A warm welcome to all ye this week. One quick thing before we start.
I would encourage everyone to listen to Miscard's latest H/Hr Podcast, as it features an interview with Amynoelle and Heaven, whom as you all know I respect greatly as authors. It's very insightful and may even help a few of you aspiring authors to become better. A link is available at the beginning of Chapter 86 of their current A/U story, 'Last Dance'.
That being said, enjoy this week's action-packed chapter!
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Chapter 10: The Diamond Hall
Harry couldn't decide whether to scoff or fall out of his chair.
"Your silence is very telling," mused Draco.
"How would you even know why that cup is important in the first place?" asked Harry.
"Because in the memory he was casting the spell on it," replied Draco. "And before you ask, you don't grow up with Lucius Malfoy as your father and not pick up on some dark magic along the way."
"Does Lucius have...?"
"Horcruxes?" asked Draco. "I doubt it. Despite all his talk he's a coward just like the rest of them. That's what I've come to realise,"
"What?" asked Harry, confused.
"A lot of people think the Dark Lord has followers because they want a piece of his power," said Draco, rubbing his neck. "And that's partially true, but most of them are just afraid to get in his way. They fear him...which is why my father turned me in. If, in fact, he wasn't scared, he would've plotted a way with me to overthrow You-Know-Who and take his place. But he's yellow, just like everyone else. If he's killed anyone himself and I say if , I highly doubt he'd have the bollocks to split his own soul."
"So do you know where the cup is?" asked Harry.
"Specifically, no," replied Draco. "I only saw parts of the room."
"Well could you enlighten me?" asked Harry.
"There was a fireplace...and a hearth rug," said Draco thoughtfully after a moment. "And a wooden rocking chair."
"That's it?" asked Harry skeptically.
"There were a couple windows in the room...but that's all I know," said Draco. Harry sat in silence for a moment before speaking.
"No dead bodies?"
"No," said Draco as though he expected this question.
"Where in the room was it hidden?"
"I do not know," sighed Draco. "In the memory he looked as though he was ready to hide it, but then my father walked in. I didn't get to see."
"How do I know you're not making all of this up?" he asked. "What's to say, for example, that this isn't an elaborate scheme to get me to play right into Voldemort's hands?"
"Your reasoning is that he used me once, why not use me again?" asked Draco with a laugh.
"Something to that extent," replied Harry with narrowed eyes.
"Think about it, Potter," sneered Draco. "Why would the Dark Lord want so many people to know about horcruxes? I'd bet that he's sure you don't know about them, so for starters, he'd be telling you about the only possible means for you to kill him. He'd also have to entrust his death eaters with that secret, something I know he doesn't want to do, because then people would know about his vulnerabilities. It sure seems like a rather large investment on a plan with such high-risk and only marginal reward, as I'm quite sure you won't be going to get that horcrux by yourself."
Harry stared at Draco, thoroughly impressed with his ability to make an argument.
"You still don't believe me?" asked Draco haughtily. "Tell the mudblood my story, see what she thinks."
"Do not talk about Hermione like that in front of me," growled Harry, grabbing the collar of Draco's robe.
"Easy there, Potter, you promised to keep me safe, remember?" said Draco with a smirk.
"And if you talk about her like that again I'll rethink that promise, understood?" asked Harry, not letting go.
"I must've really hit a nerve this time," remarked Draco. "But fine, I'll keep the comments to myself."
"Good," replied Harry.
"Now then, if there's nothing else to talk about, I'm really quite knackered and could use a kip," said Draco turning over. "Unless you wanted to ask about anything else?"
"Why?" asked Harry after a moment. "Supposing you're telling the truth, why did you come to me? Why not stay with them...if Voldemort didn't kill you that means he valued you...why leave that protection?"
"Because that 'protection' as you call it, also involves getting Crucio'ed a lot, and I rather like my sanity where it is, thank you very much," said Draco, not looking at Harry.
Harry stood, and began to walk out of the ward, but stopped at the doors.
"If you're telling the truth, Draco, I will do my very best to get your name cleared of any charges," said Harry, not looking back. When Malfoy didn't respond, he left.
=====
"You promised him what?!" exclaimed Ron.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were sitting in McGonagal's office discussing Harry's conversation with Draco, his eyelids droopy from the late hour.
"Ron, if Draco was telling the truth then he's on our side," said Hermione nervously.
"He's the ferret," scoffed Ron, folding his arms. "I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw Goyle."
"Yeah, but he didn't fake those injuries," sighed Harry, gazing into the fire.
"I think," said McGonagal. "That the first order of business is to determine where this horcrux might be." She got up and walked over to a cabinet and, after unlocking it, pulled out a large silver basin. "I will filter through these memories of Albus' and see if we can find anything matching that description."
The three teens nodded silently.
"Now then...a fireplace, a hearth rug, a rocking chair, and some windows, is that correct Potter?" asked McGonagal.
"Sounds about right," yawned Harry. Hermione smiled gently at him and covered his hand with hers.
"Tired?" she asked softly as McGonagal began sifting through the memories.
"Yeah," he replied, looking at the ceiling. "What time is it?"
"Almost one in the morning," said Ron, looking out the window. "And to think, there are people sleeping right now."
"Potter," said McGonagal, bringing them out of their reverie. "Would you think this might be possible location?"
Harry stood up and walked over to the desk. Looking into the pensieve, he saw a picture of the room in the Riddle Manor where Wormtail had nursed Voldemort back to health.
"That's the house he stayed in before my fourth year," he said contemplatively. "That's the house where he killed his father and his grandparents."
"Riddle Manor," said McGonagal slowly. "Isn't it rather...unprotected?"
"Very," said Harry. "But if Dumbledore taught me anything last year, it was that Voldemort is a man of principle."
"How does that help us?" asked Hermione
"One of his biggest weaknesses is his idea that he's the most powerful being on the planet right now," said Harry, now pacing around the room in contemplation. "Knowing that...he'd hide things in places he wouldn't expect anyone to look...places that don't seem protected."
"I don't get it," said Ron scrunching up his nose in confusion.
"He tries too hard to out-think his enemies," said Harry. "It would be very like him to hide something in a place that looks completely harmless."
"So he might've hidden the cup in plain view, just to try and fool people?" asked Hermione.
"I doubt it's in plain view," said Harry. "He'd protect it somehow. But it fits the profile."
"The ring wasn't protected," said Ron after a moment.
"Yeah, it was," countered Harry. "Dumbledore said he would've died if Snape hadn't helped him...look at what it did to his hand."
"So then we need to search the house," said Hermione conclusively. "Maybe there are secret passages...rooms, something of that nature."
"I agree," said McGonagal. "I will arrange a detail of Order members to investigate."
"Why can't I go?" asked Harry immediately.
"We need to take precautions, Potter," said McGonagal with an impatient sigh. "If this is a trap, we don't need you caught in the mix. And besides, you have your own quests to resolve, don't you?"
"They can wait," said Harry, not giving in just yet.
"Potter," sighed McGonagal, pinching the bridge of her nose. "We have an extraordinary opportunity right now. Low-risk, high-reward operations are very rare, and even more so in times of war. If you go with them to that house, it immediately becomes a high-risk proposal."
"And why's that?" asked Harry indignantly.
"Because you are the one person in this war we cannot afford to lose."
Harry stood in silence for a few minutes before glancing at Hermione, who was looking at him worriedly.
"Alright," he sighed. "But I want to know who's going and when."
"That can be arranged," said McGonagal. "I will tell those involved that it is merely an artifact recovering mission...they shall know nothing of the horcruxes." Harry nodded silently. "Have you given consideration as to when you'll be leaving for the Hall of Reflection?"
"The sooner the better," said Harry. "We don't know how much time we have."
"We can leave tomorrow," suggested Hermione.
"That alright with everyone?" asked Harry. When no one spoke, he nodded. "Tomorrow it is, then."
"Please see me before you depart," said McGonagal. "And if I could hold onto the bracelet until that time, Harry."
Harry nodded and removed the stone circlet from his wrist, handing it to the Headmistress.
"Now, it is exceedingly late, perhaps you three should get some rest," she said, locking it in her desk. "I will see you all tomorrow."
"Yes, Professor," said Harry, turning and walking out of the office, Ron and Hermione behind him.
Harry didn't say anything as the three of them walked back to the common room, though he vaguely registered Ron and Hermione arguing in hushed tones behind him about something.
"Cornish Pixie," he said as they reached the portrait of the fat lady, who was sleeping soundly.
"Put the gin down Vi, you've already had six," she mumbled before swinging forward and letting them in with a snore that sounded rather like a motorcycle revving.
Once they were in the safety of the common room, Ron rounded on Hermione.
"If they want to come, then why can't they?" he asked loudly.
"Because it's not their decision!" yelled Hermione.
"What are we yelling about?" asked Harry, laying down on the sofa.
"Luna - "
"Ronald seems to think that Luna, Ginny, and Neville can come with us when we leave for the Hall," said Hermione, cutting off Ron.
"It's probably not a good idea," sighed Harry, closing his eyes. He had a distinct feeling that Hermione was shooting Ron a very forward 'I told you so' look.
"Well...I just thought..." said Ron hesitantly.
"They have classes," said Hermione. "They can't just skip like we can."
"Why not?" asked Ron.
"It has nothing to do with skipping classes," said Harry.
"What does it have to do with, then?" asked Ron, crossing his arms.
"I have to do this alone."
"You...you're letting us come with you...right mate?" asked Ron.
"I don't want you to," said Harry. "You know that. But seeing how I'd have to tie you both down to keep you from following me, there's no point. And you'd still probably find a way."
"Er...right," said Ron, hesitantly. "I'm...just gonna head up now."
Ron left the common room in silence, the faint sound of the door to the dorm closing in the distance a few moments later.
"Harry," said Hermione softly, sitting down next to him.
Harry opened his eyes and looked at her gently.
"You really don't want us coming with you, do you?" she asked, her eyes glistening.
"I told you at the Dursley's," he said. "I do. But that doesn't mean I don't wish I could do it alone."
"Why?" asked Hermione, sniffling. "Why do you want to put it all on yourself?"
"Because unlike McGonagal, I don't believe that I'm the only person who isn't expendable." He cupped her face with his hand and brushed the tear that had begun to fall down her cheek away. "You mean everything to me."
"Oh, Harry," cried Hermione softly, leaning over and embracing him tightly. "You won't lose me."
"I'm not sure what I'd do if I did," he whispered, stroking her hair softly.
"I love you so very much," she said softly. "Please promise me you won't go and do anything stupid."
"I can't promise that," he replied honestly. "I will do anything to keep you and Ron safe...along with everyone else I love."
"Harry...please," she cried, laying her head on his chest. They lay together for a few moments before Hermione spoke again. "Do you know what scares me the most?"
"What?" asked Harry softly.
"That if you go off alone, something will happen and I won't be there to help you," replied Hermione wiping at her eyes.
"You're always there to help me," smiled Harry. "Voice of my conscience and all that, remember?"
"I'm very tired," said Hermione sleepily a few minutes later.
"Stay here with me," whispered Harry, quickly drifting off.
"What will everyone say?"
"We were studying too hard," mumbled Harry.
"That works," said Hermione with a smile.
The last thought in Harry's mind before he fell asleep was him wondering just what exactly was he still confused about with the girl in his arms.
=====
As it turned out, Hermione had woken just as the sun was rising so they were both able to sneak back to their respective rooms before anyone saw them. Now, Harry stood silently in the dorm he shared with Ron, Neville, Seamus, and Dean, staring out at the red sun slowing making its way above the mountains in the distance.
He wondered what his life would've been like if Voldemort had never existed, if the man who was once called Tom Riddle had never been born.
He wondered about the horcruxes, where the remaining ones were, and whether Draco was telling the truth about the teacup.
He wondered how he could lead people in a valiant charge against the most powerful and evil wizard since Salazaar Slytherin himself.
He wondered how he could be a king on top of everything else he already was...
He wondered how what he felt for Hermione could possibly be anything but love.
"Harry?" asked a groggy voice from behind him.
"It's me, Ron," he replied, not turning around.
"What time's it?" mumbled Ron.
"About half past six."
"Bloody hell," he groaned. "Five hours of sleep ought to be a crime punishable by time in Azkaban."
"I'm sure their cells would be overflowing," chuckled Harry, still looking out the window. He heard the rustle of sheets and heard Ron walk over next to him.
"Looks like a nice day," he commented, ruffling his already messy hair.
"Hopefully it'll stay that way," said Harry, turning around and walking over to his trunk. "Hermione said we should leave as early as possible to avoid drawing attention to ourselves."
"Leave?" asked Ron. "For what?"
Harry looked up at him and lifted an eyebrow.
"I do have a destiny to fulfill, remember?" he asked.
"Oh, right," said Ron, yawning. "What's the rush again?"
"Impending doom," deadpanned Harry.
"Oh yeah," said Ron. "Guess I'll just get dressed then."
"I'll meet you downstairs in the common room," said Harry, grabbing his broom.
He was not surprised to see Hermione already waiting for him when he reached the bottom of the stairs. She had obviously been trying to stay awake but had drifted off in one of the armchairs by the now extinguished fireplace. Harry smiled and watched her for a moment, the gentle rise and fall of her chest when she breathed, how a few strands of her hair had fallen across her face while she slept.
Quietly, he walked over to her and carefully brushed the hair away, her eyes flickering open as he did so.
"Harry?" she asked tiredly.
"It's me," he whispered, smiling at her.
"Sorry," said Hermione, stretching. "I tried to stay awake, but I didn't get much sleep last night."
"None of us did," said Ron, walking down the stairs, looking quite disheveled. "We get to have breakfast at least, right?"
"You know Ron, I think if it ever comes to war, we could store the rations for the entire army in your stomach and then just pump them out when we needed them," cracked Harry.
"Har, har," grumbled Ron. "I'm a growing boy, I need nutrition."
"Ron, if you're still growing you'll surpass Grawp in about a year," smiled Hermione as they left the common room. "And don't worry, I packed us something for the trip."
"So where exactly is this place?" asked Harry as they reached the stone gargoyle.
"Well the entrance is supposed to be in an old castle that was on the eastern coast of the isle," said Hermione. "But like I said, it was destroyed, so there's really no way to know where we're supposed to go without looking."
"Bit of trial and error, then?" asked Ron, as Harry knocked on the door to McGonagal's office.
"Something like that," smiled Hermione.
"Come in," said McGonagal. They entered and to Harry's surprise, saw Remus, Mad-Eye Moody, and Bill Weasley standing there along with the headmistress.
"What are you all doing here?" asked Harry as they entered.
"You should know," smiled Remus.
"It's just you three?" asked Harry incredulously. "That hardly seems like enough people if it's a trap."
"I will be going too," said McGonagal, walking around from behind her desk.
"Why is this teacup so important again?" asked Bill.
"If it's important to You-Know-Who, then it's important to us," grunted Moody. "And that's all that matters."
"Right," said McGonagal nodding discreetly at Harry. "Now then, are you three ready to get going?"
"Yeah," nodded Harry.
"How will you be traveling?" asked McGonagal.
"By broom," replied Harry. "Under disillusionment," he added, seeing Moody's eyebrow arch.
"You lot exercise constant vigilance," he grunted. "Can't have you getting found out, what with everything going on."
"We'll be careful," said Harry. "You guys be careful too."
"We will," smiled Remus, clapping Harry on the shoulder. "Good luck."
"I'll walk you out," said McGonagal, holding the office door open for them. The four of them walked down to the entrance hall in silence, stopping at the open doors.
"It got a little cloudy," noted Ron. "That'll be a good extra bit of cover."
"Indeed," said McGonagal, taking the bracelet out from her robes. "Take this with you Harry. I daresay you'll need it."
"Thanks," said Harry, taking the bracelet and putting it on his wrist as Hermione removed two miniaturized brooms from her pocket and enlarged them for herself and Ron.
"Be careful," said McGonagal as the three teens mounted. "There have been strange stories involving the place where you are going."
"Constant vigilance," smirked Harry, taking out his wand and casting a Disillusionment Charm on himself. Ron and Hermione did the same a moment later.
"Indeed," replied McGonagal, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly. "I shall see you later."
Harry nodded and without another word, kicked off and flew over the Forbidden Forest, Ron and Hermione hot on his tail.
About three hours later they were hovering over the clouds near the coast, Hermione looking at a large piece of parchment.
"We need to go south," she said, rolling the parchment back up. Harry stared at her Disillusioned form and laughed. "What?"
"That just looked weird," he said, turning so he was facing south. "The parchment unrolling and rolling itself."
"You're such a boy," she laughed, zooming past him.
"She's really gotten used to flying, hasn't she?" commented Ron from beside Harry.
"You're telling me," he replied.
"What are you two waiting for? Come on!" yelled Hermione ahead of them. Harry and Ron quickly zoomed up to her and they resumed their journey.
"You're a lot more comfortable up here," said Harry, flying alongside Hermione.
"It's really not as bad as I thought it would be," she replied. "At least when one isn't going a thousand kilometers an hour."
"I don't go that fast," chuckled Harry. "Maybe five-hundred..." Hermione bumped him purposely, causing Harry to laugh. "Don't fall off your broom," he said. "It's a long way down and with you Disillusioned I would have a hard time catching you."
"Ha ha," laughed Hermione dryly. "We should start heading down now...we're nearly there."
"Alright," said Harry. "Oy, Ron! Start going down!"
"Roger that," yelled Ron.
They headed down to the shore and skimmed along the sand for a few kilometers before Hermione halted them.
"There," she said. "Ahead on our right."
Harry looked into the distance and saw what looked like the ruins of an old castle.
"Let's go," he said, and without another word he sped off.
A minute later Harry dismounted in front of a ruined drawbridge, and removed the Charm, the others doing the same a moment later.
"Well you're the know-it-all," said Ron to Hermione. "What is this place?"
"Supposedly this was the home of one of the more powerful lords before the Founder's War," said Hermione, squinting up at the remains of the castle. "The hall has to be around here somewhere."
"Well, let's get started looking, aye?" asked Harry.
The three of them spent the next hour inspecting parts of the castle. There had been nothing promising, and Harry was starting to get discouraged as they made their way into the throne room (or what was left of it anyway), and stood in marvel at the once-great hall.
"Wow," said Ron, looking around. "This place is huge."
"It must've been spectacular when it was intact," noted Hermione.
Harry silently agreed with them. Despite the fact that there were rather large holes in the ceiling and part of the northern wall, most of the frame of fine masonry still stood. Cracked pillars stood on the sides, and at the end of the hall, an old throne covered in cobwebs sat ominously.
"I'm hungry," complained Ron.
"Oh fine," sighed Hermione, sitting on the floor and removing a miniaturised picnic from her pocket. "We're not making much progress anyway."
"It's a fascinating place though," said Harry, as Hermione enlarged their food.
"Yeah," said Hermione, resting her head on her hand. "I just hate getting frustrated."
"Who would've thought Hermione Granger was impatient?" chuckled Ron.
"Only when it comes to finding things out, Won-Won," she countered.
"That was low," smirked Harry.
"Seriously, Hermione, did you really have to bring that up?" asked Ron, leaning against the pillar behind him. "I mean, if it's all the same, I want to forget everything that happened last - wha?"
Harry jumped and drew his wand as the column Ron was leaning against shifted backwards and a low rumble sounded around them.
"What did you do now?" asked Hermione, getting to her feet.
"I don't know!" exclaimed Ron. "I didn't do anything!"
"Guys," said Harry, pointing at the throne. "Look."
Ron and Hermione turned to see the cobweb-covered chair slide a few feet to the right.
"What the?" said Harry, walking up to it. The throne had moved aside to reveal a dark stone staircase.
"Whoa," said Ron, looking down. "I suppose we have to go down there?"
"I would assume so," said Hermione.
"Ladies first," said Ron, motioning her to go down.
"Why thank you Ronald, I never knew you were such a chicken," said Hermione brightly, casting Lumos on her wand before descending into the darkness. Harry swore he heard Ron mutter, "Mental," as he followed her. Chuckling to himself, he was thankful for Hermione's intelligence as he too walked down the stone steps.
The moment his head cleared the floor, the throne slid back into place, trapping them.
"Bloody hell!" exclaimed Ron. "How are we going to get out now?"
"We'll find a way," said Hermione. "Let's keep moving."
The stairs ended quickly but turned into a low, damp tunnel that they had to walk through hunched over.
"Why is it always caves?" muttered Harry to himself, holding his lit wand by his head.
"Sorry?" asked Ron.
"Nothing," said Harry.
"We must be under the ocean by now," said Hermione from in front. "I think if we..."
"What is - oof!" began Harry, but he had walked into Ron who had walked into Hermione who had suddenly stopped.
"Look," she whispered, holding her wand up.
They had reached a vast open area, and as Hermione held her wand above her head, the light from it sparkled from every corner in the room.
"It's diamond," whispered Ron in amazement, his jaw slack. "It's all diamond."
"The Hall of Reflection," said Harry. "You said it was destroyed."
"I...it was thought to have been," said Hermione. "But...oh my..."
"You said it," said Harry, walking past her, into the open area. "Let's not touch anything while we're in here, got it Ron?"
"Huh?" asked Ron, snapping out of his daze. "Oh...sure."
"Let's keep moving then," said Harry, leading them forward. They walked in stunned silence for a couple minutes until a brilliant column of white marble came into view.
"Wow," said Harry, stopping.
"Never a dull moment with you, eh mate?" laughed Ron clapping him on the shoulder. "What d'you reckon you're supposed to do now?"
"I don't know," said Harry, walking up to the pillar.
"Harry, look," said Hermione quickly. "The bracelet."
Harry looked down at his right wrist and was taken aback to see the same three runes as before glowing silver again.
"There's a hole here," said Ron, looking at the pillar. Harry pulled out the diamond and studied it for a moment.
"It looks like it would fit," he said.
"Try it," encouraged Ron. Harry looked questioningly at Hermione.
"There's nothing else for it," she shrugged. "Go ahead."
Harry nodded and fitted the gem perfectly into the hole. The three of them stepped back as the air started to bristle with magic and suddenly the white marble transformed into pure light, nearly blinding them.
"Bloody hell!" exclaimed Ron.
"You have completed the first part of your journey, Harry Potter," the bracelet said. A silver mist began to swirl around the column.
"What do I do now?" he asked.
"Your path leads you to your past, your destiny is your destination."
"What does that mean?" asked Harry, shielding his eyes with his arm.
"That you must now travel to a place where you have already been," said the bracelet. "I can tell you no more."
The silver mist converged and the bracelet became infused with it, the light diminishing and returning to its marble form. Harry looked down and saw that the three runes on the bracelet were now sparkling; they had turned to diamond. A small plunk sounded and Harry looked to the ground where a rectangular ruby had appeared, the marble-like diamond nowhere in sight.
"Okay," said Ron, brushing himself off as Hermione walked over to Harry. "What just happened?"
"I have to go somewhere that I've been in my past," said Harry as Hermione picked up the gem.
"What?" she asked. "Somewhere in your past?"
"The bracelet said my destiny is my destination, whatever that means," shrugged Harry as Hermione held the ruby out near the bracelet, causing the three runes to the left of the diamond ones to glow red.
"Despair," she said, handing the gem to Harry.
"It didn't say anything else?" asked Ron. "Like, how to get out of here maybe?"
"You need not try, only think, and you will be free," the bracelet said, startling Harry.
"What is it?" asked Hermione.
"I...I think we need to apparate out," said Harry
"Through Merlin knows how many metres of stone?" asked Ron incredulously.
"Well we could just walk back to the stairs and only have to apparate through the throne," suggested Hermione. Ron opened his mouth to retort but closed it.
"What?" asked Harry with a smile as Ron frowned.
"You always have to steal my thunder, don't you?" he asked Hermione, who laughed.
"Trust me Ron, your stomach makes more thunder than I could possibly ever steal," she said as they began to walk back to the stairs.
=====
The flight back to Hogwarts was uneventful and passed rather quickly to Harry, who was preoccupied thinking about places he had been to in his past that were connected to despair.
They landed on the grounds and removed their Disillusionment Charms just in time to see Luna come running out of the castle at them.
"What is it?" asked Harry quickly.
"I was told to come and get you the moment you came back," said Luna breathing hard.
"What's happened?" asked Ron.
"I don't know, they wouldn't tell me, but something's happened to Professor Lupin -"
She never got to finish as Harry had hopped on his broom and flown straight into the castle.
"Where is he?" he demanded a few seconds later, flying through the open doors of the Hospital Ward.
"Get off the broom!" shouted Madam Pomfrey from next to the bed that Remus was laying on. "This is a clinic not a quidditch pitch!"
"Come over here Potter," said McGonagal, steering him off to the side.
"What happened?" asked Harry, refusing to be deterred.
"There's good news, good news and bad news," said McGonagal honestly.
"The bad news being that Remus got hurt?" asked Harry.
"Yes," said McGonagal as Hermione, Ron, and Luna arrived. "But the good news is he should be okay." This information calmed Harry slightly.
"What happened to him?" he asked
"We found a trapdoor in the room Draco described," said McGonagal. "It lead into a long hall that was filled with traps, which is where Remus got hurt. He failed to move out of the way of some falling rocks quickly enough."
Harry glanced around her and saw that a large portion of Remus' forehead was black and blue.
"Alright," he said, taking a breath. "What's the other good news?"
"This," responded McGonagal, pulling a golden teacup from her robes.
---------------
For those of you who keep track, Cornish Pixie was in fact a small nod of recognition to Amy and Heaven. I mean, who didn't love Dolly? (If you don't know, then get off yer arse and go read their stories, you should've done it already)
In closing this week, I would like each of you who read this to take a quick moment of silence for Paul Dana, the Indy Racing League driver who was killed on Sunday, March 26th in a practice run crash. I am not a follower of racing, but I think it is important to understand the lengths that some people go to in order to deliver us entertainment. While the argument that racing is more for one's self than for the people viewing it can be made, we should still remember that sports would not be sports if people didn't pay money to watch them.
It is in lieu of this that we should all reflect on how fragile life is, and it should not be taken for granted. Life is a rare and glorious thing, and should be celebrated along with the people you love. And most importantly, remember every day to tell those people that you do love them.
Paul Dana was 30 years old.
Thanks for reading, and remember, leave me one if you liked it (or even if you didn't). ::wink::