[dw]

[Duddahs]

Darkness Within

Chapter 33

Part 3

To Be or Not to Be.


By Madame Snape and Duddahs the Great Barn Owl

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dobby the house elf appeared, very disheveled and breathing so heavily in and out that his floppy ears actually rose and fell with every breath taken in and then expelled.

"Dobby, where have you been?" blurted out the headmaster.

"Dobby has been guiding the long haired professor and the Headmasters number two misstress of Hogwarts. Dobby did not wish to, he was forced to.. Now Dobby fears that they are all in mortal danger... Dobby fears that Winky and that Crazy Witch too might succumb to the beast of the tunnels."

"The beast of the tunnels?" asked Harry with an almost shrill impatience in his voice.

Hermione grabbed hold of Ron, who just happened to be standing just inside the doorway in her line of vision.

"Yes, I see Dobby. You have done well to have protected Professors Snape and McGonnagall. I am indebted to you. Now will you please lead us to the entrance of these tunnel that the house elves utilize in and out of the castle.

Hermione looked at Harry and Harry in turned burned his gaze into the eyes of the headmaster.

What in Merlin's beard was going on. Who or what was this monster and who was this Crazy Witch that Dobby spoke of? He was sure that Snape and McGonnagal were formidable Professors and could handle anything that came their way. Or at least he thought.

"Argus, I will need for you to round up the other Professors and insure that no one comes in or out of their House Common Rooms. I will also need the assistance of all the Hogwarts House Elves so please send Mrs. Norris to the Kitchens to inform them of my need of their assistance." Dumbledore ordered.

"The rest of you, follow me please and do not dawdle. I do not wish to have to save one of you as I believe I will be in need of your assistance when the time should arise." the headmaster stated just before he took off after Dobby in a sprint, much more like that of a man in his 20's and not in his, well over 100.

[Duddahs]

Darkness Within

Chapter 34

Part 1

The Disease Spreads


By Madame Snape and Duddahs the Great Barn Owl

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The news ran through the castle as if it were water through a sieve. Every single student had an opinion. Many had the leadership qualities to muster small groups from their houses. They believed that they had to do something. They could not just stand by and wait to find out that everyone had either perished or worse!

In the Ravenclaw common room, Cho Chang gathered her friend Marietta and the unlikely co-leader Luna Lovegood. There in the overflowing main area for Ravenclaws of all ages and years, combined with chattering and gossip being spread from one to the next like wildfire.

"Order, we must have order!" came Cho's voice over the loud buzzing of her fellow Ravenclaws.

It was obvious that she had mastered the Sonorus Spell as her voice seemed to bounce off the walls of the common room, causing the windows in their wooden frames to rattle like little bee's in a hive.

Tiny Professor Flitwick came into the common room completely unnoticed. Though he was small in stature, his presence never went without notice and he was taken aback as a sixth year young Ravenclaw actually shushed him for making too much noise as he entered.

"NOW, NOW, Miss Chang, what is this all about?" asked the Diminutive head of Ravenclaw House.

The Ghostly figure of the Grey Lady came through a wall just along side Professor Flitwick. She bent low in an elegant movement and whispered into his ear..

His eyes widened, greater and greater until he began to look more like a House Elf with their saucer like eyes than the Hogwarts Professor of Charms and Spells.

"NNNnnnnnnnOOOOO! You must not do this!" he shouted.... Obviously unnerved and somewhat taken aback.

"Professor Flitwick, I am sorry, but we can not, no we will not sit by idly and just allow Professor McGonnagall and Professor Dumbledore as well as our other friends from Gryffindor house to be killed. The sorting hat had given us directions earlier this year that we must become united if we are to suirvive. That we must stand as one and not to be left standing alone." Cho directed at her head of house with the greatest muster of strength but compassion for her beloved Professor that she could.

Professor Flitwick moved forward toward Cho and Luna who by now were standing upon a study table to help them to be seen and heard above the din of murmurs in the common room.

"Yes, I see, well what are we waiting for? We must put together our collective Ravenclaw brain power. There is a reason that you were placed in Ravenclaw, the sorting hat has never been wrong, low these many centuries. We must use our keen intellect and reasoning to come to a safe solution for this most grievous a situation."

Luna smiled broadly and turned to Cho, "You see, that is exactly as I had said before."

Cho looked directly at Luna, the look of incredulous disbelief crossed her face for but a brief moment.. Luna took this to be an affirmation of her remark and not as a condemnation of her remark.

While this was going on in the Ravenclaw Common Room a very similar meeting was taking place in the Hufflepuff House. Cedric Diggory was being surrounded by his fellow Hufflepuffs. Each having an opinion of their own, some more outrageous than the mind could imagine, while others were helpful and Cedric was smart enough to recognize the Diamonds from the dust.

[Duddahs]

Darkness Within

Chapter 34

Part 2

The Disease Spreads


By Madame Snape and Duddahs the Great Barn Owl

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


While the houses above ground were coming together on the united front to protect not only themselves but Hogwarts itself if need be, confusion ran rampant in the Dungeons.

"What? I am not going to give one more second of worry about what happens to that Scar Head, the Ginger and that filthy Mudblood. Now get away from me and stop trying my patience. If you don't I will guarantee you that once my father hears of your traitorous actions against Slytherin House, you will no longer be able to show your face to any of us." Draco snarled at his fellow Slytherin.

Blaise Zabini backed up ever so carefully. As if having been hit by a deliberately placed stunning spell to his brain. His face became flushed and his jaw slackened.

Everyone knew that when Draco threatened someone, that he would follow through with that threat. That there were people, very dangerous people behind him and in support of his dealings with others.

Draco was not one for mincing words. He would sooner have you removed from his sight forcibly than to have to sit and play nice for one second. In other words, Draco Malfoy was a Rotten spoiled brat that got his way, no matter what it took and no matter who he had to use or abuse to get to the ends that he sought.

Quickly Draco was surrounded by his posse'. The lumbering dolts, Crabbe and Goyle were upon him as tightly as the custom made cloak that he wore.

Pansy Parkinson had quickly taken up her usual post directly behind Draco. Pride dripping from her sloppy smile that smeared its way across her ever so smug face.

"Yeah, what he said Blaise. Who is going to listen to you anyway? Who cares if those filthy Gryffindors get themselves killed anyway. Hogwarts would be a better place with less of them and more like us, everyone knows that. Everyone except that filthy Mudblood Granger and Dumblesnore the boar! Talk about the blind leading the blind..." Pansy spewed with such smug reflection that it turned Blaise stomach over not just once but three times.

It was now crystal clear that there was no way that Blaise was going to rise up above the petty house wars and Wizard made hatreds.. That if he were to help Albus Dumbledore and the others that he would be riddiculed and roasted for the remainder of his time as a member of Slytherin House.

He slowly retired to the dorms that led off the Green Cast and damp common room. A hush fell over the remaining Slytherins as Draco stood up and forced his somewhat snide but childish sounding voice to be heard.

"I do not believe that we have heard the last of this sort of treachery or mischievous antics. I will say this and say this only once, I have ears all over the castle. If you think you are smarter than I am, you will find out soon enough how foolish you really are. If you think that we will not find out that you are plotting or toying with deceiving me and our fellow true Slytherin's you will find yourself regretting having ever placed that ridiculous rag of a sorting hat upon your feathered head. I will know, I will find out, I will exact my revenge, the revenge to avenge the memory of Salizar Slythin himself and those who are true to Wizard and the name we proudly wear. Those of us who are pure of mind and blood."

[Duddahs]

Darkness Within

Chapter 34

Part 3

The Disease Spreads


By Madame Snape and Duddahs the Great Barn Owl

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Blaise slammed the door to the dorm room and threw himself upon his sharply kept bed. The heavy dark green curtains with their silver rings slid quickly to enclose him.

Then he reached over through the curtain to retrieve his small owl Noir who sat on softly hooting to himself up till that moment.

Blaise grabbed a roll of parchment, quill and ink bottle from the stand and began to furiously scribble his plight.

"Dear Headmaster Dumbledore,

I am so very embarrassed to admit to you in this letter that I have been the keeper of a secret that should have been revealed to either you or my head of house, Professor Snape long ago.

I have been a coward and I know that I will have to face what ever punishment should come my way and deservedly so. I must relieve my conscience of this information and in doing so I can only hope to help Professor Snape and my fellow Hogwarts Students and Professors from possible injury or even death.

The story I am going to relay to you all started back on Sept 1st aboard the Hogwarts Express.

We were all on the Train from Platform 9 3/4 on its way to deliver us to Hogwarts for the start of term.

Draco Malfoy was sitting with his usual group of fellow Slytherin friends and classmates and I was sitting back to back to Draco. He at one table and I in the next row with my fellow Slythin friends.

I could not help but overhear Draco bragging how he and his father had devised a plan to introduce Bogarts into Hogwarts in order to allow some of the Death Eaters who follow He Who Must Not Be Named into the castle.

I could not hear everything that was being bragged about, but it was not that difficult to put two and two together. It seems that there was a plan in place to bring the Bogarts in as a diversion and cause random chaos around the castle and after a while if all went to plan everyone would become somewhat immune to the constant call to arms about potential invaders of the castle that the protectors of the castle would ultimately let their guards down from pure exhaustion and disgust over being called time and again just to have to deal with Bogarts.

I know I should have come to you earlier in the year or gone straight to Professor Snape but I honestly feared for myself and my family. You see, Draco's father has threatened my family for many years that should we ever do anything against him or his family, that he would expose certain information about my mother and her fabled relations with several very prominent Wizards of our time.

I love Hogwarts and I also am my mothers son. I have been the one constant Wizard in her life and it is my personal responsibility to protect her and her reputation, no matter what.

You see, my mother does come first and Hogwarts though loved dearly by me, must take a back seat to her safety and security.

I am so embarrassed. I do not deserve to even be part of Slytherin House. The house of so many brilliant Witches and Wizards.

I only hope that this information might be able to help our head of house and fellow Hogwartians.

With a deep heart,

Blaise Zabini
Slytherin House"

Blaise placed the quill and ink bottle back on the night stand and blew gently upon the ink to help it dry as quickly as possible.

The parchment was promptly folded into three section and Blaise raised his wand and tapped a little piece of candle that sat on the night stand and careful withdrew a bit of wax. He used this to seal the parchment and quickly tied the letter to the leg of his Owl.

"Go, find Professor Dumbledore, please, quickly Noir, find him with the speed of light."

With this Noir took to flapping his wings as Blaise retracted a larger section of the bed curtains.

Off Noir flew, out through a trap in the wall of the dorm room. A small shudder of sound reverberated through the room and it fell silent once more.

Blaise scooted down the bed just a bit, threw his head upon his fluffy pillow as a stream of steaming hot tears ripped through his tightly closed eyes.

He felt the tears run halfway down his cheek, across the bridge of his nose and then with a small sound hit the pillow.

His mind was running a million mile a minute. He could not believe he had just done it, that he had possibly just sealed his fate to either becoming a fully trained Wizard or just some lost soul who was to be expelled from Hogwarts early.

The fear gripped him like a vise. His body tensed and he began to shake and shiver. His breath came in gasps now. He could not breath in deeply any longer. It felt as is Crabbe and Goyle had both sat upon his chest and were forcibly expelling the air in his lungs just as he was attempting to breath in. Breath in what could very well be one of his last breath.

[madame]

(Oh la la...I'd forgotten about this story! I believe I need to read it from the beginning to get babk into the swing of it. :/ )

[Duddahs]

Darkness Within

Chapter 34

Part 4

The Disease Spreads


By Madame Snape and Duddahs the Great Barn Owl

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Professor Dumbledore burst into the Infirmary with the deafening slamming of the entrance door against the stone wall. The glass inside the door shattered into a million little pieces.

Dumbledore had no time to worry about the tiny sharp shards of glass that covered the entrance way floor. He walked at such a brisk pace that it appeared that his feet did not even have time to touch the floor.

The door of Madam Pomfrey's office was now opened with force that took the Medi Witch by great surprise.

"Albus, what is it? Is someone injured?" Poppie asked with a tone of panic in her voice.

"The house elf has informed me of the passageway. Where is it?" Shouted Dumbledore.

"The servants entrance is right over there Albus, buuuuuuttt,, butttt, I thought you know about it." Madam Pomfrey was now on the verge of panic.

"No, I was not aware of this fact. This is something I wished you had come to me with earlier Poppie.. But no matter, this is all spilled milk and the cow does not really care for it can always produce more."

Albus followed Pomfrey to the area between two of the white painted metal hospital beds. She moved a small table on wheel to the side to expose what appeared to be a door. It was not actually a door though, it was a painting of a door.

Thank you Poppie and please accept my apologies for being so brusque and impatient. You see, the lives of several of our students and professors are at risk here. It is of the utmost importance that you speak to no one, not anyone about this. This will be between you and myself, and the house elves of course.

Albus produced his wand from inside his robe and touched the edge of the painting. In a moment there appeared to be small bits of yellow showing up on the surface of the painting.

It then became apparent to the Headmaster that it was indeed torch lights showing the way into the darkened passageway.

Just before Dumbledore stepped into the painting, he heard the loud screatching of an approaching Owl. It landed on the edge of the metal table, flapping its wings wildly and knocking over all of the bottles that sat lined up on the metal surface.

"Noir, what is it my friend?" asked Dumbledore of the frantic Owl.

Noir stretched out his leg, a parchment was wrapped around it. Dumbledore reached out and carefully untied the message as he looked to the Owl and thanked him for his delivery.

Once the parchment had been removed, Noir once again took flight and out of sight in a split second.

Dumbledore unfolded the parchment and read the message as his brow furrowed and his eyes narrowed.

"I see, now so much of this is beginning to make sense to me. I will deal with this later though."

The Headmaster stepped into the dim opening without any further delay.

Just as the last of his purple robes disapeered into the depth of the painting, a group of teachers came rushing into the Infirmary.

"Where are they? What can we do? Who is it and where is the Headmaster?" shouted out the teachers at will.

Madam Pomfrey stepped carefully in front of the entrance way to the tunnel to hide the where about of the headmaster.

"He was here one second and then the next he was gone.. I am not sure of exactly where he went but have any of you looked in the Dungeons? I am sure that there is something down there happening that should not be happening."

"Yes, the dungeons shouted Filch, follow me, I know a short cut through a tapestry, come on you lot, get a move on or it might be you next!"

Dumbledore suddenly found himself being confronted by a tight opening to which he entered as if he were a mouse rushing into its burrow.

The squeeze of his body did not distract him from his intent on the rescue of his fellow professors and his charges.

Within moments of moving into the tightening tunnel, Dumbledore was forced out into the light of the cavernous room.

What was presented before him shocked him. He gasped and froze for a moment.

There before him was a creature of lore. The fear that was plastered upon the faces of the other professors was heart wrenching.

Once more Dumbledore reached deep into his robes and retrieved his wand.

A brilliant flash of light blinded all of the caves occupants, rendering them momentarily blinded.

[Duddahs]

Darkness Within

Chapter 35

Part 1

And All the Kings Horses


By Madame Snape and Duddahs the Great Barn Owl

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The searing pain permeated Snapes being. He felt the life slipping away from his body. His near lifeless body hung like that of a rag doll in the grips of the Minotaur.

"Accio Lestrange" boomed McGonagall's screeching voice.

The unconscious body of Bellatrix Lestrang rose into the air and began to float quickly towards the Transfiguration Mistress. It brushed against a number of fallen stones that had dislodged from the ceiling of the cave.

The sound of tearing fabric could be made out but McGonagall cared not for the superficial injuries that this creature was being subjected to. It was the least of her worries at the moment as she began to take stock of the perilous situation her fellow Professor was in... A true life or death decision had to be made and quickly.

The Flash of light that engulfed the entire cave was so startling that neither McGonagall nor the beast had time to react.

As Minverva McGonagall again regained her vision she was presented by the site of Albus Dumbledore in all his glory standing directly in front of her.

"A-A-Albus, Severus! Do something!" She whimpered with little of her voice left after the screams prior to the flash.

"Hush Minerva, Severus will be fine. He is just now being tended in the caring hands of Madam Pomfrey, safe and sound in the infirmary." Dumbledore assured her.

Albus reached out his hand and firmly took hold of McGonagall's outstretched arm. She had obviously fallen to the dirt and stone strewn floor of the cave when Albus' spell was cast.

"Bellatrix Lestrange, there!" Minerva's muffled voice attempted to warn.

Bellatrix had regained her mental and physical self.. She had cast "Reparo" upon the smashed skiff and was already quickly headed out of the cave. The sunlight broke into the dimly lit cave just as she blasted a whole through the tunnel wall with a shriek of "BOMBARDIUM MAGNIUS!"

"Do not worry Minerva, she will be dealt with at another time.. For now, I must get you back to the safety of the Castle before my spell upon the Minotaur is broken. The magic that the beast possess is so ancient and entrenched, that it will surely not be broken today, or maybe even tomorrow for that matter." The headmaster spoke in a whisper to his dear friend.

With a flourish of Dumbledore's arm, held high above his head, a small whirlwind was engulfed both he and McGonagall and the two were gone.

A moment later, Mivera McGonagall found herself in the infirmary. Laying another white metal bed along side her was the heavily bandaged body of Severus Snape. Between the two Professors stood both Madam Pomfrey and Albus Dumbledore.

The Medi-Witch worked furiously as her wand was passed back and forth over what appeared to be the lifeless body of the Potions Master.

McGonagall attempted to sit up but found that she neither had the strength nor true desire to endure any further pain at the moment.

"Now, now Minvera, Severus is in good hands.. He will live, I can assure you." Dumbledore reassured her.

"Oh yes, he will live but he may well wish he had not during the healing process Albus.. It is going to be touch and go and very painful for the foreseeable future."

"I would have expected nothing less Poppy but I do trust you will be able to tend to his needs and bring our Potions Master back to us in, well, one piece I hope?" Dumbledore winked at Madam Pomfrey, who just glared back at the headmaster, obviously not amused by his attempt at humor.

The Infirmary doors slammed open and a hoard of students and teachers burst, trampling over the shattered glass that lay just inside the entrance-way.

Dumbledore now retrieved his wand from deep within his robes....

"Oh dear, forgive me for being so absent minded. SCOURGIFY!"

The shards of glass were no more and the approaching throngs were safe from their sharp edges.

"Headmaster! We are here to defend the Castle... Who would you like for us to attack?" Filches gravely voice panted out.

"Tut-tut Argus.. There will be no invasions of the Castle. At least not today." Dumbledore assured the staff and students.

"B-B-BUT the Dungeons! They have been prepared and are in tip top order for guests......"

Ron ran forward from the middle of the pack of students....

"Harry, where is HARRY?"

[Duddahs]

Darkness Within

Chapter 35

Part 2

And All the Kings Horses


By Madame Snape and Duddahs the Great Barn Owl

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


A group gasp from the throng of students and professors that had just entered the infirmary.

Madam Pomfrey's head snapped up as she clasped her hands over her open mouth.

"Ah, yes, we seem to be missing one of our charges. Please do excuse me as I believe that a game of hide and seek is well underway."

With this Albus Dumbledore crossed the Infirmary with the grace of a gazelle.. He stooped low and once again entered the secret passageway that led to the cave.

Upon exiting the tight squeeze of the tunnel and coming into the full light of the now partially destroyed cave, Dumbledore came to a frightening conclusion.. Dobby and Harry had gone on to try to save Winky.. Winky who was still in that skiff that Bellatrix Lestrange had enchanted and escaped within.

The sunlight burnt into Harry's brain as he found himself being forcefully pushed down into the bottom of the boat.

"OH H-H-Harry Potter", sputtered Winky.

"Shhhhhhh! nothing, say nothing" whispered Dobby into Winky's long ear.

Bellatrix stood tall at the bow of the boat, obviously unaware of the castaways that joined her on her escape from the cave and the monstrous Minotaur, not to mention capture by Albus Dumbledore himself.

The rushing wind whipped through the tangles of black hair of Bellatrix Lestrange as she stood tall, with one foot forcefully placed upon the edge of the bow.. Her right arm stretched out forward in a triumphant salute and her wand held firmly, guiding her and the boat forward across the lake...

Bellatrix knew well that within moments she would pass through the curtain of invisibility and she would then be capable of apparating away from this place and to the safety of her spider hole that she considered her home.

Harry now realizing that should the boat reach the curtain of invisibility, that the chances of Bellatrix Lestrange being captured and sent back to Azkaban Prison was next to nill. Harry grabbed Dobby by the ear and pulled him close to his face.. It appeared that Harry was to kiss the house elf upon the cheek but in the blink of an eye, Dobby began to nod his head up and down in acknowledgement of the plan that Harry had whispered into his ear.

"HEY YOU!, YOU! BELLATRIX, YOU FILTHY HAG!" shouted out Harry.

Bellatrix snapped round so violently that she momentarily lost her footing and found herself falling into the bowel of the small boat.

"IMPERIO"

The voice was squeaky, loud but it was clearly cast... Dobby stood now over the body of Bellatrix Lestrange. A wide smile plastered across his putty face. His huge eyes gleaming wildly with the reflection of the suns light from above and the figure of Bellatrix below him.

"She is all yours, Harry Potter,"spoke Dobby. "Now please tell Dobby what you wish this filth to be made to reveal, please Harry Potter, it will be Dobby's pleasure to be of service to you.

The boat which the group sat began to slow its pace towards the invisible curtain but it still continued forward at an alarming rate.

"Arresto Momentum" screamed Winky and with the click of her fingers, the skiff came to a halt, right there in the middle of the placid waterway.

"Dobby, I wish for you to have Bellatrix here to reveal what she knows of the Paintings that were placed within Hogwarts." The intent upon Harry's face was so obvious that Dobby did not hesitate.

He turned toward the disheveled witch that lay sprawled out in the bottom of the boat.

"Reveal to Dobby at once what you know of the Paintings of Tunnels scattered throughout Hogwarts Castle. NOW!"

Bellatrix eyes opened wider than one would have thought possible.. Sweat broke out on her brow as she obviously attempted to break Dobby's concentration and the effects of the Imperious Curse which Dobby had cast upon her.

"N-N-n-n-noooooooooo!!!!!!! I-I-I-I C-C-C-C-Can't! I" stuttered the witch.

"IMPERIO!" once again shouted Dobby as he clicked his fingers high above his head...

The force of the additional spell was enough to knock Bellatrix Lestrange unconscious....

"OH Dear Harry Potter, Dobby believes he may have used maybe just a little too much force?" The house elf stated as he turned to face Harry Potter.

"She is not going anywhere Dobby, we just need to be patient.. She will regain consciousness and then we will get our answer from her right?.... She will regain consciousness won't she Dobby?"

Harry suddenly seemed worried that things had somehow gone all too wrong...

Harry carefully took a seat in the back of the skiff, allowing Winky to lower her head upon his outstretched arm.. A look of nurturing was given to the young wizard by the house elf... Dobby becoming just a little jealous quickly hopped to the back of the skiff and snuggled in between Winky and Harry. His eyes cast upward with an endearing look of pure love.

A small tear developed in the corner of Dobby's eye. A momentary sniffle and quick wipe of his cheek and then his gaze once again returned to the young wizard Dobby could call friend.

Just as Harry was now comfortably settling in for a long wait for the evil witches conscious state to return, Harry found the quiet to be broken by the sound of rushing water..

Harry turned his head over his shoulder and looked back toward the cave that they had recently emerged.

There standing upon the bow of a skiff of his own, stood the mighty figure of Albus Dumbledore.. His arm raised before him, wand held high and one foot placed upon the bows sprint of the small vessel as it raced toward the stationary skiff that Harry and company now sat.

"Harry my boy!" The Headmaster could be heard shouting out with the assistance of the Sonorus Charm.

[Duddahs]

Darkness Within

Chapter 35

Part 3

And All the Kings Horses


By Madame Snape and Duddahs the Great Barn Owl

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The smile that broke out across Dobby's face was matched by that of Winky and Harry Potter. Their collective heartbeats could almost be heard echoing across the water as the Headmaster approached their small foundering skiff.

Harry raised stood up in the tiny boat and turned himself completely around so that he would be able to greet the Headmaster as soon as he was able to come along side their own vessel.

Dumbledore's own boat continued to speed across the surface of the lake as if it were actually floating on air. There seemed to be a massive wake forming behind the Headmasters skiff.

Then to Harry's great amazement he noticed the tentacles of the giant squid that had suctioned themselves to the sides of the Headmasters small boat. The giant squid was propelling Dumbledore and his boat across the lake at break neck speed.

Harry was able to also make out the figures of several human like forms just below the waters surface. They seemed to be escorting the Giant Squid and the Headmaster toward Harry's own vessel.

Harry's mouth opened up and for but a brief moment no sound came across his lips... Then the words broke forth, "MERMAIDS!" Harry proclaimed.

Dobby and Winky bent over the side of their little skiff and searched the water to see the images of the creatures that Harry had spotted.

"WOO HOO!" Dobby shouted at one of the Mermaids had suddenly broken the surface of the water.

"DOLPHINS" exclaimed a very excited Winky.

Dobby and Harry Potter turned their heads toward Winky with looks of surprise upon their faces. Their dismay at Winky's pronouncement turned quickly to fits of laughter. It was contagious, as the three broke out into a fit of laughter that seemed to make the approaching Headmaster also begin to kindheartedly laugh.

As Harry, Dobby and Winky laughed and guffawed over Winky's oh so odd suggestion, little did they know or even consider the Witch who had laid unconscious in the bow section of the small vessel they now shared.

One dark eye opened and squinted as the sunlight reflected upon her cornea.

The evil from inside Bellatrix rose in her throat as she sat bolt straight upright and shouted "FILTH, Filthy dirty creatures. YOU FOOLS!"

With the evil cursing of the disheveled Bellatrix Lestrange taking Harry by complete surprise, he snapped his head around so quickly that he lost his footing and slipped from the place where the stood.

Just as Harry was about to fall overboard, Dobby and Winky both snapped their fingers and Harry's fall began to slow as his body still continued to fall towards the water.

Four outstretched greyish arms appeared to have burst from beneath the surface of the lake and braced Harry's fall. He was taken so off guard that he did not even notice that he had dropped his wand into the bottom of the boat, just moments before he began his fall out of its confines.

The Mermaids rose high out of the waters depth, each securely bracing Harry's body and pushing him back into the safety of the small vessel that he had moments before fallen from.

"CRACK!"

The ensuing echo across the waterway caused birds to fly out of the trees that lined the shores of the great lake.

"NO, she's gone!" Dobby shouted out.

Winky just plopped herself down on a small board like seat in the back of the skiff. Her eyes fixed upon the very spot that once was filled with the crumpled and unconscious Witch, Bellatrix Lestrange.

Great shilling sized tears formed at the bottom of Winky's eyes and then a torrent of salty tears began their decent down her cheeks, further staining her dirty clothing.

Harry was now being gently propped up into a sitting position along side Winky. The Mermaids were very powerful creatures but just as gentle in their treatment of the boy. His saviors disappeared beneath the surface of the lake as quickly as they had appeared.

The Headmasters skiff was just now pulling along side that of his charge and the house elves.

Dumbledore lowered his arm, with wand in hand as a series of gold ropes shot out of the tip of his wand and secured the two vessels to each other.

The Headmaster looked down at the seated Harry Potter and gazed over his Gold Half Moon shaped spectacles.

"Harry my boy, you are safe I take it. Thanks must be given to our friends from the depths." The headmaster now bent forward to pat Winky upon her shoulder.

"But Headmaster, she's gone! Escaped, apparated! I-I-I." Harry sputtered.

"Now, now, no harm done. There is time to worry and this is not that time Harry. Now, how about we head back to the Castle. Madam Pomfrey will surely be as angry as a Blast Ended Skrewt with worry that I have kept you out in this glorious sun for far too long." The Headmaster gives Harry a wink as he laid his long, crooked finger along side his also crooked nose.

Winky continued to sob, now with her hands firmly placed over her watery eyes. Dobby on the other hand took firm hold of Harry's sleeve and tugged and tugged and tugged again.

Harry finally turned his gaze away from the Headmaster and looked to where Dobby was now pointing.

"My Wand! Oh no, that is how she did it. She used MY WAND! This is all my fault Headmaster. I am so sor....."

The Headmaster's hand had raised itself up once more in a sign of authority. "No Harry, it is nothing that you could have prevented. Had Bellatrix decided to apparate from this place, she would have not need of a wand. There are things that Voldemort has taught his followers which enable them to find their ways out of even the most slippery situations." Dumbledore insured.

The sudden movement of the co-joined vessels took Harry by complete surprise. Dobby on the other hand ran to the front of the skiff that they occupied and stood tall upon the bow-sprint. One foot raised upon the edge of the small vessel and the other planted firmly upon yet the forward most plank wood seat.

Headmaster Dumbledore now addressed the Giant Squid, "Hogwarts, my friend, please and thank you."

The boats spun around in a small waking circle and sped toward the Castle off in the distance.

Dumbledore now had straddled himself between both vessels. One leg in the skiff he had arrived and one in the vessel which Harry and company occupied..

"Headmaster, how did Bellatrix just vanish like that? I thought no one could apparate in or out of Hogwarts?" Harry's query brought a bit of a furrow to Dumbledore's brow.

[grandpalovegood]

Hey cool. That was fun. I'm so glad you are back to working on this story. It's full of humor and action and excitement.

[Duddahs]

Darkness Within

Chapter 35

Part 4

And All the Kings Horses


By Madame Snape and Duddahs the Great Barn Owl

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


As the small boat quickly approached the cave entrance Dumbledore raised his wand arm once more and spoke the words, "Lumos Maximus".

The interior of the cave was awash in brilliant light. For the very first time, Harry noticed that huge green crystal like structures protruded from the earthen walls and ceiling.

The stalactites and stalagmites emitted a wonderful milky green and white glow. They looked as if they were made from glistening ice cream, having melted from the ceiling and reformed into pyramid like cones that rose effortlessly from the floor.

The skiff now began to slow its progress at it approached the stoney beach where the water met land. Harry and Dobby both bent over the side of the tiny vessel and gazed into the depths of the water upon which they floated.

There beneath them, the Giant Squid could be made out as he slowly retreated into the illuminated watery world from which he existed. His shadow slowly fading from view as he descended, deeper and deeper into his own world of wonderment.

A small bump and the vessel came to a complete stop. The only motion was a very slight side to side rocking as the waves upon which the boat lay moved toward the shore only to retreat time and again.

Dumbledore stepped forward and turned himself toward Harry and the tiny House Elves. His wand arm still raised high above his head and a flood of light cascading over the sparkling green studded ceiling. The Headmaster extended his free arm forward in a gesture of assistance.

Harry raised himself from his bow over the side of the vessel and slowly stood upright. The uneasy feeling both in the pit of his stomach and the wobble that seemed to have taken over his legs made Harry just a bit unstable.

Dobby and Winky came to Harry's side as each braced the young Gryffindor's legs, preventing him from tumbling over the side of slightly rocking boat.

Dumbledores hand reached toward Harry just in time to pull him gently toward the shore and with just a minor adjustment and step Harry found himself firmly on solid land once more.

The queasy feeling in his tummy was still there and his wobbles had not yet left his limbs. Nor had the House Elves abandoned their propping up of the young wizard.


Off to the right, Harry could still see the unconscious and magically bound hulking figure of the Minotaur.

A shudder of emotion rushed up his spine and lodged itself in his forehead. His scar felt as if it had turned to Ice. It burned at the very same time as it seemed to freeze.

Placing his hand to his forehead, Harry closed his eyes tightly and grit his teeth.

"There, there Harry, this too shall pass. I myself find this feeling to be so overwhelming when in my haste to enjoy a bowl of my favorite Lemon Ice, bring upon myself a pain which rivals the worst curse. Thankfully it is but momentary and soon forgotten. That is until the very next time a bowl of Lemon Ice finds its way into a bowl before me."

Harry had opened up his eyes just in time to view the Headmaster giving him a small wink of his blue eyes. He appeared no worse for the wear of the excursion upon the lake... Harry though felt as if he had been put through a printing press and that all of his muscles and nerves were stretched as thin as parchment.

The Headmaster led Harry back toward the small hole in the wall of the cave from which they had entered.

"Shall we? I trust Madam Pomfrey will have my hide for this little jaunt. I must be sure to make great amends to our capable Medi-Witch should I be in of need her care for my many Parchment cuts... Oh they are a terrible thing Harry. A blight upon the hands of one so prone to them as I."

Harry looked up into the eyes of Professor Dumbledore, shocked at the idle chat he was engaging, especially considering what had just happened. The escape of Bellatrix Lestrange still stinging Harry's nerves.. The tension in his muscles grew as he became aware of the severity of what had happened as well as the fact that he might be expelled from Hogwarts for breaking about a hundred school rules.

[misscharlotte]

It's been so long since I read this story. I'm having trouble remembering what happened to the Minotaur. I guess a bit more backreading is in store to catch me up to speed. I'm also glad to see they are making their way back the way they came. And now the mystery is where did Bellatrix get off to?

I look forward to your next installment.

[Duddahs]

Darkness Within

Chapter 36

Part 1

With the Strike of a Match


By Madame Snape and Duddahs the Great Barn Owl

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Harry found himself laying tucked in very tightly between the sheets of his white painted metal hospital bed. His vision very blurred and his hearing muffled to the point of near deafness.

"Calm down Hermione, he is going to be fine. Professor Dumbledore assured me that there would be no long lasting effects from Harry's exploits."

The look of abject frustration mixed with extreme concern was turned upon the unsuspecting Ron who sat next to her. His hand trembling slightly as he attempted to convince himself as well as Hermione that the Headmaster was correct.

"Of course he will be fine Ron, if Professor Dumbledore says he will then that is all there is to that. Why in Merlin's name did he allow Harry to fall into such peril is what bothers me. I just can't figure men out. They seem to never use their brains before they first use their brawn. Harry could have died and where would we be now? Instead of sitting here waiting for him to wake and put us out of our worry, we could just as easily be mourning him. Now think of that Ronald Weasley. What have you to say for your gender?"

His mouth agape and his blank stair at Hermione's furious demanding of an answer, one that he clearly had no idea of how to address seemed to just infuriate her all the more.

"Buh, buh, buh, yah know Hermione. Even though I may be an excellent specimen of the masculine version of, well YOU, yah just can't expect me to be the spokeswizard for the rest of us."

Ron felt a little lump in the middle of his throat as he tried to swallow his spittle after he had allowed his mental thoughts to just rush out of his mouth without filter.

With the most severe and stern look on her face, the only sound that escaped Hermione was a simple yet loud "TSK."

She leaned forward, arching her back as far as she could until her chin rested gently upon the edge of the sheets that held their friend firmly in place.

The gentle feel of touch was followed by the most amazing tingle. Hermione found a hand being lightly laid upon her own. The tingling sensation caused her to become aware of the fact that Ron was attempting to console her in the only way he possibly could.

Never one for great thought or sharing of his truest feelings, this gesture was no less than one of the most amazing and touching things that Hermione had ever experienced.

Only the slightest movement of the sheets above Harry's chest revealed the fact that he was after-all still alive and hopefully well on the way to mending his injuries.

"Oh Ron, what would we do without him? I don't think that things would ever be the same if anything truly terrible had happened to him. I just think I would die a little myself.

A small flooding of tears began a downward streak from Hermione's tightly closed eyelids to the place where her chin was now firmly planted upon her dear friends hospital bed.

"Yah know something Hermione, sometimes I think there is more to you than just being smart and well, a bit bossy, yah know that?"

Ron had obviously believed he had just paid a complement to his fellow Gryffindor, and for once he was correct.

Hermione turned her head to look at him. Staring into his large eyes, focusing now on his slightly elongated nose and the plethora of freckles that scattered across the porcelain surface of his cheeks. His ginger hair a muss and looking a little worse for the wear. Ron broke into a broad grin, showing the majority of his white teeth and Hermione found herself calming for the first time in many hours.

"You two know that I am not dead and I can hear ever word you are saying dontcha?"came Harry's slightly strangulated voice.

"HARRY! RON! HARRY!" HE SPOKE!" Shouted Hermione! She accidentally thrust her arm outward, not even realizing that Ron's hand was still resting upon hers, throwing him severely off balance to the point that he fell off the edge of his chair.

Landing squarely upon his backside with a painful, mighty "UMPH" Ron struggled to brace himself from falling further back. In his haste to save himself from his fall, he grabbed at the very first thing he could.

"THUD!" Ron looked over at Hermione as she lay sprawled upon the hard stone floor of the infirmary beside him. The look of genuine shock and surprise etched across her face caused chills to run down his spine. He knew full well he was in for it now!

A hushed SSSSHHHHH! came from a figure moving toward them. In but a moment the crisply white uniformed Madam Pomfrey stood above them. Her hands firmly thrust upon her hips. The scowl upon her face could turn stone to water if she had chosen to at that very moment.

Once again, Ron attempted to swallow hard. The lump in his throat seemed to have grown in size and his fear mixed with the burning sensation in his ears and forehead of embarrassment let him know that he was well on his way for the telling off of a lifetime.

[misscharlotte]

Cool. It's good to know that they came out of this experience alright. Loved that Harry teased them that he could hear every word. LOL.

Now... this is not the end of the story is it?

[Duddahs]

Oct 6, 2012 9:17:16 GMT -6 misscharlotte said:

Cool. It's good to know that they came out of this experience alright. Loved that Harry teased them that he could hear every word. LOL.

Now... this is not the end of the story is it?

OH NO! I hope I did not give the impression that this was the end as it is absolutely NOT!

There loose strings all over the place that are being carefully put out there again and then will be all tied up into one tight knot!

Thanks for continuing your support for this Fanfic.. It is such a great and wild ride.

[Duddahs]

Darkness Within

Chapter 36

Part 2

With the Strike of a Match


By Madame Snape and Duddahs the Great Barn Owl

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


A small group of Slythin students sat huddled over what was supposed to be the study table in the corner of the Common Room. A slight wavering green tinted light played off the sides of their faces and exposed forearms. Their whispers were momentarily interrupted by the flapping of wings upon the slightly dampened air.

Gregory Goyle was the first of the hunched over figures to pop his head up to take notice of the owls appearance.

"Wha the?" Goyle scowled as he furrowed his brow and his beady eyes became mere slivers. His nose scrunched up until wrinkles had developed across it's bridge.

"Woa, Wha the?" mimicked Crabbe.

"The blonde haired youth now bolted up strait in his chair, almost knocking over Blaise Zabini who happened to be sitting just a bit too closely to the agitated Slytherin.

"Blaise, what the bloody heck is that thing of yours doing loose down here in the common room? If you can't keep your feather duster under control and out of my business then I am going to have to fry him to a crisp and feed him to that stupid cat of Filch's"

The venom that poured from the voice of Draco Malfoy was warning enough to all who knew him in the Slytherin ranks to not ignore his warnings. After-all, Draco's father, Lucius Malfoy was one of the most powerful wizards in all of England and he too had a reputation for suffering no fools.

Blaise raised his arm high into the thick air of the common room and Noir his trusted owl settled gently on his forearm. A small tan bit of parchment was clutched firmly in his talon.

"Gimme that you bloody crow!" Draco yelled to the Owl, as he reached across Blaise and tried to pry the parcel from the clutches of the determined owl. Noir refused to give up the parchment as he began to nip at Draco's grabby hand.. A tiny trickle of blood produced from a small gash in the young blonds forehand.

"Get him off me, get him off before I turn it into dust, you hear me?" Draco's wails echoed throughout the Slytherin house. Students of all ages came rushing into the common room only to witness Draco Malfoy hopping up and down while holding his slightly injured hand.

Crabbe and Goyle came to Draco's assistance, both trying to pull their mentor away from the snapping beak of Noir, only to trip over each other and find the three of them laying face down in a pile before the stone fireplace.

Blaise bolted for the common room door that led out into the darkened hallways of the dungeons.

"Get him, stop him! Get that blasted thing that that ruddy creature is hiding from me!" Shouted Draco, as Crabbe and Goyle attempted to pull themselves up only to once again fall flat on top of Draco's already pained back.

Blaise made for a successful escape as the door shut tightly behind him.. Down the dungeon passage he ran while Noir flew just ahead of him, guiding him to a small corridor off to the right of a rusted suit of Armour.

Falling hard against a roughly cut stone wall in what had always been seen as an unused and abandoned passageway, Blaise allowed himself to slide to a sitting position on the floor with his back propped up against the cold and clammy wall.

A small torch in an ancient tarnished holder embedded in the wall, burst into flame and the passageway was suddenly awash with light.

Blaise looked down into the now lit passage as images of stacks of shattered suits of armor, rusted swords, large dented and pierced shields. It looked as though the remnants of a long forgotten army had been left to decay and disintegrate in this place.

A cold chill ran up Blaise back and lodged itself at the base of his neck.. His muscles tightened as he began to get the very uncomfortable feeling of being left alone in what seemed to be a sort of grave yard of past battles.

Noir nipped at his friends hand very gently, just enough to break him from his frightened stare.

"Oh, sorry Noir, I almost forgot. What do you have for me?"

The owl hopped up onto the young Slythrins lap and using his beak, retrieved the parchment from his talon. He offered it to him with great pride.

Blaise raised his hand and took the bit of parchment from Noir, who then hopped back off and then took flight out of the once deserted corridor.

Opening the small bit of parchment carefully, his hand trembled as he saw the practiced script writing on the surface before him. He began to read the short note and his mouth opened slightly and a small escape of his own breath again sent chills up his spine.

Quickly he got to his feet and rushed out of the trash strewn corridor,up to the headmasters office as instructed. He did not stop to talk to the few Slytherin students that he passed on the way out of the dungeons.

Bursting out of the last of the underground hallways and entering the brightly lit main corridor that led to to a set of White Marble stairs, Blaise continued to walk with brisk purpose to his instructed destination.

A burst of cold water covered Blaise from head to toe and the floor all around him caused him to slip and loose his footing. Falling backward, and the shock of all that was stacking up upon him at the moment was broken by the high pitched laughter of Peeves. Another blast of cold water cascaded over the area, as balloon after balloon filled with ice cold water was tossed at students seeking shelter.

Strong hands grabbed Blaise by the collar of his wet robes just as he was about to hit the floor.

"And where exactly are you rushing off to Zabini?" drawled the slow and affected voice of Argus Filch.

Another chill ran up Blaise spine but this time it did not end at his neck, it ended right were Filch's hand had him in a firm grip.

[Duddahs]

Darkness Within

Chapter 36

Part 3

With the Strike of a Match


By Madame Snape and Duddahs the Great Barn Owl

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Argus Filch stared down into the wide open eyes of the young Slytherin.

"Well, well, well, I, I, I....." Blaise stuttered.

"Well, well, well, is that all you can come up with? I'm sure that Professor Snape and Headmaster Dumbledore will have more to say about this than you do. All students were told to be in lock down and you are out here in the halls, without permission. Yes, I think I will have a little fun here. We are going up to my office and those shackles that have been rusting on the wall will finally be of good use again. Ger up you!"

Filch pulled hard on the collar of Blaise Zabini's robes. His feet barely capable of stabilizing his body as he was jerked upright and then forcefully pushed forward. Blaise stumbled forward only to be roughly shoved by Filch once again.

Noir swooped down and caught the top of Filches head and pulled the few stragglers of hair that sprouted in haphazard directions. This is all it took for Filch to release his hold on Blaise to swat wildly at the Slyteherin's protective owl.

Blaise took flight as fast as his feet would carry him. Noir fended off the futile attempts by Filch to grab him.

Down the long darkened corridor Blaise ran until he found himself in familiar surrounding. He stopped abruptly, apparently he had passed through a secret passageway and was standing in the center of the Infirmary. The room was still crowded by students and teachers who had come to the aid of their fellow Witches and Wizards.

"Mr. Zabini, what is the means of this?" scowled Madam Pomfrey.

"Pr, Pr, Professor Dumbledore summoned me Madam Pomfrey," Blaise gasped as he tried to explain his present predicament.

"The Headmaster has returned to his office Mr. Zabini, what is it that you must come rushing into my Infirmary without being announced and looking for Professor Dumbledore?" Madam Pomfrey stood with her hands firmly planted on her hips, furrowed brow and a smirk on her face that would have turned a rock to water.

Blaise reached his arm forward, the crumpled parchment gripped still tightly in his hand. Just as Madam Pomfrey was to retrieve the parchment from Blaise, Noir suddenly flew into the Infirmary and Argus Filch came rushing in through a stone passageway, hidden along side the second row of white iron and freshly linen covered hospital beds.

Filch lost his footing and stumbled madly into the gathering of students at the entrance of the Infirmary. Down they all tumbled as if Bowling pins in an Alley.

"ARGUS! Will you get out of my hospital and take these people with you.. Not you Mr. Zabini, I will take that parchment, thank you very much." as Madam Pomfrey took note from Blaise' outstretch and trembling hand. Noir came to rest upon his owners shoulder. Blaise looks over at his trusted friend and gives him a nod of thanks.

"Yes, I see. Mr. Zabini, you will follow me."

Madam Pomfrey made haste at waiving off the straggling students who were blocking the door of the Infirmary..

"Shoo, shoo, out, out! One more of you and I will have the headmaster personally take you to task for delaying us! That goes for you too Mr. Filch.. Now get moving!" Madame Pomfrey waived her hands furiously in a dismissive manner. Blaise knew better than not to stay close to the Medi-Nurses wake.

As soon as the two had exited the Infirmary Argus Filch began to yell and thrust his hands into the air.

"You heard her, ger youselve's going. Shoo! Anyone caught in the halls in more than the next five minutes are going to be shackled to my office wall for detention! NOW GER OFF WIT YA!"

Argus Filch slumped his shoulders forward as the last of the students and staff exited the Infirmary. He walked slowly over to the place from which he had entered the room. Running his gnarly arthritic hands over the rough stone surface of the walls, he felt carefully for the doorway that he would soon find out had vanished, without a trace.

"Stay here Mr. Zabini," Madam Pomfrey directed the still trembling Slytherin.

"Ice Mice," she whispered to the giant statue of a Gargoyle which stood sentinel to the Headmasters entrance circular staircase.

The carved figure came to life and moved to the side. A doorway revealed itself in the wall behind where the Gargoyle had once stood. The door opens and reveals yet more. A steep vertical spiral staircase, brightly lit and moving in a rather quick motion upward.

"Come, quickly Mr. Zabini. We shall not keep the Headmaster waiting. I am sure that had he deemed it important enough to summon you personally to his office that this must be of utter immediacy." Madam Pomfrey motions her hand for Blaise to take to the flight of spiral stairs.

Blaise moved quickly, Noir almost loosing his grip upon his owners shoulder. The Owl dug his talons into Blaise, causing him to shout out in shock and pain.

"Oi, loosen up a bit there Noir. I'm not going to leave you here, you are coming with me. If Professor Dumbledore trusted you enough to get me his request for my presence, then I am sure he will not mind you being here as my protector.

With this, Blaise took to the steps and he found himself being followed very closely by Madam Pomfrey and then the sliding sound of the stone wall doorway behind them.

Fear welled up into Blaise throat, almost choking him. His mind began to race in a hundred directions all at the same time.

Then his feet moved forward and he found that he, Noir and Madam Pomfrey were standing stock still in a vestibule. An ancient oak and wrought iron door facing them. A massive palladium leaded glass window to their left, cast ghostly shadows across the flagstone floor and up the opposite wall.

Madam Pomfrey moved around Blaise and knocked firmly on the door.

The door opens slowly, revealing an expansive office, whirling, whistling, smoking devices of all odd sorts churning away on delicate spindly legged tables. A huge desk with a throne like chair on a raised alter at the far end of the circular room.

The three entered the Office of the Headmaster only for two of them to be startled senseless by a blur of RED and GOLD to their right.

"FAWKES!" spoke Madam Pomfrey in a friendly tone.

[misscharlotte]

Hey, here's a book I haven't finished reading yet.

Hmm? *Takes my bookmarker out and settles in for a bit of light reading.*