Harry Potter - Series Fan Fiction ❯ Resuscitation of Agapé ❯ Consternation Descends ( Chapter 11 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Harry Potter and the Resuscitation of Agapé
Year 6 At Hogwarts
by Jessica X

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WARNING LABEL: MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS. INGREDIENTS OF PRODUCT NOT COPYRIGHTED BY AUTHOR, BUT THE RECIPE IS. RATED R FOR MILD VIOLENCE/LANGUAGE, AND MATURE THEMES: KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. IF INGESTED, INDUCE VOMITING, THEN SWALLOW A PING PONG BALL OR TWO.

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: Hah. Yes, it's been YEARS since I udpated. The entire fiction has been up on fanfiction.net for ages, and I've been meaning to do the same here, but... time makes fools of us all.

This chapter was not easy to write, but it had to be done. It may not be easy for you to read, either. I'll leave it at that.

Oh, one more thing... when every last cell in Harry's brain is liquified toward the end (you'll see where I mean), I recommend listening to "Sleeping With Ghosts" by Placebo. Er, if you have access to the song, that is...
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~*~ Chapter Eleven: Consternation Descends

"Who wrote the Proclamation of 1818, again?"

Hermione looked up, her eyes reproachful. "It's on that page!" She indicated his book with the end of her quill.

Ron grumbled and bent over the book, scanning it carefully. "Ahh, there we go. Could've just told me, though," he said as he scratched out a sentence.

"Could just do the work," she muttered.

The beginning of May had arrived, bringing heavy rains, exams ever nearer, and their homework load to a level of absurdity they hadn't thought possible. Ron was barely scraping Acceptables in his classes, and Harry's already-sporadic Outstandings were becoming fewer and fewer. Hermione, though she looked decidedly less perky than usual, enjoyed a steady stream of O's, and passed the time Ron and Harry were still doing homework by idly researching elf rights, reading thick novels, doodling, or simply napping. Ron voiced that this was really quite annoying of her, and seemed to think she was flaunting her brain in their faces.

"I can't help it if I'm more gifted than you are!" she had said hotly.

"You could stop doing your homework and let us catch up!"

"Oh, of course, I'm sorry! Why haven't I been trying to make myself as stupid as Ronald? Obviously, that's what I should've been doing all along!"

Harry had pointed out that the tension of all the extra work had stretched their nerves quite thin, and tried to suggest a break, but they didn't seem to hear him over their own shouting. Finally, they calmed down a touch, and Harry reiterated his proposal, which they thought was a great one. A few minutes later found them strolling around the castle.

"I shouldn't have said you were stupid," Hermione said. "Just because you don't have book smarts or high marks doesn't mean you are."

"Apology accepted," Ron said rather coldly, though it soon became apparent that he really had forgiven her.

With no forewarning, Harry stopped walking. His friends turned to look at him, and saw that his face had gone pale and his eyes were closed. His hand flew to his forehead.

"Harry?" Ron ventured.

"Not again," he whispered.

"Is it...?" Hermione breathed.

"Voldemort."

Ron and Hermione exchanged dark looks, then put their hands on Harry's shoulders. "It's okay," she whispered.

He blinked and opened his eyes. "It's stopped... just now."

"What did you see?" Ron asked.

"More heard than saw. He said... he said he's going to kill me - tonight. ...and then the laugh."

Harry shivered. When he looked into his friends' faces again, he saw they were quite alarmed.

"Dumbledore," Hermione said simply.

"No, I don't-"

"We're GOING to Dumbledore!" she insisted, her thumb digging into his collarbone.

"Alright," he said quickly. "Let's get on with it, then."

They had barely gone a few meters when the man they were going to see stormed around the corner, silvery hair flowing behind him, his expression grave.

"Professor-!"

"Sorry, important matters," he said dismissively. They turned quickly, trotting alongside him.

"But Professor, I've just-"

"Return to your dormitories!" Professor McGonagall snapped. Harry wondered briefly how he'd failed to notice she was there, but that held about as much importance as a toenail clipping at a time like this. He cleared his throat, and spoke in high, chilling tone.

"'You have eluded me for the last time, Harry. This night will be your undoing.'"

Everyone stopped dead, and all eyes turned to him. His gaze was concentrated determinedly on Dumbledore's blue eyes, which held that intense glare they so often did when trying to determine something.

"Return to your dormitories," he said, more firmly and less rushed than McGonagall had done. "I must speak with Hagrid before we leave." This last bit was more to himself than to the students staring at him.

"You aren't going somewhere!" Ron's question came out as a demand.

"I'm afraid we must," he said, now speaking in quicker tones. "Urgent business involving our GRIM OLD friends."

Harry realized by the inflection put on "grim old" that he meant Grimmauld, and nodded. Ron and Hermione made movements to follow the two professors as they dashed down the hallway, but Harry stopped them.

"They probably already know what's going on," he said, his stomach sinking. "Maybe Voldemort's attacking the Ministry or something."

"But V-Voldemort said-"

"I know," he cut across her. "Who knows what he's planning."

"Maybe he's after another weapon?" Ron suggested. "Something else to get you with? I mean, he probably wasn't too happy about you nicking the last one..."

"I know who we can ask," he said quietly.

"Who?"

~*~

Dumbledore's office seemed much darker than it ever had, and Harry was sure it wasn't only because the sun had just set. Fawkes was not on his perch, and the majority of the paintings of previous headmasters were empty. He resolutely walked to the fireplace and started searching around it.

"Awfully long password," Hermione said, rushing to aid him. "How did you know it?"

"I didn't, I was just guessing. Dumbledore's password is always some kind of sweet he fancies. Guess he's found his taste for Every Flavour Beans again.... ah, here we go."

He had just taken the lid off of a small snuffbox; as he suspected, it contained the powder he needed. Without further delay, he tossed it into the fireplace, and emerald flames erupted as if they'd been burning there for ages. He took a deep breath, leapt into the fire, and spoke as clearly as possible.

"Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place!"

He shut his eyes against the swirl of colour, arms tight at his sides, until he could feel himself settling into the grate he needed. As he opened them again, he saw the dank kitchen that had played host to innumerable meetings of the Order of the Phoenix. He strode from the hearth quickly, and he could hear Ron and Hermione arrive behind him as he flung the door open.

"FILTHY TRAITORS!!!"

"Shit."

"SCUM OF THE EARTH!" screamed the hideous painting to his left. "MUDBLOODS, FOUL CREATURES OF-"

"Help me!" he wailed to his friends as they joined him. After a few moments' struggle, they managed to shut the curtains, and the painting fell silent. He waved them forward, and they crept down the hallway.

"I wonder if a good 'Silencio' would work on her," Ron whispered.

"I'm sure they've tried it before," Hermione hissed.

They quickly searched the upstairs landings, but with no luck. None of the rooms were occupied, but Buckbeak was still in Mrs. Black's old room. The hippogriff clawed at the ground when they entered, screeching with joy. The three hurried over (Ron nervously bowing first) and gave him a quick pat, then Hermione tossed a dead ferret lying nearby into his mouth, which he snapped up hungrily.

"If only Buckbeak could tell us where they've gone," Harry said.

"I suppose you were looking for Moody or Moony?" Ron said.

"Yes, er... well, anyone, really... but I guess they've been alerted to whatever Dumbledore was... or perhaps they were the ones that told him."

"Either way, there's nothing to be done here," Hermione said, still petting Buckbeak affectionately. "Let's just go back to Hogwarts."

"I suppose you're right," he sighed. They all gave the hippogriff another fleeting pat and said their goodbyes, then hurried from the room.

"At least we didn't run into Kreacher," Ron said as they descended the steps from Dumbledore's office.

"Ron, that's not nice," Hermione said.

"Hang on." Harry's stride quickened. "Why didn't I think of that before we wasted all that Floo powder?"

"What?" they chorused.

"What did Dumbledore say right after I'd told him about my vision?"

"To return to the dorms," Ron said.

"And then?"

Hermione's eyes flew open. "Hagrid!"

They flew down hall after hall, staircase after staircase, finally sprinting past the hourglasses tallying the House Points. For some reason, Harry took note that Hufflepuff was just ahead of Gryffindor before they sprinted outside and across the darkening lawns.

"Hey-!"

Hermione and Ron stopped just after Harry had. "What, what's going on?" Ron said anxiously. "Not another 'scar trip'!"

"No, look!"

He pointed into the Forbidden Forest, and they saw what he meant. A pair of glowing, evil eyes were peering out at them.

"It's the same ones as before!" he said, stalking toward them and drawing his wand.

"What d'you mean, 'before'?" Ron squeaked, hesitantly following.

"Nevermind that, now, come on!"

The three of them broke into a run, chasing the spot where the eyes had just vanished. As they stumbled through the trees, a sense of foreboding crept up on Harry, one that had nothing to do with the absence of light.

"Something's off," he whispered. "Something's not right."

"I feel it, too," Hermione whispered.

"I just feel like I don't want to be here," Ron croaked. "It's so- oh, bother..."

A biting wind swept through the woods as no less than ten Dementors emerged from the shadows. Their ragged, echoing breaths gripped the hearts of the three humans huddled together, draining the warmth from them, and their disfigured, rotting hands stretched outward, clawing at their prey.

Without further delay, Ron and Hermione drew their wands. The three of them screwed up their faces, concentrating, and shouted as one, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!!!"

Ron produced a good size cloud of silvery vapour, but a shining stag erupted from the end of Harry's wand at once, charging toward the nearest Dementor and forcing it back. He glanced over and saw a shimmering otter had joined the fray, and remembered this to be Hermione's Patronus. After two more shouts, Ron had been able to conjure his - and Harry suppressed a laugh. What else would it be but an oversize weasel?

The Dementors, realizing their defeat, fluttered away over the ground, tattered black cloaks fluttering, seeming to slip between the trees like liquid. The three Patronuses cantered for a moment, waiting for another attack, then faded away when none came.

"That was close," Ron said as he sagged to the ground, panting. "But now I feel like I've just swum the Channel."

"You haven't practiced enough," Hermione said, slightly out of breath herself. "But I'm proud of you, you did it!"

"I'm proud of you both." Sweat had barely begun to form on his forehead. "I knew you could do it, of course, but our little club never had a chance to test against a REAL Dementor, or even a fake one. Good work."

They beamed weakly at him. It was in that moment that two things reached Harry's ears; a distant barking, and a low growl that was much closer.

"D'you hear that?"

"It sounds like growling... what-"

And Ron's question was answered for him. As it moved out from behind one of the trees, the three of them gaped at the snarling animal. It had high shoulders, and a thin, mohawk-like mane graced the top of its head. Its teeth were bared, and saliva was dripping from its fangs.

"Whatever that thing is, it's hungry!" Ron squeaked, scrambling to his feet.

"Stay back!" Harry shouted, pointing his wand at it.

To his surprise, the creature seemed to smile. Then it produced a high, chilling cackle, one that seemed to cut through his skin like nails on a chalkboard.

"It's a spotted hyena!" Hermione whispered. "But what on earth is one doing loose in Britain?"

Before they could debate this topic, the creature flung itself at Ron, who was still closest. He rolled out of the way, and Harry aimed a kick at its dark muzzle, connecting sickeningly. The beast rolled away from him, whimpering for a moment before its laughter returned. It circled them, snarling and laughing, its teeth snapping at intervals.

"What do we do?" Ron whispered. "Can we stun it?"

"I don't know," Harry said. "I've never had to fight a hyena before!"

"Of course, we- OH!"

Harry whirled, and saw another Dementor bearing down on them. Hermione hurriedly shouted "EXPECTO PATRONUM!", resurrecting her otter to chase it away.

"Will it never end?" Ron moaned.

They turned as one to the threat of the animal again, and what they saw made them freeze. It was standing on its hind legs, and seemed to be growing.

"What the bloody fuck?!" Ron breathed.

"RON!" Hermione hissed. "Language!"

"You're fussed with THAT at a time like THIS?!" he hissed back.

Harry started to tell them to shut up, but at that moment it became apparent why the hyena was mutating. A black snout turned lighter, and became a bleeding nose. The mane grew into long, dark, straggly hair. The eyes stayed just as sunken and devious, but became slightly more human, and heavy lids appeared over them. To their slowly-rising terror, staring down at them was the Azkaban-hollowed face of Bellatrix Lestrange.

~*~

"Bloody teachers, heaping the homework on us like this. Makes me ill."

"But you have finish, Draco," Pansy Parkinson whined as he threw down his quill. "You don't want to repeat sixth year, do you?"

"Of course I don't, stupid," he spat. "If only my father could pull some strings, get this load of cinderblocks off our shoulders..."

"But he can't," Crabbe muttered.

"I know he can't, you blathering oaf! I'm allowed to sulk, aren't I?!"

"Come on, Draco," Pansy pleaded. "You've only a few more inches to go, let's just-"

They all blinked. Evidently, none of them were imagining it.

"Did you hear a scream?" Malfoy asked aloud. They all nodded. "Wonder what it was..."

"It sounded like it came from outsi-" She broke off when she saw the look on his face. "Draco, don't, you have to finish your-"

"I'm investigating," he said, sinister grin spreading as he stood from the table. "It's about time something amusing happened in this damnable place."

~*~

"No... no, it- it can't be, it's impossible-"

"Surprised, are we?" Bellatrix said in that mock-baby voice she loved to use. "Ickle Harry Potter not used to seeing Animagi?"

The three of them made to raise their wands, but Bellatrix had hers trained on Harry's heart instantly. She let out a quiet chuckle.

"Drop them," she said shortly.

They hesitated. Three on one were good odds, but they did not want to see what happened to the one of them she could attack before the other two could take her down. Harry became aware that they seemed to be waiting for his orders.

"I said drop your wands!" Her voice was louder the second time, and Harry tensed.

Suddenly, he heard the barking again, and realized it was coming from the general direction of Hogwarts. He glanced that way, but nothing was there. As his eyes moved back to Bellatrix, however, he realized her gaze was still lingering, trying to find the source of the noise.

Without hesitation, he raised his wand and fired red sparks high into the air. He was satisfied to see a few flew above the treetops.

"INSUFFERABLE PRAT!" she screeched when she realized what he'd done. She raised her wand, but Hermione was ready.

"EXPELLIARMUS!" she shouted, and Bellatrix's wand was flying into the air.

"Damn," she growled, her hands curling into fists. "You meddlesome Mudblood, I swear I'll get you for this!"

"No sudden movements," Hermione said fiercely, her wand still trained on Bellatrix. "Don't make me do something I'll regret."

"Oh?" the Death Eater said, smiling to show blackening teeth. "The dear, sweet girl doesn't want to sully her hands? How very noble!"

"SHUT UP!" Ron snapped, his wand also trained on Bellatrix.

That was when a crashing reached their ears.

"Something's coming this way," Harry breathed. "We-"

Bellatrix ran for it, and Ron shouted "STUPEFY!" The jet of red light from his wand hit her squarely in the back, and she pitched forward into the brush.

"Good shot," Harry said, grinning. Ron scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

Then the trees next to them erupted, and an enormous form flung itself forward.

"HAGRID!" they all shouted.

~*~

As Draco Malfoy marched into the entrance hall, light flashed from the window. He dashed to it as quickly as he could, and saw red stars glimmering above the trees of the Forbidden Forest.

"Something's going on in there," he whispered. He made for the door, but was startled to see someone standing there.

"Exams will be upon us in less than two months, Mr. Malfoy," Snape said quietly. "Surely no one from my house would be foolish enough to abandon their studies for a walk in the evening air."

"Of- of course not, Professor," he said hurriedly. "I was just-"

"Are you aware that there will be quite a deluge this night?" he continued as if Malfoy had said nothing. "The final Quidditch match of the year is nearing, and it would not do for our Seeker to be waylaid due to 'the sniffles'."

"I- yes, sir, but-"

"Back to the common room, Malfoy."

He stood there for a moment, studying Snape's cold, dark eyes, then strode back the way he'd come.

~*~

"Blimey, you three!" Hagrid bellowed, his chest heaving fit to burst. "You all righ'? What in Merlin-?"

"Look!" Harry said, pointing to the woman sprawled on the forest floor.

"I still don' understand," he continued, bushy eyebrows knitting. Fang, his boarhound, gamboled around them, sniffing at everything. "Who- WHAT?!"

Ron had just rolled her over, and Hagrid obviously recognized her.

"But wha' in hell is tha' horrid Lestrange woman doin' here?!" he roared, half-confused and half-infuriated. The few birds left in the surrounding trees took off for quieter parts of the forest.

"To kill me," Harry said at once. "Sneaking in here as a hyena to snuff me. I'm sure of it, I'm sure that's what Voldemort was talking about."

"Ohh..." Hagrid leaned against a nearby tree, and it groaned under his weight. "That's righ', Dumbledore warned me abou' yer dream before he lef'. Said You-Know-Who's about ter try somethin'."

"You... wouldn't happen to know what's going on, do you?" Ron asked hesitantly.

"Yeh mean with the Order," Hagrid said, sighing. "Wouldn' tell yeh if I did know. But it's somethin' big, I could suss tha' ou' easy enough."

"Well, I hope the danger's passed, now," Hermione whispered. "I mean, between her and the Dementors-"

"Galloping Grindylows! Dementors, even?!" Hagrid stood. "C'mon, let's ge' you three outta the forest!"

"But what about-?"

"AVADA KEDAVRA!!!"

Horror gripped Harry like it had never done before, liquefying every last cell in his brain. Time seemed to have forgotten quite how to elapse as he turned, and realized Bellatrix Lestrange had found her wand and had quietly risen to her feet, training it on him. It almost seemed funny to him that she was glowing green - it made her look like a shriveled watermelon. As the light slowly grew, and he raised his wand on instinct, it was suddenly cut off. As the darkness flashed, he realized it was falling, and the next thing that reached his brain was an unrecognisable anguished scream and Hagrid's furious bellow.

He saw, as if in a dream, Bellatrix scoop something from the ground and sprint away from them. Dimly, he put together that she had taken something, and that just couldn't be allowed. Without realizing exactly what he would be getting, he raised his wand and shouted, "ACCIO!"

Instantly, Bellatrix slipped onto her back as the mass huddled in her arms lurched backward and toward Harry. He could tell that whatever it was was quite furry, but had no more time to think about it before it was in his arms. He realized it was somewhat heavy, and he could barely support it. Bellatrix scrambled to her feet again, morphing back into a hyena, and the beast pelted into the woods.

"BACK TO THE CASTLE!!!" Hagrid thundered, tearing after her. Harry started to follow him, but another arm pulled him in the opposite direction. He struggled before a voice spoke to him.

"Let's d-do what Hagrid said, Harry!"

The voice sounded so unnaturally grief-stricken that he couldn't figure out whom it belonged to. As they stumbled from the woods and across the lawn, he could hear weeping, and realized a light mist had started. Barking reached his ears again, but it was fading rapidly. Finally shaking off the mental haze of his near-death experience, he turned to see who was pushing him forward.

"Ron!"

Tears flowed unfettered down his freckled face. "Let's, let's keep going," he choked out, no conviction present in his words.

Slowly, painfully, unmercifully, comprehension fell into his head as the rain gently began to fall in earnest. Hagrid was bloodthirstily chasing after Bellatrix Lestrange. Ron looked so devastated...

Harry's grip slackened, and he let the limp form of Hermione fall from his arms and onto the damp ground.

~*~ To Be Continued