Chapter 10 – Alone in Hogwarts



Harry and Ron were in their Gryffindor dormitories, it was quiet and they enjoyed the silence and the privacy of having the common room completely to themselves.

Hermione was sitting in the corner with Crookshanks curled up on her lap reading a book while Harry and Ron were playing a game of wizard chess on the table opposite.

“This is so cool Harry, and so great of Albus and Karis to allow us three to stay here before the start of term.” said Ron

“More like wanting to keep an eye on us you mean.” replied Harry with a wry grin.

Hermione rolled her eyes “Really Harry, this is such a privilege, here alone at Hogwarts, it’s a great opportunity for us to get a head start.”

“Is that all you think about?” shot Ron, eyeing her as if she were some alien from another planet. “There are more important things than hanging around the library, like learning new defence spells and making full use of the room of requirement.”

“Well it’s alright for you two.” said Harry in exasperation “I have to do Occlumency lessons while you two swan off and make the most of your free time here.”

“Don’t give me that rubbish Harry, you can’t wait to have some free time yourself with one Miss Karis Dumbledore.” said a mocking Hermione.

Harry blushed a little, because deep down, he knew she was right.”

“Have you seen Dumbledore yet? enquired Hermione. “I didn’t see him come back last night. In fact I haven’t seen any of the professors today or Order members.”

“No Hermione, great isn’t it; we spend a whole day in Hogwarts and don’t see one professor, that is my idea of heaven. That’s a point, what time is lunch?” said Ron, rubbing his groaning stomach.

“Well that’s what you always think about Ron, your gut!” shot Hermione

“Come on, lets walk down to the kitchens, I’m sure Dobby and the others won’t mind.” said Harry

Slowly they exited the Gryffindor common room and made their way down the hall and the spiral moving staircase.

“I’m surprised we haven’t bumped in to Snape yet!” said Harry

Hermione was shaking her head and waving her hands but in a slow motion, her face was full of despair, “shut up. She whispered

Ron ignored her.

" No, I don’t want to bump into that snivelling old git either, he’s probably hell raising with his little masked friends as we speak.” replied Ron

All at once, like lightning, Ron was grabbed by the scruff of his neck; he didn’t know what was going on, Hermione put her head down and whispered what sounded along the lines of “What an idiot.”

Ron was turned around by the culprit that was holding him, looking directly into his eyes was no other than Professor Severus Snape. Ron‘s face lit up brighter than Fred and George’s end of term firework extravaganza. “Is that so Mr Weasley?" It was Snape, his top lip quivering and his dark beady eyes flashing dangerously.

“Uh, uh.. Hello Professor, just..uh…going to get some food! Was Ron’s pathetic hope for a comeback.

Snape threw Ron down to the floor. “Don’t you ever talk about me like that again; you know nothing about me and what I do for this school and the Order. Fifty points from Gryffindor!"

Harry flashed Snape a frown, his eyes narrowing in defiance. “School hasn’t started yet, you can’t deduct points.”

“I meant next week Potter, when school starts, clearly you will be below the other houses already and on the first day too! Get out of my site before I deduct another fifty!”

Harry kept eye contact with Snape, all he could think of was how much he hated him, deep down he was hoping Snape would go into the Legilimens spell just so he could show him how much.

Snape turned away and walked back down the hall.

Hermione turned to Ron “You idiot, I tried to warn you!”

“You were waving your arms Hermione and looking at me like a lunatic, I thought you were going to announce that you had a revelation or something. You should have just nudged me in the ribs, that’s normally my cue to shut up these days.” replied an agitated Ron.

“Oh, I don’t hurt you that much, you are such a hypochondriac.”

Harry rolled his eyes and left them to bicker among themselves. They seemed to be doing that a lot lately he thought.



Part 2



Harry, Ron and Hermione were finally nearing the kitchen when they saw Professor Dumbledore approaching them. He looked tired and older than the end of last term; Harry felt deep inside that there was something wrong.

“Hello Harry, Ron, Miss Granger.” said Dumbledore, putting on a brave face, but nonetheless still delighted to see them.

“Professor Dumbledore, it’s good to see you.” replied Hermione.

Ron nodded and smiled at the Headmaster.

“Please will you three come with me to the great hall there are things we need to discuss.” said Dumbledore

Slowly one by one they followed their wise headmasters lead.

Albus opened the main doors to the great hall, standing there in front of him was members of the Order of the Phoenix, including Molly and Arthur, Bill, Fred and George Weasley, Nymphadora Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Minerva McGonnagall, Severus Snape, Mundungas, Hagrid, Remus Lupin and the new recruit and new defence against the dark arts teacher, Karis Dumbledore.

“Hey Harry, great to see you again” said Tonks, while approaching Harry with a warm hug.

“Why don’t you three sit down.” gestured Dumbledore

Harry, Ron and Hermione did as they were asked and slowly took their seats at a large dark oak table. The rest of the order followed.

Dumbledore however remained standing and everyone was watching him in anticipation, waiting for him to speak.

Albus slowly took off his half moon spectacles and wiped them on a clean cloth. He coughed to clear his throat and looked up at the Order, one by one he gave a concerned yet warm smile to them all.

“I’m afraid I am the bearer of bad news.”

Looks of confusion and panic shot across the table. Harry heard Molly let out a small whimper, not wanting to suffer the uncomfortable silence Dumbledore continued to speak.

“Last night, Arthur, Tonks and Kingsley were on watch at Azkaban, I am pleased to say however there has been no attack on the premises or nearby, but we are to still keep alert. However, it has come to our attention that while the Ministry of Magic and the Order were on watch at their posts, a valuable member of the Order and friend was taken from us.”

Molly gasped out loud, while Tonks stayed silent, just staring down at her feet. Harry could feel Hermione start to shake beside him, Ron also noticed her scared reaction and slowly motioned his hand over to hers, she gripped it tightly as if it was something she had to hold onto or she may fall.

“Albus, its Alastor isn’t it.” said Minerva McGonnagall.

“I’m afraid so Minerva, Yes.” replied Dumbledore “Unfortunately we were caught unawares, I thought the first target would be Azkaban so Voldemort could release more of his followers to empower his army. But I feel when Diagon Alley was targeted yesterday afternoon; it was used as a ploy in order to kidnap a member of the Order.”

“But how Albus, how did they know?” asked Molly

Harry shot an ill glance at Snape.

“The end of term when we fought at the Ministry of Magic, Voldemort was very upset about the lost prophecy, he wanted to know more than anything the remnants of its containment, which of course was kept from him. I believe the only way he thought he could find out is to take a member of the Order. I am however still not one hundred percent on how he found Alastor.”

Remus looked up with a solemn and sad look in his eyes. “It’s all my fault. said Remus. “Alastor has been accompanying me to the Shrieking Shack every full moon, he likes to take a walk in Hogsmede. If I am correct, Alastor must have been taken just after he said Goodbye to me, he said he was going back to his home to get some rest.” Remus then put his head down, hanging it low in shame.

Diagon Alley was a detour, there must have been two groups, one to wreck havoc in the busy street and one to kidnap Alastor from his own home.” said Kingsley, he looked at Remus with sorrow. “It’s not your fault Remus, none of us was to know this was going to happen, do not blame yourself!”

“Yes Remus, after all it could have been both of you, they have obviously been keeping watch on you for them to know he was accompanying you in the first place.” said Minerva

“Those slimy evil blighters, the audacity of em, who d’they think they are!” snapped Mundungas.

Molly Weasley rolled her eyes. “They do whatever they wish, they are Deatheaters, I thought you may have realised that by now, but instead of doing your job and listening out for planned attacks, you’re out there trying to sell your knocked off cheap rubbish.” shot Molly Weasley

“Ay, it’s not all cheap Mo.” replied Mundungas in a mocking tone.

“Don’t call me Mo!” Molly shot back with red glowing cheeks and narrowed eyes.

Minerva looked agitated and finally interrupted “Excuse me, as much as it pains you to both be in one room at the same time, in case you haven’t noticed we have a major crisis on our hands here!”

Harry glanced over at Karis, she was playing with a loose thread on her robes, wrapping it around her finger in a nervous display, she was looking quite distraught, which came to a surprise to him, considering she hardly knows Mad Eye Moody.

“That must be it.” said Arthur Weasley. “They planned the attack in Diagon Alley to keep the Ministry and the Order distracted from other areas; this must have been planned for months like Minerva said. Alastor lives on his own, he would have been the easier target, it all makes sense now.”

“The only thing is, we don’t possibly know where they have taken him.” said Kingsley

Everyone turned to Harry, he was caught unawares and felt very uncomfortable, 'what could I possibly know', he thought.

Albus spoke “Well that is true Kingsley but this is where I feel Karis and Harry come in.”

Karis glanced up at her Grandfather; she seemed to have been taken unawares too!

She straightened her posture. “What is it you would like us to do?” asked Karis.

“You and Harry must start your Occlumency studies immediately; I recommend a first lesson after dinner tonight.” Albus then turned to Harry. “I know this is going to be very difficult for you Harry, but the life of a good friend to all of us is at risk here, as much as I believe Alastor would rather die than tell Voldemort about the prophecy, we cannot take the risk. As you know he has powerful legilimens skills. Last term you saw what he was planning but he was deterring you from the truth, leading you into mortal danger, we cannot let that happen again.”

Harry understood what Albus meant. If Voldemort tricked Harry again he would lead the Order and he into danger like before, they could not endure another trap, last time a good friend died, and he vowed he would never let that happen again.

Harry nodded to Karis and they both smiled and acknowledged Dumbledore’s actions, after all he was right, Harry had to block Voldemort out completely and learn to finally reflect the truth from his lies, this meant he had to not only learn to block Voldemort but learn to enter his mind too.

Albus gave a motion to everyone that the meeting was now over, but before the Order departed, Albus had one final thing to say, he looked over at Harry, Ron and Hermione.

“Before we all leave, I want to make it aware to the rest of the Order that as you are now sixteen I feel it best if you were advised more on a regular basis about the Order’s movements, which is why you three were invited here today. I must however advise that any matter that is discussed will not pass these walls! I know this is not normally the wishes of the Order and I admit, myself - but as Harry is to undertake these precarious tasks, he will need your full support.”

“Yes Professor, we understand.” replied Hermione, beaming.

Ron looked at Albus with his mouth gaping wide open, shocked that they were now apart of the Order in some way, even if it was just to help Harry. Hermione gave him the usual nudge. “Uh, Yes Professor, No problem!”

Albus nodded to acknowledge their verbal agreement. “Please, you three stay here, said Albus pointing, I understand Dobby has prepared something special for dinner.”

With that the rest of the Order exited, and left Harry, Ron and Hermione alone in the overwhelmingly huge walls of the Great Hall within Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.