione was startled, to say the least, Harry never initiated contact like that! She hugged him back fiercely and pulled him up.

“ Come on, then, I suppose we should go talk to Ron. Lord knows if he finds out you told me first, he'd loose it!” Hermione said exasperatingly.

“ So does that mean you'll be doing a repeat performance, then?” Harry chuckled. Hermione glared at him, then softened and laughed softly as they made their way down the hall in search of Ron. They found Ron in his room, sitting on the bed and polishing his broomstick. He looked up, a strange expression crossing his face as he saw that Harry and Hermione were together. Harry stopped in front of Ron and looked down at his friend.

“ Look, Ron, I know you think that Hermione and I have somehow excluded you this summer. But we haven't, not intentionally! I would have given anything to be able to owl you everyday for news, especially since you were staying in the headquarters, but you know I couldn't!” Ron looked slightly mollified and ashamed at this statement, he did know how hard it must have been for Harry to not know what was going on. At least Harry wasn't like he was last year, blaming everyone, and he knew he had Hermione to thank for that. He raised his eyes apologetically to Hermione who just huffed and waved him off. “ But what you said earlier was right, Ron, there are things I've been keeping from you both, and now is the time to talk about them...”

So Harry retold the entire tale to Ron, who looked shocked and then resigned. Hermione, to her credit, re- produced her earlier reactions perfectly, right down to the yelling at Harry. Ron, was backing her up this time , however. When Hermione got to the point of planning the new defense practice time, and what they could do with it, he balked.

“ Bloody hell, Hermione, where are we supposed to find time for all this, between studying, quidditch and prefect duties?” He asked, his voice fading away as he saw the expression on Hermione's face.

“ Ronald Weasly! This is much more important than quidditch, prefect duties, and even grades!” Both Ron and Harry's mouths dropped open in shock at this last statement, more important than grades? Hermione seeing the expression on their faces, huffed. “ This is Harry's life we are talking about. If you honestly think I would put grades above this you are both mental!”

Harry and Ron both stared admiringly at Hermione as she set out her plan of what they should learn and cover over the next few months. They kept brainstorming until Molly came in, tutting about Harry and Hermione missing supper ( “ here are some sandwiches, dears, disappearing like that, after a hard day's travel, too!” ) and sent them off to bed. As Harry lay there contemplating his extreme luck in all things, but most of all his choice of friends, he was almost happy as he dropped off into sleep.

Harry was dropping, falling into a room. He saw Voldemort standing by a fireplace, with Bellatrix by his side. They were deep in discussion when Harry entered the room. Harry felt a strange sensation, not like his other visions where he had been in Voldemort's mind. This was different... somehow. He could hear everything, and feel what Voldemort was feeling, but Harry realized he was not feeling it himself. At the moment Voldemort almost felt..hopeful, waiting for something to happen.

“ I don't trust them, My Lord. They are an untrustworthy race, not to mention that they have no leader. This one we are speaking to tonight, she might not even have any influence over the others..” Bellatrix was speaking to Voldemort in a rushed tone, as if pressed for time.

“ My dear Bella, “ Voldemort laughed, “ I know what they are, and that is precisely why we need to convince them to join us. We are speaking to her because she will understand more than the others, due to her... unusual circumstances.” He was cut off, as a masked Death Eater knocked and entered the room when bidden.

“ She is here, My Lord” the Death Eater bowed low.

“ Well, by no means should we keep her waiting, bring her in” Voldemort stated.

A woman stepped into the room, she wasn't tall, but she held herself as if she were. She was dressed completely in black, as if she were in mourning. The only color about her was her long blood red hair, and her cold gray eyes. Voldemort greeted her , as did Bellatrix, but neither said her name.

“ Voldemort, I don't pretend to know what prompted you to think you could summon me here, but upon receiving your invitation, I was intrigued, and bored, so here I am. What do you want? “ she stated in a clear, if menacing, tone.

“ I have asked you here to offer the lamia and mades a chance to join me. We both know that this is a war, and the Ministry would as soon kill you as talk to you. My side is the only one to choose. Besides, I can offer you and your kind great power in the coming years... rights that the wizards won't give you!” Voldemort stated this in a high cold voice that expected no opposition. It was disappointed however, when the woman began to laugh at his proposals.

“ You must be insane, Voldemort if you think the lamia will ever join you! We serve ourselves, and ourselves alone! We have never sought any type of rights or recognition from the Ministry, so why do you think your false promises of it would sway us now? We are not stupid trolls or giants, who actually believe you intend to follow through with your promises. You and I both know that you seek only enough followers to bring you to power and then have no plans other than their destruction upon your victory. No, you must be a fool if you thought bringing me here would change anything for you. The lamia will do what we have always done, we will not fight and we will not oppose. You get in our way, and we will kill you. Now , as amusing as this has been, you are wasting my time.” She turned to leave. Only to be blocked by the large Death Eater by the door. She narrowed her eyes at him and softly addressed Voldemort, “ I have no problem with killing your followers if they attempt to stop me. But I had thought they would be less eager to die, what with your diminished numbers after your last disaster with Dumbledore.”

The Death Eater must have seen something in her face, for he began to shrink back in fear, and allowed her to walk past him. Voldemort watched her go, his rage at being rejected almost palatable. Harry, meanwhile, was amazed at this turn of events, he did not completely understand, but he knew one thing: Voldemort stood there towering with rage, and Harry did not feel a thing! He woke up immediately, with no pain in his scar. And went downstairs to find Dumbledore.

Okay, I forgot the disclaimer: I don't own him, all belongs to J.K. Rowling, except the lamia, which I stole from L.J. Smith's books! I'm a thief , what can I say? PLEASE REVIEW!!!! Pretty please? I'll love you forever;)